At the time of writing, Japan has been experiencing around 36,000 new cases a day new cases a day. We recommend checking with the facilities you want to visit before heading out. Or, that this barrier does still exist and Japan will have to create a solution for it (travel insurance?) The Japanese government recently eased its COVID-19 entry restrictions, meaning tourists can now visit without being on a guided tour. Istanbul is one of the most important tourism spots not only in Turkey but also in the world. With the ever-changing rules, it's hard to keep up with which countries are open for study, work, and tourism. Heres a full list of all the countries and regions eligible for visa-free travel to Japan. Lets have a look at the measures that are still in place, despite the reopening of borders. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Putting aside how I obviously need to be clearing my web history more often, it all feels so surreal now that is, how religiously I checked this comments section for news on Japan not even half a year prior, a somewhat embarrassing fact that Firefox is keen to remind me of. Visit Japan Web App also let me pre fill out for immigration and customs, and just use the QR codes for those as well. Would you consider visiting Japan later this year, or is international travel out of the question for you anytime soon? This was a great place to keep up to date on the happenings. However, the number of foreign visitors to Japan dropped to 245,900 last year, the lowest since 1964, as the country enforced tighter border controls. It was, indeed, a rare bright spot in such a dark, sad time. Starting November 1, 2022, travelers to Japan may pre-register for airport Immigration, Customs, and Vaccination review, and use "Fast Track" at major airports across Japan using Visit Japan Web. Visa-free travel has also been reinstated for travellers from dozens of countries (see which ones here), though there are still several border measures in place. Japan, like much of the world, has changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. mean getting rid of the mask. How do you view the news about guided tours? Japan also began allowing unguided tours, meaning ones not accompanied by tour conductors. I already moved on to read your other Japan travel posts to get tips which are also so helpful! The political and economic appetite for fully relaxation now clearly exists, and theres a vocal chorus of politicians in Japanincluding those who were previously in favor of closed borderschampioning reopening. What were those, you ask? Authorities have arrested Australians for working in the entertainment industry while in Japan on tourist visas. But from 11 Oct 2022, travellers are free to explore Japan independently . Mon 10 Oct 2022 23.22 EDT Last modified on Tue 11 Oct 2022 07.34 EDT Japan has fully opened its doors to visitors after more than two years of pandemic isolation. Thanks to so many of you regular readers and commenters who made the last couple of years easier, shared articles, optimistic/pessimistic updates, and so much more. Its been our perspective that this was a necessary prerequisite towelcoming individual tourists as there would no longer be a need for a responsible receiving party to monitor travelers and act as a liaison for infected individuals. Single-use cutlery is rife, including disposable chopsticks and plastic forks. As always, Japan is cautious and conservative, with a slow and belabored decision-making process that often embodies analysis paralysis and usually defies logic. Thu 26 May 2022 23.20 EDT Japan has announced it will end a two-year pandemic closure and reopen to tourists from 98 countries and regions next month, but travellers will only be allowed in as. 0:49. However, if you are not vaccinated and boosted, you will need to have a negative Covid test within 72 hours of boarding your flight to Japan. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; ), While presenting the above as a cautionary tale against optimism or over reliance on logic when assessing Japans decisions, thats exactly what Im going to do. Guided trips also had to be booked through a government-authorized provider. Kihara isnt the only one who has been vocal about fully reopening to tourists recently. At that time, it was unclear whether unguided tourists would be allowed to enter. oh wow!! First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11 of last year. Amid the weakening yen, inbound travelers will have greatest economic effectThere are many foreign visitors who want to come visit Japan. Kihara added that eliminating the arrival cap alone was not enough. This is would allow a bit of wiggle room for Japans slow and belabored decision-making process that involves a lot of careful consideration and evaluating the situation. If anything has been well-established during the last two-plus years, its that inaction is Japans baseline, and anything that does happen occurs gradually and in stages. Even just seeing the site suggestion come up, I could feel my heart reflexively sink into my chest in dread, as though it were already anticipating nothing today, either. . The big one for most of you is likely going to beJapan Face Mask Rules v. Reality in 2023. Explore our latest brochure for Japan trip inspiration. We also recommend consulting ourUltimate Guide to KyotoandUltimate Guide to Tokyoto plan. There is a lot of pent up demand for travel to Japan, so plane tickets and accommodations should be a priority. Even before the pandemic, many locals preferred to travel within the country, with domestic tourism totaling $21.9 trillion yen ($167 billion) in 2019, according to government-backed Japan Tourism . Cases are currently in freefall and will continue decreasing next month before bottoming out sometime between late October and early November. Moments after the Australian government announced that it would reopen the country's borders to international travelers later this month, Emily . Prior to those guidelines being released, we speculated on how this would work given basic logic and past precedent with prior groups who had been allowed to enter Japan. |. Hardly a week goes by when we don't get this question from a TravelSort Client. Updated: Mar 31, 2022 / 10:45 PM HST. As the Japan experts, weve sought all the requirement information directly from Japanese government sources and broken them down into easy-to-understand sections. Japan has some of the biggest, boldest and most exciting cities in the world, frozen-in-time samurai towns, remote alpine villages, tiny islands brimming with contemporary art, and mountaintop temple communities unchanged for centuries. Traveling in Japan without constraint as a tourist is possible from October 11, 2022. Its another symbolic measure, and coming at a time when an increasing number of international visitors have already moved on to other destinations and pent-up demand has begun fizzling out. And even now, as it opens its borders to tourists from nearly. TOKYO Japan will open its borders to foreign tourists in June for the first time since imposing tight pandemic travel restrictions about two years ago, but only for package tours for now . Naturally, if you want to make the most out of your trip and have a truly unforgettable experience you can book an amazing independent itinerary or small group tour through us, with the added benefit of our decades of expertise, 24/7 support and tried-and-tested safety protocols in the unlikely event of Covid-related travel disruptions during your trip. So, it seems the country is finallyon the road to properly welcoming travellers again and thats something that we can all get very excited about. See our, If you are boosted with a Covid vaccine, you do not need a negative Covid test before flying to Japan. We are eager to revisit our favorite places, see friends in Japan for the first time in over two years, and continue creating this sites wealth of free planning resources. Exercise normal precautions in Japan. Any questions? Japan is famous for . The specifics are not consistent among outlets, so lets start with where theyre in agreeance. There will be a winter resurgence. Before heading to Japan to travel, make sure to check the most up-to-date information. The U.S. Embassy strongly urges any U.S. citizens considering travel to Japan to carefully review the information available from the Government of Japan. This may mean the end of the vaccination-or-test requirement, as well as the indoor masking recommendation. First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11 of last year. Following Japans decision last month to drop pre-departure testing,the Japanese governmentis nowallowing travellers to visit Japan without booking a guided tour or using a travel agency. Statements by politicians and medical advisors, gradual border relaxation measures, and other changes could be interpreted as Japan laying thegroundwork for a resumption of normalcy and the countrys eventual reopening. Will be heading back again in a couple of weeks. Lets have a look at the measures that are still in place, despite the reopening of borders. Borders were reopening, but visitor numbers were capped at 50,000 per day, movement was severely restricted, and travelers required a visa and health insurance to visit. So why aren't tourists coming back? The good news is that we now have an answer to questionsweve been asking for nearly two years! Im so excited and happy for everyone! Previously, travel requirements included booking your trip through a government-approved tour operator and also obtain a visa and ERFS certificate, but both these requirements are no longer necessary. Early detection of postpartum depression? I am so glad that our community died, and that all of us who were trapped in this purgatory for so long have finally been able to resume our travels, adventures and lifestyles. Thanks for all the updates and helpful info during this stressful and hard time, Tom!! var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; Turkey's largest city, Istanbul has a number of major attractions derived from its historical status as capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.These include the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the "Blue Mosque"), the Hagia . Though some things feel different, this nation Ive travelled for the last two months, ing and ing about the forty-seven prefectures as I once did in the 2010s, is certainly the same marvellous place that I fell in love with so long ago. Heres the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-free travel list. HTJ said Japan is currently open for travel, but for those who have a visa or are an exchange . Japans economy has serious issues and inbound tourism was previously a bright spot. Kishida has also acknowledged that Japans border control measures are the strictest among Group of Seven nations, and expressed a desire/need to bring Japan in line with its counterparts. Japan will resume accepting some foreign tourists in June at the earliest, a government source said Friday, likely reversing a ban on their entry introduced during the coronavirus pandemic. 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. Most flights go to Tokyo (Narita or Haneda), but some flights also go to Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto). Gradual speeding-up of the reopening. We have all the answers you need about Japans full border opening on 11th October. If youre planning your trip to Japan, what do you think about these itineraries? This becomes increasingly true as the yen weakens due to the Bank of Japan continuing to pursue its loose monetary policy while the United States Federal Reserve, European, and other central banks raise interest rates. October. Cheers . We recommend consulting the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is specifically forunguided tour groups or non-escorted visitors on package tours andnotindividual tourists. However, after more than two and a half years of waiting the country is fully reopening for tourism. Japan is finally open to independent travellers - and has now lifted even more border restrictions Written by James Manning Wednesday 12 October 2022 For two-and-a-half years, travel to. Learn about the current situation, checklist for tourists, entry restrictions and safety measures before you travel. See details here. Coronavirus . If the plan goes ahead, it would mark a major shift in Japans border restrictions, which have been conservative compared with those of fellow Group of Seven members. Japan's tourism industry is still waiting for the country's borders to fully reopen [File: Kentaro Takahashi/Bloomberg] (Bloomberg) When Japan implemented a blanket ban on inbound tourists in. We have to carry it out in the not-so-distant future, he said. Thanks for the updates Tom and thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and opinions over the past 2 years. Some places expect more self-service, such as helping yourself to water, though this can change from one establishment to another. Japan will reopen its borders to foreign tourists June 10, 2022, but only to package tour participants for now, officials said Thursday, as the country starts to cautiously open its borders to . Thank you Tom for providing us a platform to discuss thing amidst all the confusing developments and giving us updates. by: Kristy Tamashiro. Guidelines for tourist attractions are straightforward. Fully independent, visa-free travel to Japan is now possible from October 11, Sort of, hence the confusion! You will be free to make your own choices where masks are not advised we wouldnt recommend choosing not to wear one where they are advised. I have been to Japan many times pre-covid, and I am now going again this year late October. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. 1) Register for "Visit Japan Web". Due to this and other policies, Japan has lagged behind economically, seeing slower recovery than the United States and other counterparts that have more aggressively reopened. Against that economic backdrop, lets take a look at the latest changes to Japans reopening plans. In addition to masks, divider screens can still be seen in many establishments. of course the opposition (not all of it, from what I read) is against this. Its thus our view that Japan reopening in some capacity to individual tourists in October is a very realistic scenario. See my one page guide, Buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at, Compare Japan flight prices and timings to, If you're visiting more than one city, save a ton of money with a. Plus:youll soon be able to spend six weeks in Thailand, visa-free. We recommend carrying a tube of hand cream, as some formulas can be quite drying. Basically, travelling with a guide either as part of a group or a private guide just for you and your travel companion(s). Japan tops global tourism index for 1st time, despite tight borders. (With the possible workaround of travel insurance or some other awkward fix.). Table of contents. Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? Your updates were by far the best I could find on the internet and helped lots of us getting through this (dare I say; emotional) rollercoaster the past several years. Do you or anyone here know if we need this after Oct. 11? Find inspiration for your Japan holiday plans by exploring our latest brochure. As for you, Tom Id buy you a round at my favourite izakaya if I could! However, for a child below the age of 18 who is traveling with their parents, this is the policy (this is direct from a Japanese consulate email): For children under the age of 18 who do not hold a valid vaccination certificate three times. Moreover, how this played out with Japans last announcement is also instructive. If you are triple vaccinated, you do not have to take a pre-departure test. Hospitalizations and mortality remain relatively low. Even though the Japanese government relaxed a prior mandate in late May, many people are still wearing masks outdoors. . Posted: Mar 31, 2022 / 10:45 PM HST. It thus stands to reason that opening to individual tourists necessarily needs to occurthat raising the entry cap will do nothing in furtherance of their stated goal. As frustrating as this whole process has been, Japan is not still (completely) stuck in March 2020. Here are all the details on visa-free travel, vaccination and Covid test requirements. It's official: Japan will reopen to tourism on October 11. You all made the (repeated) cancellations and premature excitement a bit more bearable. In other words, a free-roaming backpacking trip around Japan is now on the cards! TOKYO -- Japan on Monday provided details of its full-scale tourism reopening, following Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's announcement last week. in the Profile section of your subscriber account page. a prior mandate in late May, many people are still wearing masks outdoors. If you want help planning a trip to Japan, visit my consulting page to book a Zoom consultation. Get planning with our guide to Japans 15 best hotels. our decades of expertise, 24/7 support and tried-and-tested safety protocols in the unlikely event of Covid-related travel disruptions during your trip. It now appears that the time is hereor coming very soon. Given that Japan is now open, its time to start planning a trip. See our. These are all our latest exclusive holiday, vacation and tour offers brought to you from InsideJapan Tours. Can you really see Japan's best bits on a budget? All others must show such proof. (See above 'Latest News') Short-term travelers to Japan will be allowed to enter Japan without a visa. February 24th, 2022 at 2:15 PM EST Skift Take Japan is clearly taking steps to prepare for a reopening to foreign tourists not just the gradual border easing that will take place next month.. This may also mean the end of the Visit Japan Web app. On 10 June 2022, Japan finally started allowing international tourists into the country for the first time in . For more than two years, Japan's borders remained closed to tourists. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday that Japan will allow the entry of nonescorted visitors on package tours and raise the daily arrival cap to 50,000 starting Sept. 7 . For better or worse, Japan is an insular and culturally conservative countrya characteristic that is often valued by visitors. Now is the time to start planning a trip to Japan. Required fields are marked *, Free Money-Saving eBook & Japan Email Updates, https://www.travelcaffeine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/mount-fuji-sunrise-field-autumn-foliage-japan-bricker.jpg, https://www.travelcaffeine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/travel-caffeine-new-logo-2.jpg, Is Japan Open to Tourists? Im heading to Tokyo for the first time in 3.5 years on October 23rd and I cant wait! Finally booked my flights, enjoy your trips everyone! To say it one last time cheers, Tom. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name Thank you, for this wonderful site with its very helpful regular updates! 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