Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. Table of contents. Japan Tourism: The decision means Japan will allow in a limited number of foreign . . First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11 of last year. Thanks for all the updates and helpful info during this stressful and hard time, Tom!! Updated overall advisory level after periodic review. Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? While the stares have eased, and it is okay to take off the mask at the table, make sure to wear it if you need to use the toilet or even to speak to a waiter. Even though the Japanese government relaxed a prior mandate in late May, many people are still wearing masks outdoors. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. Lets say that happens in early November. All travel companies are different. If youre planning a trip to the Japan, check outour other posts about Japanfor ideas on other things to do! The total of guests at hotels and inns was 315.75 million, down 4.8% from 2020 and 47% from 2019. This error message is only visible to WordPress admins, InsideJapan Tours, an award winning travel brand specializing in group tours, tailormade travel and cultural experiences across Japan, Tokaido Trail - the original InsideJapan group tour, DOWNLOAD OUR BRAND NEW 2022/2023 BROCHURE. Thats a wild card that could further extend any timeline. Its possible the country views this as sufficient for tourism businesses to stave off bankruptcy or other financial hardship for another few months. Quite simply,Japan is inflicting pain on itself by remaining closed. If youre planning your trip to Japan, what do you think about these itineraries? Japan on Friday eased its borders for foreign tourists. 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. Copyright - Sarah & Tom Bricker, Travel Caffeine. This is because Japan has formally decided to downgrade the legal status of the novel coronavirus on May 8, 2023 to the same category as common infectious diseases, such as seasonal influenza, thereby easing COVID-19 prevention rules. Regardless, its good to have this removed as it eliminates an element of uncertainty and could have been an issue during peak travel times for the Japanese. If you cant respect another countrys Covid policies you shouldnt visit and be an entitled tourist. Thanks, [] to individual tourists for the duration of the festivities. The downgrade would pave the way for a normalization of social and economic activities in Japan, and should mean that non-residents are able to enter the country without PCR tests or additional paperwork. If there are no screens, you may be expected to practice social distancing by sitting a table or two away from other customers. The government had a goal of 40 million in 2020 timed with the Summer Olympics. In addition to masks, divider screens can still be seen in many establishments. This means that people can book their own flights, accommodation and experiences, without having to go through a travel agent, which was the previous rule. What follows is based on that research and fixation with the on-the-ground situation in Japan. In our view, koyo (autumn leaves) season is a good bet, and that takes place from mid-November through December. Obviously, the easing has to occur at some point and this lag will always play out, but the notion that this moves the needle for fall is misguided. Ready for the trip of a lifetime? In June, the country first reopened to leisure travelers from 98 countries including the U.S., but officials required a visa . November 2 - International travelers to Japan exceeded 200,000 in September. The Japanese government recently eased its COVID-19 entry restrictions, meaning tourists can now visit without being on a guided tour. Travel agencies eye discounts for those vaccinated for COVID-19. Finally booked my flights, enjoy your trips everyone! On September 22, 2022, however, Prime Minister Kishida finally revealed that these restrictions would be scrapped. 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We also create tailormade trips. Think the need to adapt and live with the endemic virus will outweigh fear when it comes to Japans reopening plans? It kind of fell like a little community in here, like I know from Discord groups. Which brings us to a threshold issue:when will Japan reopen?This week, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is in New York to deliver an address at the U.N. General [], Your email address will not be published. Its made it slightly more bearable having a community to discuss all the news coming out of Japan especially since group tours first became a reality. Some independent shops namely those with a more international customer base have notices saying that it is okay to not wear masks, but these places are rare. Subscribers also receive a totally free copy of ourJapan on a BudgeteBook. 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 . 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. This is despite Japans Go to Travel campaign that subsidized domestic travel, which was offered at various times during the last two years. 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. Previously, travellers were required to join a tour group to enter Japan for leisure. Basically, travelling with a guide either as part of a group or a private guide just for you and your travel companion(s). Want to receive free updates on when Japan will reopen for travel? There is a lot of pent up demand for travel to Japan, so plane tickets and accommodations should be a priority. 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. Those reading regular updates on Japans reopening are not representative of international travelers at large. Published Feb. 18, 2022 Updated Feb. 28, 2022. Well, in September 2022, Fumio Kishida, the Japanese Prime Minister announced that the country will begin to reopen independent, free travel from October 11. Among fellow G7 countries, Japan has had some of the strictest rules it comes to border restrictions. Thats the sharpest fall on record according to the Japan Tourism Agency. The good news is that we now have an answer to questionsweve been asking for nearly two years! Validity of visas issued under "Business Track" / "Residence Track" or "New border measures (4)" is suspended for the time being. Japan welcomed about 32 million foreign visitors in 2019 and had been on track to achieve its goal of 40 million in 2022, said Ejaz Ahmed, a research analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit,. This is a major policy shift and will relaxif not eliminate entirelyJapans intensive COVID-19 countermeasures, including limiting the movements of infected people and their close contacts. 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. Guidelines for tourist attractions are straightforward. UPDATE: The Japanese government announced on May 26, 2022, that Japan will reopen for tourists visiting on packaged tours starting June 10, 2022. 2. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary Multiple media outlets, including NHK, Kyodo, Nikkei, and Fuji TV are all reporting thatJapansgovernment is planning to further relax restrictions and border measures with an eye to implementing the revisions by the start of October. In terms of the latest news, the current vaccine and testing policies are likely to end on May 8, 2023. Sheesh! . P.s. Slowly but surely, foreign visitors are returning to Japan. Japan has seasonal attractions in fall and winter. in the Profile section of your subscriber account page. Or, that this barrier does still exist and Japan will have to create a solution for it (travel insurance?) But whatever winter wave occurs (and onewillhappen), thats unlikely to be an obstacle to reopening progress, as was the case last year. It was finally announced that from October 11, 2022, the borders would be reopening to visa-free tourists. This includes business travelers on short stays, students in study abroad programs, participants in technical internships, both guided & unguided tour groups, spouses or children (and other relatives) of a Japanese national/permanent resident, others with special exceptional circumstances, and those who would provide a public benefit to Japan. On 10 June 2022, Japan finally started allowing international tourists into the country for the first time in . October. Thanks to everyone in here in the comments for that! japan, . Well keep watching the news and keep you posted if/when there are further developments about Japan reopening and allowing entry to travelers from the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond. Government advice is for masks to be worn on public transport and some indoor venues but, contrary to what one might expect, there has never been a mask mandate in the country. We recommend consulting the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You need to wait until the end of August to foresee that possibility. Some places expect more self-service, such as helping yourself to water, though this can change from one establishment to another. even if theyre off for a jog or on a bicycle. Re: Will Japan will re-open fully to tourists before October? Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered new guidance that were covering inJapan Reopening to Individual Tourists: FAQ, Rules & Guidelines. Yes, Japan will be fully open for tourists and lift its travel restrictions (to pre-COVID status) on October 11th, 2022. Also as previously mentioned, recent poll data also shows the public is now far less concerned with COVID than the economy, Unification Church scandal, Abes state funeral, and other issues. 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. Wherever you choose! In addition to masks, divider screens can still be seen in many establishments. 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 . I was there for 11 days, mostly in Tokyo, and also to the bullet train to Sanjo (near Niigata) for a couple of days, and also a day trip to Mount Fuji with a driver/guide. These are all our latest exclusive holiday, vacation and tour offers brought to you from InsideJapan Tours. 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. The endisnear. We typically spend a couple of months in Japan each year, and are ecstatic to be returning after nearly 3 years away. There are thousands of hotels and other tourist-oriented industries in the city. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, according to the news outlets sources. Japan needs more than just new visa options to attract highly skilled workers, Japan to rename sex crime to highlight illegality of nonconsensual intercourse, How the Russia-Ukraine war has changed Japans economic outlook, Japan moves toward approving abortion pill in major shift, Walking 5,000-7,000 steps each day is enough for greater longevity, Japanese study finds. Its now the popular position being advanced publicly by politicians, not just being advocated by Keidanren or Japans business lobby. Guided trips also had to be booked through a government-authorized provider. That may soon change. From 11th October 2022, visa-free travel resumed and all arrival caps were removed as well. You will receive a link to download the eBook and periodic emails when there's news to share. 2023 Yosemite Firefall Viewing Guide: Best Dates, Reservations Info & Face Masks in Japan: Rules v. Reality (2023), Please subscribe to our FREE email newsletter, Japan Fall Colors Forecast & Autumn Foliage Viewing Guide, Tokyo Disneyland 40th Anniversary 'Dream-Go-Round' Details, New Parade & Japan Reopening Disney Tourist Blog The KKK News. However and wherever you choose to travel, well take exceptional care of you from the first call to arriving back home. Jul 18, 2022, 1:40 PM. 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. In such a scenario, the borders could almost immediately return to their normal pre-closure status in early October. Please subscribe to our FREE email newsletterand stay tuned if you are curious about how things are on-the-ground for tourists in Japan post-reopening. Travelers from most countries can now enter Japan without applying for a visa in advance. Those two posts cover essentially everything you need to know about visiting Japan as of 2023. On January 20, Prime Minister Kishida announced that Japan will downgrade Covid to the same category as seasonal influenza on May 8. 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. Yes! 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. The national border is under the management of central government, Koike said. 10 minutes. Current state of tourism: fully open to international tourism Read about coronavirus manners in Japan. Ill be sticking around for the future updates and travel guides. Japans decision last month to drop pre-departure testing, a full list of all the countries and regions eligible for visa-free travel to Japan, huge demand from travellers to visit without booking through an agency, youll soon be able to spend six weeks in Thailand, visa-free. Yes, in some situations. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Thanks for subscribing! The country will allow visa-free entry for. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that his top priority was formulating new economic measures and implementing these goals. Now is the time to start planning a trip to Japan. In Japan, customers are expected to sanitize their hands when entering shops and restaurants. Lets have a proper look at what has changed for those planning to travel to Japan in 2022 and what to expect when you finally do get here. Here is the lowdown on Japan's relaxed travel rules. If you are unvaccinated or not boosted, you need a negative Covid test. Will be heading back again in a couple of weeks. See our, If you are boosted with a Covid vaccine, you do not need a negative Covid test before flying to Japan. If you want to travel to Japan for work: check the true nature of the work offered; get the correct visa before arriving in Japan; get legal advice before signing any contract If you are unvaccinated, you have to take a pre-departure test. This is good news for travelers like you hoping to travel to . Sep 12, 2022 SHARE The government is planning to allow independent tourists to come to Japan and exempt them from visas if they have been vaccinated three times or submit a pre-arrival test. Naoko Kutty. Essentially, there will be no (legal) basis for the current border protocol effective May 8, 2023. For my own peace of mind, could you please confirm that MYSOS form completion will no longer be a necessary requirement for entry into Japan from October 11th when the travel restrictions are lifted? What to Expect? It also intends to abolish the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, the report added. On Thursday, Kishida announced that Japan will resume visa-free entry for individual travelers on October 11. As for you, Tom Id buy you a round at my favourite izakaya if I could! Mount Fuji: One of Japan's three sacred mountains. Japan Airlines planes at Narita International Airport: EQRoy / Shutterstock.com. July 20, 2021. Japan eases foreign tourism ban and allows guided package tours. Some 68% of Singaporeans aged 16 to 24 years old indicated they are considering Japan for their "next vacation," compared to 37% of those aged 55 and older, according to research published in. You all made the (repeated) cancellations and premature excitement a bit more bearable. TOKYO, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Japan's government is planning to waive tourist visa requirements from some countries as part of a further easing of border controls enacted to stop the spread of COVID . In other words, reopening to international visitors will be important to the health of Japans consumption-driven economy at some point in the not too distant future.