Or, that this barrier does still exist and Japan will have to create a solution for it (travel insurance?) These include: checking body temperature on arrival, social distancing when possible and regularly sanitizing hands, in addition to wearing a mask. Subscribers also receive a totally free copy of ourJapan on a BudgeteBook. The number of people anxiously awaiting Japans reopening is shrinking, not growing. Well, in September 2022, Fumio Kishida, the Japanese Prime Minister announced that the country will begin to reopen independent, free travel from October 11. Its says a lot about Japan is a socially conscious society that so many individuals choose to wear masks even without mandates in place! Even though the Japanese government relaxed a prior mandate in late May, many people are still wearing masks outdoors. Another possibility is that Japan will allow individual foreign tourists to enter the country andexempt them from visas if they have been vaccinated three times or submit a pre-arrival test result. Here's a quick breakdown of the details: Only tourists on packaged tours are allowed from June 10 Entry limit updated from 10,000 to 20,000 people per day In other words, a free-roaming backpacking trip around Japan is now on the cards! While Japan is keeping in place its quarantine system for arrivals from a list of at-risk countries, no countries are actually currently on that list. From October 11, 2022, almost all restrictions are to be lifted. Moreover, how this played out with Japans last announcement is also instructive. 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. For more than two years, Japan's borders remained closed to tourists. Ill never forget this amazing, special blog and the unlikely community of shared pain that flourished here for as long as I live. Since October 11th, 2022, people who travel from countries with a former visa-waiver agreement with Japan have been able to travel to Japan freely again! But from 11 Oct 2022, travellers are free to explore Japan independently . 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. Thanks for all the updates and helpful info during this stressful and hard time, Tom!! This is good news for travelers like you hoping to travel to . Essentially, there will be no (legal) basis for the current border protocol effective May 8, 2023. 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. Now is the time to start planning a trip to Japan. 1. Yes, Japan will be fully open for tourists and lift its travel restrictions (to pre-COVID status) on October 11th, 2022. Copyright - Sarah & Tom Bricker, Travel Caffeine. (This number includes hotels used as government quarantine facilities, not just leisure stays.). Japan is always magical, but if you like to have the magic all to yourself, 2022 could be a once in a lifetime opportunity! 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. It now appears that the time is hereor coming very soon. Here are all the details on visa-free travel, vaccination and Covid test requirements. Was less crowded than when I was there before, especially at the airport. Japan's borders could be set to reopen in March after being closed to tourists for two years. Women in traditional robes at a shrine in Japan. Commuters also wear masks when riding the train or catching a taxi ride. 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. Im inclined to say Spring 2023, but its easy to envision a worst-case that isnt until summer. Japan Airlines planes at Narita International Airport: EQRoy / Shutterstock.com. If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site. While the daily number of arrivals was higher pre-closure, we assumed that 50,000 is the level at which this cap becomes immaterial with China still sidelined. 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. Most flights go to Tokyo (Narita or Haneda), but some flights also go to Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto). Do you or anyone here know if we need this after Oct. 11? As weve stressed repeatedly, Japans populace has been among the most cautious in the world with regard to COVID-19. We also create tailormade trips. Japan has been largely closed to foreign visitors since 2020, as it implemented some of the world's toughest Covid-19 restrictions. Critically, this would eliminate the legal requirement of a responsible receiving party for visitors to Japan. 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. 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. We then take care of all the arrangements, create you a totally bespoke Info Pack detailing every aspect of your trip and offer guidance and support throughout. Again, if youd like to be notified as soon as more details are released or rumored, subscribe to ourfree email newsletter for ongoing updates and alerts: (function(d, s, id) { However, if youve received any fewerjabs than three, youll need to show a negative test taken within 72 hours of departure for Japan. There are also signs that stringent travel measures, including the border closure, are having a greater impact on Japans economy than previously believed. There are only a few rules to keep in mind. If you want a copy of thistotally freeeBook and Japan reopening updates, all you need to do issubscribe to our newsletter! Japan eases foreign tourism ban and allows guided package tours. The Japanese governmentis now looking to capitalise on huge demand from travellers to visit without booking through an agency, especially as the weak yen means that travel to Japan is currently cheaper than it has been for many years. Given that none of the recent reports have even mentioned COVIDs status in regard to reopening, its possible our perspective was wrong. June 23, 2022 When Visa Free Travel to Japan Since October 11, 2022, tourists from countries in the visa waiver program have been able to enter Japan visa-free again. In our view, koyo (autumn leaves) season is a good bet, and that takes place from mid-November through December. All you have to do is pick one of our artfully made Tours and your desired departure date. We typically spend a couple of months in Japan each year, and are ecstatic to be returning after nearly 3 years away. Boosting tourism was core to the late former Prime Minister Abes economic revitalization, and both subsequent prime ministers have indicated their intentions to maintain continuity with those plans. By contrast,Fuji TV is treating this as a done deal, using less ambiguous language. The specifics are not consistent among outlets, so lets start with where theyre in agreeance. Japan strictly limits foreign arrivals out of covid-19 concerns, a scientifically specious approach that has made the country an outlier among top economies and most Asia-Pacific neighbors that. If youve received three vaccine doses, you dont need to take a pre-travel Covid test. Its akin to the experience we had when we started InsideJapan in the year 2000, back when the idea of Kyoto being over-touristed seemed impossible. With this, the visa exemption would be reinstated, making that a non-issue. But whatever winter wave occurs (and onewillhappen), thats unlikely to be an obstacle to reopening progress, as was the case last year. The government defended the program as a necessary stepping stone to open borders. From the beginning this page was the only place I checked (sometimes daily) for hope. If you are triple vaccinated, you do not have to take a pre-departure test. Hardly a week goes by when we don't get this question from a TravelSort Client. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary Exercise normal precautions in Japan. League rediscovering fervor upon fans' full-scale return, Nippon Ham's plant-based seafood is first for major Japanese food manufacturer, A Japanese photographer heads to Ukraine; a student flees to Tokyo. Ive been following since the very beginning and only started actually posting at the very end, but I want you to know how grateful I am that your blog existed as truly the gold standard for Japan-related travel blogs throughout the pandemic. Here is the lowdown on Japan's relaxed travel rules. As governor of Tokyo, that would be tomorrow.. The next step for Japan, I think, is Corona downgrade and mask usage. At that time, it was unclear whether unguided tourists would be allowed to enter. Kyodo, Nikkei, and NHK are reporting that this is to be determined, with government officials still deciding whether to proceed with this plan or start with lifting the daily arrival cap. October 2022, visa-free travel resumed and all arrival caps were removed as well. History. With all of this said, Ill present my revised best, worst, and base-case scenarios for Japans reopening to individual tourists, Lets start with the best-case scenario. Tourism is a big industry in Tokyo, as well as in all Japan, so this is the time to greet more foreign tourists by using this advantage of the depreciation of the yen, she said. 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. Updated: Mar 31, 2022 / 10:45 PM HST. Aug 31, 2022. If/when theres another winter resurgence in cases, the reopening can would effectively be kicked down the road for a few more months. Now that borders are open you can visit a new UNESCO site in northern Japan, open since May 2021. That theres more upside than downside risk in reopening and encouraging more economic activity. Guidelines for tourist attractions are straightforward. even if theyre off for a jog or on a bicycle. On August 31, Kishida made an official announcement encompassing all of the rumored changes, including unguided tourists. Setouchi Triennale (First Session from April 14th, 2022) 3. With the ever-changing rules, it's hard to keep up with which countries are open for study, work, and tourism. 2022. Speaking of which, check out ourJapan Fall Colors Forecast & Autumn Foliage Viewing Guideto get started on planning your trip to visit Japans popular fall foliage cities, including Kyoto, Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Himeji, and Nara. Updated On September 26, 2022. Ghibli Park (November 1st, 2022) 2. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. Cheers . It will happen soon. Japan finally opened its borders to tourists on Friday, but with strict rules. 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. 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