Japan's public transport system is among the best in the world, its jewel the high-tech, high . 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. . Ive missed it so much. Even though the Japanese government relaxed a prior mandate in late May, many people are still wearing masks outdoors. From 11th October 2022, visa-free travel resumed and all arrival caps were removed as well. Cheers . It aint over till its over.pls see my recent post which I HOPE isnt accurate and just some fake news, but Reuters is pretty accurate. 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. 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. 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. Up until now, the government has eased access to the country in baby steps amid the COVID-19 pandemic. What about proof of vaccination? As governor of Tokyo, that would be tomorrow.. Heres a full list of all the countries and regions eligible for visa-free travel to Japan. More likely, the impact wont be fully felt until next years cherry blossom season. 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. 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,. We humbly apologize for the inconvenience. Visa-free travel is possible for all countries that originally had this arrangement with Japan, which includes countries like Australia, New Zealand, the UK, most of Europe, the US and Canada. Easy. Thanks again for all the work you put into this. It also intends to abolish the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, the report added. To differentiate the two, Ill also allow for a middle ground possibility of a bifurcated decision with the individual tourist reopening a few weeks after the entry cap elimination. "We will lift the ceiling of the number of entrants into Japan, lift the ban on. mean getting rid of the mask. Now is the time to start planning a trip to Japan. Over two years into this, the seasonality of COVID transmission is well-established. Thanks for the updates Tom and thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and opinions over the past 2 years. Our view is that the worst-case scenario is nowhighlyunlikely. 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. Here are cities with direct flights to Japan and the airlines that operate them. If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site. That this would be achieved in such an unexpected setting on the comments section of a single article on a white-and-orange travel blog, which came to accumulate nearly 3,000 comments as though it were a 2000s-era forum feels almost too ridiculous to be true. 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. Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered new guidance that were covering inJapan Reopening to Individual Tourists: FAQ, Rules & Guidelines. 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. 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. Japan is finally open to independent travellers and has now lifted even more border restrictions. Basically, travelling with a guide either as part of a group or a private guide just for you and your travel companion(s). In such a scenario, the borders could almost immediately return to their normal pre-closure status in early October. To learn more see our FAQ, Rust belt province got old before it got rich, as much of China will. Its pretty clear the government is focused on moving forward. Just over half a million visitors have come to Japan so far in 2022, compared with a record 31.8 million in 2019. All rights reserved. 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. japan, . I came to your page because this comments section and its provisional community provided something both unique and welcome in a dark time for travellers of Japan. So, youll be able to have the place mostly to yourself and everything will seem positively cheap! As for you, Tom Id buy you a round at my favourite izakaya if I could! February 2023 Japan is finally open! This is despite Japans Go to Travel campaign that subsidized domestic travel, which was offered at various times during the last two years. Why Japan is Unlikely to Reopen Borders Until 2022 July 7, 20210 When Will Japan Reopen Its Borders for International Visitors (and not just Olympic athletes and coaches)? From October 11, 2022, almost all restrictions are to be lifted. The specifics are not consistent among outlets, so lets start with where theyre in agreeance. Authorities have arrested Australians for working in the entertainment industry while in Japan on tourist visas. June 23, 2022 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? At the time of writing, Japan has been experiencing around 36,000 new cases a day new cases a day. Additionally, the Japan National Tourism Organization has set 2024 as its goal for recovering to 2019 international travel levels. From June 10th 2022, Japan opened to escorted tours. Kyoto in cherry blossom season: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com. I already moved on to read your other Japan travel posts to get tips which are also so helpful! Japan's borders finally reopened to independent travelers in October 2022, and visiting Japan now is virtually as easy as it was before the pandemic. Experience the best of Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone and Kamakura on this 9-night, low-cost Small Group Tour. Except for everyone wearing masks, things seemed mostly back to normal. Im very glad its dead but am also appreciative of what existed while it did. by: Kristy Tamashiro. The arrivals cap would also be eliminated in this scenario. For arrivals from most countries from October 11th, 2022, a visa is no longer required to visit Japan. Japan eased its border restrictionslast week, raising the daily arrival cap from 20,000 to 50,000 and dropping the requirement for pre-arrival PCR testing for vaccinated travelers. Lets say that happens in early November. Thanks for your commitment, communication and consultation over the last 2 years. 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 . 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. Updated overall advisory level after periodic review. This is the first step in our gradual easing of the [border] restrictions, Kishida has said. 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. Given that Japan is now open, its time to start planning a trip. Hi Tom and THANK YOU for everything this platform had AND still has to offer! Japan To Open Borders From June 10 To Aid Hobbled Tourism Industry: Report . Visit Japan Web App also let me pre fill out for immigration and customs, and just use the QR codes for those as well. Why Expecting Japan's Reopening to Tourism Before Summer 2022 at Best is Unrealistic. 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. There are only a few rules to keep in mind. 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. If you are triple-vaxxed (ie, boosted), you do NOT need proof of a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of boarding your flight to Japan. The new experiment is a way of testing how tourism providers deal with outbreaks of Covid-19. This is something weve pointed out in our best and worst case scenarios in prior updates, but theres only a limited amount of time between waves. May all our trips be everything we dreamt of and more. 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. I wish you all the best with your upcoming tripsthanks again for everything. 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.. First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11 of last year. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that his top priority was formulating new economic measures and implementing these goals. We already have this email. It was challenging, convoluted and at times frustrating. The Japanese government recently eased its COVID-19 entry restrictions, meaning tourists can now visit without being on a guided tour. That theres more upside than downside risk in reopening and encouraging more economic activity. Domestic criticism and lobbying have already allowed a significant easing of the restrictions. In fact, you should act fast: the crowds are going to return, but it will take several months before we get back to the jam-packed conditions of 2019. Europeans are currently only allowed into the country in exceptional circumstances. All travel companies are different. We have more good news! 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. Kihara isnt the only one who has been vocal about fully reopening to tourists recently. Istanbul is one of the most important tourism spots not only in Turkey but also in the world. Japan is finally open! var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; In terms of the latest news, the current vaccine and testing policies are likely to end on May 8, 2023. Here are 7 of the new tourist attractions that are opening in Japan in 2022! Citizens of 68 countries now get visa-free travel to Japan. Published Feb. 18, 2022 Updated Feb. 28, 2022. Impediments to international travel to Japan also come from measures imposed by the tourists' own countries. We have all the answers you need about Japans full border opening on 11. Then theres the middle ground or base case. 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. Before heading to Japan to travel, make sure to check the most up-to-date information. 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