This is where there is disagreement among the major outlets. Will be heading back again in a couple of weeks. Children under the age of 18 do not need to have vaccination certificates and nor will they need have negative Covid test certificates if they are travelling with parents or guardians who have been vaccinated and have vaccination certificate. But whatever winter wave occurs (and onewillhappen), thats unlikely to be an obstacle to reopening progress, as was the case last year. 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. For arrivals from most countries from October 11th, 2022, a visa is no longer required to visit Japan. It will happen soon. It now appears that the time is hereor coming very soon. (See above 'Latest News') Short-term travelers to Japan will be allowed to enter Japan without a visa. From Sept. 22nd, In a Reuters report published on The Japan Times, the government may allow hotels to refuse entry to guests who do not wear masks and follow other anti-virus measures.This new measure is still in its infancy. Weve already returned to Japan, spending about a month in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and elsewhere. That'll help you prepare for arrival, and potentially save time at the airport. While it certainly sounds likethe end is nearfor the Japan travel ban, its premature to have a high degree of confidence. Can you really see Japan's best bits on a budget? 2022. From October 11th 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. Like a moth to a flame.). 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week, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is in New York to deliver an address at the U.N. General [], Your email address will not be published. Our view is that the worst-case scenario is nowhighlyunlikely. Yes! We recommend checking with the facilities you want to visit before heading out. From 11th October onwards, visa-free travel will resume, and all arrival caps are being removed as well. Naoko Kutty. Is this a here we go again moment looming? (February 2023 Update). Will those be a requirement for overseas travelers? Try another? On June 10 package tours from overseas will start to bring tourists back to the country. The national border is under the management of central government, Koike said. Basically, travelling with a guide either as part of a group or a private guide just for you and your travel companion(s). 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 . To enter Japan tourists simply need to: Return a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure, OR provide a valid Covid-19 certificate of having had at least 3 vaccine doses (the certificate needs to be uploaded onto Visit Japan web) But from 11 Oct 2022, travellers are free to explore Japan independently . This was a great place to keep up to date on the happenings. Japan fully reopening in full is all but inevitable at this point. This assumes thatJapan downgrades COVID-19 from its special status to Category 5 literally any day now orthat this is not a necessary prerequisite to an individual tourist reopening. But were over the moon to announce that travel to Japan has now returned to something that looks a lot like the old normal. Japan relaxed its border measures earlier in September while still being #1 in the world for new cases. The Japan Times LTD. All rights reserved. Fortwo-and-a-half years, travel to Japan has been pretty tough. Most flights go to Tokyo (Narita or Haneda), but some flights also go to Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto). 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. This is now the same as the best-case scenario. js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/28/412454028.js"; Yes, in some situations. November 2 - International travelers to Japan exceeded 200,000 in September. Yes, Japan will be fully open for tourists and lift its travel restrictions (to pre-COVID status) on October 11th, 2022. Thanks, [] to individual tourists for the duration of the festivities. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TRAVEL, TRIPS & OFFERS TO JAPAN: The perfect itinerary for first-time visitors to Japan: cities, countryside, hot springs, great food, history and culture. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the news in September at a press conference. . 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. Japan has maintained fairly strict border control since the pandemic began however as of October 11th, 2022, all COVID restrictions and border controls have been lifted. The Japanese government recently eased its COVID-19 entry restrictions, meaning tourists can now visit without being on a guided tour. From the beginning this page was the only place I checked (sometimes daily) for hope. 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. And, to top it off, the yen is now at multi-decade lows. Updated overall advisory level after periodic review. That may soon change. }(document, "script", "aweber-wjs-adqosrqps")); If youre planning a visit to Japan, our recommendation at this point is to target sometime in November at the earliest. By September 14, 2022 Credit: Depositphotos Advertisement After. UPDATE: The Japanese government announced on May 26, 2022, that Japan will reopen for tourists visiting on packaged tours starting June 10, 2022. |. As countries across Asia reopen to international travelers, Japan one of the continent's most popular destinations remains firmly closed. Want to receive free updates on when Japan will reopen for travel? Before heading to Japan to travel, make sure to check the most up-to-date information. Thats simply a good time to visit Japan and, hopefully, the country will be open to individual tourists by then. You need to wait until the end of August to foresee that possibility. Japan on Friday eased its borders for foreign tourists. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 206,500 foreign tourists visited the nation in September. Heres a full list of all the countries and regions eligible for visa-free travel to Japan. This is the first step in our gradual easing of the [border] restrictions, Kishida has said. 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 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. We already have this email. There are thousands of hotels and other tourist-oriented industries in the city. Asia Welcomes Travelers, but Japan Says, Not Yet Countries across region are reopening borders to tourists, but Japan continues to turn them away. By contrast,Fuji TV is treating this as a done deal, using less ambiguous language. Constitutionally, the Japanese government cant mandate something like mask wearing. Japan is finally open! Most people need months of time between booking and traveling; very few plan and take last-minute tripsespecially international ones. There are only a few rules to keep in mind. 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. Japan is famous for . 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. for individual tourists. 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! Thank you so much for this free and respectful space for everyones opinions that has helped us get through these difficult years. In Japan, customers are expected to sanitize their hands when entering shops and restaurants. I assume well hear from AndyO soon, admitting he was wrong, like he demanded from so many of us. 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. The rest of 2022 offers a rare chance to experience Japan before the crowds return in 2023. A key challenge will be to make the country more responsible and open-minded to foreigners. japan, . And thank you for providing this space for all of us. If this does not resolve the issue or you are unable to add the domains to your allowlist, please see this FAQ. Here are cities with direct flights to Japan and the airlines that operate them. Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? Japan To Open Borders From June 10 To Aid Hobbled Tourism Industry: Report . Its thus our view that Japan reopening in some capacity to individual tourists in October is a very realistic scenario. What are testing, face mask, and vaccine requirements for visitors? Autumn is already a lost cause. 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. Cant wait! Cheers . 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.. Dining out doesnt mean getting rid of the mask. Thank you Tom for providing us a platform to discuss thing amidst all the confusing developments and giving us updates. If you are unvaccinated, you have to take a pre-departure test. 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. All of this in the hope for some clarity as to when the country will fully reopen and Japan will begin allowing international tourists to enter once again. a prior mandate in late May, many people are still wearing masks outdoors. Japan's public transport system is among the best in the world, its jewel the high-tech, high . 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. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party recognizes these problems and realizes it needs to rebuild Japans economy. Thus our view that Japan reopening in full is all but inevitable at this point for everyones opinions that helped. 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