October 2022, visa-free travel resumed and all arrival caps were removed as well. I will be in Japan from the second week of Nov. No doubt I will walk past some of you on here at the customs or one of the many beautiful places in Japan . What follows is based on that research and fixation with the on-the-ground situation in Japan. By Lilit Marcus, CNN Published 9:20 PM EDT, Sun July 31, 2022 Link Copied! 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. You do NOT need to be vaccinated with a Covid vaccine to enter Japan. Updated On September 26, 2022. Visa-free, independent travel is now possible for most nationalities. Plus:youll soon be able to spend six weeks in Thailand, visa-free. 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. It looks like you're using an ad blocker. In addition to masks, divider screens can still be seen in many establishments. 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. In such a scenario, the borders could almost immediately return to their normal pre-closure status in early October. Well, in September 2022, Fumio Kishida, the Japanese Prime Minister announced that the country will begin to reopen independent, free travel from October 11. What were those, you ask? Im heading to Tokyo for the first time in 3.5 years on October 23rd and I cant wait! Moments after the Australian government announced that it would reopen the country's borders to international travelers later this month, Emily . We have more good news! 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. Thanks Tom, and everyone! Will those be a requirement for overseas travelers? . 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. 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. These include: checking body temperature on arrival, social distancing when possible and regularly sanitizing hands, in addition to wearing a mask. Kishidas government has been trying to take advantage of the weak yen and accelerate growth by attracting more foreign visitors. From 11th October 2022, visa-free travel resumed and all arrival caps were removed as well. Europeans are currently only allowed into the country in exceptional circumstances. All you have to do is pick one of our artfully made Tours and your desired departure date. Frankly, the miscalculation here by the Kishida administration is thinking that this will have an immediate impact on inbound travel. Short answer: as incredible as ever but with far fewer tourists! This was a great place to keep up to date on the happenings. Hardly a week goes by when we don't get this question from a TravelSort Client. July 20, 2021. Moreover, how this played out with Japans last announcement is also instructive. You all made the (repeated) cancellations and premature excitement a bit more bearable. Most flights here are not daily, but a few times a week. October. 10 minutes. P.s. If you are a citizen of one of those countries, you do not need to apply for a visa in advance; you will be given a 90-day tourist visa upon arrival in Japan (note that there are few exceptions which are listed on the MOFA site). Aug 31, 2022. 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 . Previously, travellers were required to join a tour group to enter Japan for leisure. There are no quarantine requirements, and travel is visa-free for the vast majority of people reading this. It's official: Japan will reopen to tourism on October 11. of course the opposition (not all of it, from what I read) is against this. As of October 11, 2022, Japan is open for tourism for independent travelers without a guide or a packaged tour. Heres a full list of all the countries and regions eligible for visa-free travel to Japan. Did the Visit Japan Web App before arrival and was simple getting through everything at Narita, just had to show them the QR codes, two people traveling, one with the triple vaccination and one just using pre travel PCR test. As countries across Asia reopen to international travelers, Japan one of the continent's most popular destinations remains firmly closed. 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. Guided trips also had to be booked through a government-, , independent travel became possible, but still needed to be booked through a government-, However, as we mentioned above, from October 11, onwards fully independent, visa-free travel, Yes! 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 . During the Bloomberg New Voices panel,Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said she would open the countrys doors tomorrow if it were her decision. Travelers who are unsure of their eligibility to travel to Japan should contact the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate for additional . Finally booked my flights, enjoy your trips everyone! To say it one last time cheers, Tom. Japan's struggling tourism sector sees a light at the end of the tunnel as "self-guided" tours make way for full travel. We were wrongthe unguided tours offered two steps forward but one step backwards. Let's 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. 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. Ive started to see on JP twitter people asking for No mask in Japan too, so the sentiment is shifting even there. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, according to the news outlets sources. Travel restrictions such as visa requirements and arrival caps were removed on October 11th, and Japan is fully open for tourism. 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. And the country is not rushing to change. Cheers . On 10 June 2022, Japan finally started allowing international tourists into the country for the first time in . Entering Japan From June 10th 2022, Japan opened to escorted tours. And thank you for providing this space for all of us. New Galleries In Naoshima (March 12th, 2022) 4. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. }(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. 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. Of course, things could change between now and then, but its likely the border will revert to late 2019 status as of that date. First, there is consensus that the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, will be eliminated entirely. Guided trips also had to be booked through a government-authorized provider. Early detection of postpartum depression? That also offers tips for avoiding crowds and strategy for visiting the best temples, shrines, and evening illuminations. 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. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary As always, Japan is cautious and conservative, with a slow and belabored decision-making process that often embodies analysis paralysis and usually defies logic. The number of people anxiously awaiting Japans reopening is shrinking, not growing. Dj vu! What we had here was a weird little community of sorts, and a really nice one considering the circumstances. On June 10 package tours from overseas will start to bring tourists back to the country. Will be heading back again in a couple of weeks. 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. Those reading regular updates on Japans reopening are not representative of international travelers at large. Easy. Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered new guidance that were covering inJapan Reopening to Individual Tourists: FAQ, Rules & Guidelines. While it certainly sounds likethe end is nearfor the Japan travel ban, its premature to have a high degree of confidence. 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. The short version is that it is possible to enter, regardless of whether youre vaccinated or unvaccinated, albeit with a testing requirement for the latter. Can you really see Japan's best bits on a budget? Experience the best of Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone and Kamakura on this 9-night, low-cost Small Group Tour. Single-use cutlery is rife, including disposable chopsticks and plastic forks. 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 . Constitutionally, the Japanese government cant mandate something like mask wearing. In other words, a free-roaming backpacking trip around Japan is now on the cards! |. If you are unvaccinated, you have to take a pre-departure test. Lets say that happens in early November. 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. 2. Japans economy has serious issues and inbound tourism was previously a bright spot. In many places, customers should browse the menu via a QR code. This is now the same as the best-case scenario. Was great being here. Wow, i cant believe it. 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. From June 10th 2022, Japan opened to escorted tours. Japan is always magical, but if you like to have the magic all to yourself, 2022 could be a once in a lifetime opportunity! obsolete information. Authorities have arrested Australians for working in the entertainment industry while in Japan on tourist visas. You will receive a link to download the eBook and periodic emails when there's news to share. This Article is From May 30, 2022. The Japan Times LTD. All rights reserved. Heres what you need to know. Japan eases foreign tourism ban and allows guided package tours. 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. Thats a wild card that could further extend any timeline. However, after more than two and a half years of waiting, the country fully reopened to tourism. Japan fully reopening in full is all but inevitable at this point. a prior mandate in late May, many people are still wearing masks outdoors. 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. 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. 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 . Economic benefits of international tourists is one big reason why Japan is expected to reopen its border. 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. 28-year-old woman picked to be astronaut by Japans space agency, J. Save. Yes! Given that none of the recent reports have even mentioned COVIDs status in regard to reopening, its possible our perspective was wrong. Hospitalizations and mortality remain relatively low. Or, that this barrier does still exist and Japan will have to create a solution for it (travel insurance?) On arrival, social distancing when possible and regularly sanitizing hands, in addition masks... 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