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. 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. Japan is now allowing foreign nationals to enter Japan for purposes other than tourism so long as they have a sponsor in the country. 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. On August 23, specifics of the September relaxation measures were leaked to the same media outlets. Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? Japan also began allowing unguided tours, meaning ones not accompanied by tour conductors. Thank you Tom and to everyone for all the insights, info, and updates. Then theres the middle ground or base case. Essentially, there will be no (legal) basis for the current border protocol effective May 8, 2023. 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. Jul 18, 2022, 1:40 PM. Impediments to international travel to Japan also come from measures imposed by the tourists' own countries. October. 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. Both of these statements are reassuring given the current border closures, and indicate that Japan will unwind its travel ban in months, not years. Just booked my accommodation/flights/insurance/rail pass for a 22 day trip to Hiroshima, Fukui, Kanazawa, Nagoya and Osaka! The Japanese government recently eased its COVID-19 entry restrictions, meaning tourists can now visit without being on a guided tour. 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. Heres a full list of all the countries and regions eligible for visa-free travel to Japan. 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. In May, 2022, a highly anticipated announcement by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida led many to despair. 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. 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. Ill never forget this amazing, special blog and the unlikely community of shared pain that flourished here for as long as I live. japan, . Is Japan open for internationalindividual travelers? 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. 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. Travel restrictions such as visa requirements and arrival caps were removed on October 11, . 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. New Galleries In Naoshima (March 12th, 2022) 4. 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. From June 10th 2022, Japan opened to escorted tours. See details here. (With the possible workaround of travel insurance or some other awkward fix.). even if theyre off for a jog or on a bicycle. At best, this helps with winter. 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 . The Japanese government has been working on a borders reopening schedule since April 27 to help revive the economy. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com, Last Update: February 28, 2023 (this page will be updated as needed). Tourists with U.S. passports can stay in Japan visa-free for up to three months. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary The Jomon Prehistoric Sites collectively form a Cultural Heritage Site, at which you'll learn about the culture of the indigenous Jmon people across 17 archaeological areas.. Bullet Trains. Ive started to see on JP twitter people asking for No mask in Japan too, so the sentiment is shifting even there. But from 11 Oct 2022, travellers are free to explore Japan independently . 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. 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. Japan is famous for . We have all the answers you need about Japans full border opening on 11th October. Before the pandemic, Japan's tourism industry was booming. It could start as soon as late November, but is more likely in December. And even now, as it opens its borders to tourists from nearly. sheeesh still cant believe my trip starting october 22nd might actually happen this time (). 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. 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. With the ever-changing rules, it's hard to keep up with which countries are open for study, work, and tourism. Fully independent, visa-free travel to Japan is now possible from October 11th onwards. "We will lift the ceiling of the number of entrants into Japan, lift the ban on. js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/28/412454028.js"; Your email address will not be published. Given that Japan is now open, its time to start planning a trip. Frankly, the miscalculation here by the Kishida administration is thinking that this will have an immediate impact on inbound travel. Use the Visit Japan Web app to upload your Covid vaccination status or Covid test results. 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. P.s. I just got back from my first post re-opening trip to Japan, and am open to answering questions. 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. Here at InsideJapan, we pride ourselves on creating (hands-down) the best cultural adventures to Japan (and we measure that by our average customer rating of 4.9/5). 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. The rules for. November 2 - International travelers to Japan exceeded 200,000 in September. Fully independent, visa-free travel to Japan is now possible from October 11, Sort of, hence the confusion! The Japan Times LTD. All rights reserved. Yes, Japan will be fully open for tourists and lift its travel restrictions (to pre-COVID status) on October 11th, 2022. For more details, see our Japan Covid vaccination and testing page. 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? 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. Most flights go to Tokyo (Narita or Haneda), but some flights also go to Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto). We recommend checking with the facilities you want to visit before heading out. Thatll help you prepare for arrival, and potentially save time at the airport. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 206,500 foreign tourists visited the nation in September. 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 . Additionally, the Japan National Tourism Organization has set 2024 as its goal for recovering to 2019 international travel levels. 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. See below for more details. 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. Domestic hurdles: the possible come back of GoTo Travel and July's election. With that in mind, lets cover how we got here, why Japan maintains the strictest among the Group of Seven developed nations, and what could cause that to change, Again and again, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said that Japan will continue to consider how the measures should be by taking into account the infection situations at home and abroad, border control measures taken by other nations, and progress in the rollout of vaccine boosters.. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party recognizes these problems and realizes it needs to rebuild Japans economy. Dj vu! If youre planning a trip to the Japan, check outour other posts about Japanfor ideas on other things to do! If youre planning your trip to Japan, what do you think about these itineraries? But whatever winter wave occurs (and onewillhappen), thats unlikely to be an obstacle to reopening progress, as was the case last year. 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. 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.. Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed. By Lilit Marcus, CNN Published 9:20 PM EDT, Sun July 31, 2022 Link Copied! Spending another night in Okinawa for the 55th stay of my ongoing 87-day adventure across Japan, I absent-mindedly typed the letter J into my web browser, only to have this article come up as the first suggestion. 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. The country will allow visa-free entry for. Early detection of postpartum depression? Dont get us wrong, we love Japan (enough to dedicate 22 years of our lives to the place), and part of loving Japan is marveling at how delightfully confusing it can be at times. 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 result, Fuji TV reported Monday. All you have to do is pick one of our artfully made Tours and your desired departure date. Japan tops global tourism index for 1st time, despite tight borders. P.S. 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. That would mean individual tourists would not be welcomed back to Japan until sometime in the first half of 2023. Thats simply a good time to visit Japan and, hopefully, the country will be open to individual tourists by then. However and wherever you choose to travel, well take exceptional care of you from the first call to arriving back home. Gradual speeding-up of the reopening. Thanks for the updates Tom and thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and opinions over the past 2 years. If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site. Thats the sharpest fall on record according to the Japan Tourism Agency. 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. 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. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: Japan Airlines planes at Narita International Airport: Guide to the Visit Japan Web app and Japan Entry Procedures, Kansai International Airport (for Osaka and Kyoto), Kyoto Walking Tour 1: Nanzen-ji Temple to Yoshida-jinja Shrine, Kyoto Walking Tour 2: Tofuku-ji Temple to Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine, Kyoto Walking Tour 3: Classic Southern Higashiyama, A Guide to the Visit Japan Web app and Japan Entry Procedures, Kyoto Itineraries for Families with Children, Kyoto One-Day Off-the-Beaten-Track Cherry Blossom Itinerary, The Most Romantic Hotels and Ryokan in Kyoto. The number has never exceeded 200,000 since the pandemic began. On Thursday, Kishida announced that Japan will resume visa-free entry for individual travelers on October 11. 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)? 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 number includes hotels used as government quarantine facilities, not just leisure stays.). At the summit, the Japanese company Hotel Management International Company Limited (HMI Group) decided to open hotels in 30 cities including Agra, Ayodhya, and Varanasi.". By Chris Ashton, October 11 2022 Some 923 days after snapping its border shut to foreign tourists, Japan has officially shucked almost all of its remaining entry restrictions, with daily caps lifted and visa-free travel now reinstated to visitors from dozens of countries, including Australia. It also intends to abolish the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, the report added. Japans economy has serious issues and inbound tourism was previously a bright spot. Who knowsit still may take until early 2023 to fully downgrade the legal status of COVID. Now that borders are open you can visit a new UNESCO site in northern Japan, open since May 2021. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that his top priority was formulating new economic measures and implementing these goals. Short answer: as incredible as ever but with far fewer tourists! Was great being here. Up until now, the government has eased access to the country in baby steps amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division. Mount Fuji: One of Japan's three sacred mountains. Please add japantimes.co.jp and piano.io to your list of allowed sites. We have all the answers you need about Japan's full border opening on 11th October 2022. Published Feb. 18, 2022 Updated Feb. 28, 2022. 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. Before heading to Japan to travel, make sure to check the most up-to-date information. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. Still current at: 28 February 2023 Updated: 9 February 2023 Latest update: Updated information on travellers entering Japan from China - excluding Hong Kong and Macao ('Entry requirements' page). Its pretty clear the government is focused on moving forward. 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. Previously, travel requirements included booking your trip through a government-approved tour operator and also obtain a visa and ERFS certificate, but both these requirements are no longer necessary. Im very glad its dead but am also appreciative of what existed while it did. 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 . As for why Japans border is still closed over a year after most democracies reopened, that can largely be explained by the countrys apprehensiveness of outsiders. For now, however. While I hope to see you around here on future updates, I know that probably wont be the case. It's official: Japan will reopen to tourism on October 11. Thanks to so many of you regular readers and commenters who made the last couple of years easier, shared articles, optimistic/pessimistic updates, and so much more. With the yen weak, tourism has the potential to . Or, that this barrier does still exist and Japan will have to create a solution for it (travel insurance?) 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 Amid the weakening yen, inbound travelers will have greatest economic effectThere are many foreign visitors who want to come visit Japan. Kihara added that eliminating the arrival cap alone was not enough. Children traveling with triple-vaxxed (ie, boosted) parents are exempt from the pre-departure Covid test requirement, whether or not theyve been vaccinated. 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. Single-use cutlery is rife, including disposable chopsticks and plastic forks. Check the most up-to-date information your desired departure date in baby steps amid COVID-19! Party recognizes these problems and realizes it needs to rebuild Japans economy your. 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