The country is also bringing back visa-free entry for visitors from more than 60 countries. (This number includes hotels used as government quarantine facilities, not just leisure stays.). Most people need months of time between booking and traveling; very few plan and take last-minute tripsespecially international ones. Those reading regular updates on Japans reopening are not representative of international travelers at large. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Wada Kouichi . Can I Travel to Japan Now? The resumption of individual travel to Japan and visa waivers, and the elimination of the daily arrival cap will allow international visitors to enjoy Japan in more ways than in the past two-and-a-half years. With the relaxed travel measures, Japan is fully prepared to host these events. The Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) loophole has long been used by foreign teenagers who hope to work in the nation's fast-growing child workforce, jobs . On Tuesday, the country. Copyright - Sarah & Tom Bricker, Travel Caffeine. I didnt comment here as much as many, but I sure did check this articles comments several times every day for the pastI dont know how long. However, Japan remains one of the few major economies with significant restrictions on travel still in place, including a cap on visitor numbers. That would mean individual tourists would not be welcomed back to Japan until sometime in the first half of 2023. 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. The total of guests at hotels and inns was 315.75 million, down 4.8% from 2020 and 47% from 2019. Will Japan open borders in 2023? Japan reopened its borders to overseas visitors on package tours Friday in a move that will potentially boost the economy over time, though the initial spending impact is likely to be limited. Japan reopened its borders to holders of long-term visitor, business or student visas on 1 June 2022, as well as to tourists on authorised package tours. You will receive a link to download the eBook and periodic emails when there's news to share. It was, indeed, a rare bright spot in such a dark, sad time. There are also signs that stringent travel measures, including the border closure, are having a greater impact on Japans economy than previously believed. Update: As of October 11, 2022, Japan will reopen to individual visitors on a visa-free basis. In our view, koyo (autumn leaves) season is a good bet, and that takes place from mid-November through December. The good news is that we now have an answer to questionsweve been asking for nearly two years! Wow, i cant believe it. =w=)b. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday his country will ease COVID-19 border control requirements next month, a key step in fostering a recovery in Japan's tourism sector, which is eager to take advantage of the yen's slide to a 24-year low. 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. Im heading to Tokyo for the first time in 3.5 years on October 23rd and I cant wait! (February 2023 Update). Public opinion nowadays is very reluctant to allow foreigner to enter Japan even if you guys want to enter Japan on the purpose of studying or business. Its pretty clear the government is focused on moving forward. More likely, the impact wont be fully felt until next years cherry blossom season. Reopening to individual tourists in October presents minimal (political) risk and maximum (economic) upside. This is the end weve all be anxiously awaiting for ~2 years! 2023 will bring the opening of a farm area for agritourism, with a private villa area due to open in 2024. Well keep watching the news and keep you posted if/when there are further developments about Japan reopening and allowing entry to travelers from the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond. Thank you so much for this free and respectful space for everyones opinions that has helped us get through these difficult years. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Yuen Bettei Daita ryokan traditional accommodation, illi Shimokitazawa studio apartment rentals and Mustard Hotel affordable (even by the hour) room rates, have made staying in Shimokitazawa more feasible alongside new boutique and food facilities like Bonus Track, Reload, tefu Lounge and Mikan Shimokita. Lets say that happens in early November. Sapporo 2023 will see the return of the Snow Festival for the first time in person in 3 years, and comes as the Susukino nightlife district grows with a new OMO3 property (2022) aimed at more adventurous travellers and a new Tokyu complex (2023) on the iconic Susukino crossing, including entertainment spaces and a new hotel. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. China retaliated by suspending the issuing of short-term visas in South Korea and Japan. First, there is consensus that the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, will be eliminated entirely. More information can be found here . This will save you significant money on accommodations, attractions, temples, groceries, transportation, and even Michelin-rated restaurants! It kind of fell like a little community in here, like I know from Discord groups. The arrivals cap would also be eliminated in this scenario. Decreased tourism plus falling exports, an increased consumption tax, reduced consumer spending, weak yen, and growing national debt. If youre planning your trip to Japan, what do you think about these itineraries? This is because Japan has formally decided to downgrade the legal status of the novel coronavirus on May 8, 2023 to the same category as common infectious diseases, such as seasonal influenza, thereby easing COVID-19 prevention rules. 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Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered new guidance that were covering inJapan Reopening to Individual Tourists: FAQ, Rules & Guidelines. Up to 20 per cent of these arrivals will also be required to take a COVID-19 test on arrival at the airport. Thank you Tom for providing us a platform to discuss thing amidst all the confusing developments and giving us updates. 1. The infection situation has been stabilizing in Japan and the government will consult with public health experts before reviewing the country's . Does that mean it will be as easy to visit now as it was pre-pandemic? Or, that this barrier does still exist and Japan will have to create a solution for it (travel insurance?) Elsewhere, the star-studded Super Mario movie (name TBC) will be opening in cinemas in April 2023, and a film adaptation of popular video game Ghost of Tsushima is in the works. 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. Independent tourists are not yet granted entry, although they can be expected to be allowed back by Autumn 2022. 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. As borders are reopening, Japan is finally seeing some improvements in its travel performance, according to the latest update of the Skift Travel Health Index. Japansreclassification of COVID-19 to Class 5 came after a panel of experts under the health ministry agreed on the plan earlier in the day. I have been to Japan many times pre-covid, and I am now going again this year late October. We are eager to revisit our favorite places, see friends in Japan for the first time in over two years, and continue creating this sites wealth of free planning resources. Visit Japan Web App also let me pre fill out for immigration and customs, and just use the QR codes for those as well. Currently, citizens of 68 countries and regions will be allowed to . Fly into one airport and out of another Plan to do 4 nights in Singapore on way back to Australia On the same topic. Japan is always one decade lagging behind the developed world. In short, the early October reopening is not just our most optimistic viewits now what we expect to happen. 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. Recently, Japan reopened to limited numbers of fully vaccinated foreign business travelers and students, and raised its daily limit of these arrivals from 3500 to 5000. It's official: Japan will reopen to tourism on October 11. Can you write one last update about the boarder being opened. Finally booked my flights, enjoy your trips everyone! These leaks came after Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara spoke on Fuji TV over the weekend and stated thatJapan will consider easing all three restrictionsthe daily arrival cap, ban on individual tourists, and visa requirements. 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. 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. It will happen soon. Japan is finally reopening its borders to mass tourism on October 11. Putting aside how I obviously need to be clearing my web history more often, it all feels so surreal now that is, how religiously I checked this comments section for news on Japan not even half a year prior, a somewhat embarrassing fact that Firefox is keen to remind me of. Im very glad its dead but am also appreciative of what existed while it did. Those two posts cover essentially everything you need to know about visiting Japan as of 2023. The key question is: Can it learn to love foreign tourists again? In various updates here, weve been sharing our experiences and what its like as a foreign visitor, what has changed, crowd conditions, expenses of visiting Japan with the weaker yen, and much more. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Public opinion polls show that most voters have already moved on from COVID to assorted scandals; the minority who still care will see no immediate increase in cases correlating with the border reopening. Updated on Oct 29, 2021 01:32 PM IST While other Asian countries are inching toward reopening, Japan's borders will likely remain shut for some time to come. Call 81 3 3201 3331. The country is also about to increase the daily cap of tourists allowed to enter Japan from 20,000 to 50,000. The provisional measures from March 1, 2023. . What we had here was a weird little community of sorts, and a really nice one considering the circumstances. Want to receive free updates on when Japan will reopen for travel? TOKYO, Japan - Japan plans to ease COVID 19-related border restrictions by lifting its entry ban for foreign nationals from 106 countries including the United States, Britain and France on . For better or worse, Japan is an insular and culturally conservative countrya characteristic that is often valued by visitors. Starting Tuesday October 11, Japan will drop its 50,000 entry cap and will allow independent tourists to visit Japan visa-free. -. While the pandemic is still very much a thing, we've largely seen countries start to take the approach of trying to resume "normal" life while living with . Economists fear a double dip recession in Japan due to the prolonged closures and restrictions. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? Koike said that Japans borders would fully reopen soon. That may soon change. While it certainly sounds likethe end is nearfor the Japan travel ban, its premature to have a high degree of confidence. Best wishes to everyone on your travels!! 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. It takes the shape of a long wooden sky deck on various levels encompassing an open-air deck for meditation, wooden rooms with tatami made for overnight stays, study/contemplation rooms and a restaurant serving fresh seasonal cuisine. I wish you all the best with your upcoming tripsthanks again for everything. 2023 GPlusMedia Inc. national Japan to increase daily border cap to 5,000 people from Nov 26. Think those will stick around for several months, or are simply theater to shift public opinion? Japan reopened its borders to independent foreign travelers and reintroduced visa-free entry from October 11, 2022. . Kihara isnt the only one who has been vocal about fully reopening to tourists recently. Of course, things could change between now and then, but its likely the border will revert to late 2019 status as of that date. Come see the new Japan. We will review all three restrictions together. As weve stressed repeatedly, Japans populace has been among the most cautious in the world with regard to COVID-19. }(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. Its borders were shut. Visit in Spring or Autumn. Japan is Likely to Reopen to Foreign Travelers in Spring 2022 if COVID-19 numbers remain low, according to industry estimates, although the government hasn't set a hard date yet. 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. Despite a sharp fall in the yen, just 120,400 visitors entered Japan in June, fewer than in May and April when borders were still closed, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. The specifics are not consistent among outlets, so lets start with where theyre in agreeance. 7:09. Here are all the details on visa-free travel, vaccination and Covid test requirements. Ill be sticking around for the future updates and travel guides. This is the first step in our gradual easing of the [border] restrictions, Kishida has said. Weve already returned to Japan, spending about a month in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and elsewhere. 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. PP PRITESH C PATEL 10 months ago How about Sept, Oct? I am incredibly pleased to finally welcome back individual travellers after coping with the pandemic during a wait of two-and-a-half years. In response to the announcement, JNTO will be doing everything we can to provide you with the latest information on coming to Japan so that many tourists can visit and journey throughout our country. We also recommend consulting ourUltimate Guide to KyotoandUltimate Guide to Tokyoto plan. Its now the popular position being advanced publicly by politicians, not just being advocated by Keidanren or Japans business lobby. Shimokitazawa An ongoing redevelopment around a suburban railway line stretching across three stations (Senrogai), cementing the districts place as a youth culture hub. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon. The national border is under the management of central government, Koike said. Im inclined to say Spring 2023, but its easy to envision a worst-case that isnt until summer. A Hong Kong women's rights group cancelled a demonstration at the last minute on Saturday after police said violent groups might want to join the protest. Thanks for the posts, Tom. For general inquiries about border measures for entry into Japan, please contact the following numbers Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's Call Center Open 9 AM to 9 PM, everyday including weekend and holidays. How do you view the news about guided tours? oh wow!! TOKYO: Japan looks like it may finally open its borders and end its splendid isolation. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. 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. Second, theres awareness within theKishida administration that the window of opportunity to reopen the border is closing. So why aren't tourists coming back? Travel Daily - Informing, connecting and developing the worlds travel industry professionals. Japan and South Korea imposed stricter border control on travellers from China after COVID cases surged there when it lifted its strict zero-COVID policy late last year. Im happy that I soon wont be needing to lurk this site on a daily basis as I have for the last countless months, but will always look back on this unexpected place of community fondly. JNTO President SEINO Satoshi commented: The Japanese government has, at last, announced the resumption of individual travel for tourism purposes, visa waivers, and the elimination of the daily arrival cap. Read on to find out more! May all our trips be everything we dreamt of and more. Japan: A deep-fried pork . Updated August 23 2022 Japan has eased border control measures several times in. On October 11, Japan will finally open its doors to independent travel following more than two years of some of the world's toughest border restrictions. . Join over 180,000 travel agents, professionals
May 18 - Japan is Reopening for Tourism to 4 Countries on May-end On Tuesday, May 17, government officials announced that Japan will accept some tourists from the U.S., Australia, Thailand, and Singapore on a trial basis starting at the end of this month. Japan has maintained some of the strictest For more than two years, the nation was effectively impossible visit Japan. It is finally over. Do you or anyone here know if we need this after Oct. 11? 01:51 . Demand vaccine certificates or PCR testing, and give people the freedom of movement. Thank you, for this wonderful site with its very helpful regular updates! As governor of Tokyo, that would be tomorrow.. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has reacted with powerful . 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. Instead of blanket testing of travellers from mainland China, Japan will only test selected samples, although travellers will still need to show a negative test before boarding their flights to Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference on Monday. If you cant respect another countrys Covid policies you shouldnt visit and be an entitled tourist. Cases are currently in freefall and will continue decreasing next month before bottoming out sometime between late October and early November. While there are still some covid-related protocols in place, it's likely that the entire pandemic-era regime of border measures will be done away with my some point in 2023. By contrast,Fuji TV is treating this as a done deal, using less ambiguous language. If youre planning a trip to the Japan, check outour other posts about Japanfor ideas on other things to do! STAY UPDATED WITH THE LATEST
Additionally, the Japan National Tourism Organization has set 2024 as its goal for recovering to 2019 international travel levels. Several recent updates have centered around Japans internal debate over whether tostrip COVID-19 of its special status and downgrade it to the same level as the flu in Japans infectious disease categories. Explore Japan's lesser-known destinations over 13 adventure-packed days, sipping sake in Takayama and marvelling at the iconic floating torii gate . 2023 will also see the opening of Yokohamas first high-end Hilton property in a waterfront development that will also house the K-Arena, one of the worlds largest live music venues, as part of the new Music Terrace. And thank you for providing this space for all of us. . . What are testing, face mask, and vaccine requirements for visitors? Japan has resumed its visa exemption scheme for short-stay tourism and business travel. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, according to the news outlets sources. 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? Its made it slightly more bearable having a community to discuss all the news coming out of Japan especially since group tours first became a reality. With all of that in mind, we remain cautiously optimistic that individual tourists will be allowed to enter Japan sooner rather than later. Frankly, the miscalculation here by the Kishida administration is thinking that this will have an immediate impact on inbound travel. (It took a few more days for the guidelines to be released, and the clarifying FAQ isstillbeing updated. Japan, one of the world's last major holdouts during the pandemic, is dissolving its COVID-19 restrictions and opening the door back up to mass tourism. Was less crowded than when I was there before, especially at the airport. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. 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.. We were wrongthe unguided tours offered two steps forward but one step backwards. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. 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. From September 7, 2022, the country plans to drop pre-departure testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers (including one booster dose). Given that none of the recent reports have even mentioned COVIDs status in regard to reopening, its possible our perspective was wrong.