Bon voyage! 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. It kind of fell like a little community in here, like I know from Discord groups. 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. 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. Ive been following since the very beginning and only started actually posting at the very end, but I want you to know how grateful I am that your blog existed as truly the gold standard for Japan-related travel blogs throughout the pandemic. 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. (February 2023 Update). The prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said on Thursday that the. This is where there is disagreement among the major outlets. The country eased border controls . We know there are a lot of people overseas who want to come to Japan, Kihara added. Japan relaxed its border measures earlier in September while still being #1 in the world for new cases. . Here are all the details on visa-free travel, vaccination and Covid test requirements. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government launched a multilingual call center on COVID-19 for foreign residents. 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. Do you or anyone here know if we need this after Oct. 11? It has been well over two years since coronavirus initially shut down global travel. 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. 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. Thanks to everyone in here in the comments for that! In our view, koyo (autumn leaves) season is a good bet, and that takes place from mid-November through December. We were wrongthe unguided tours offered two steps forward but one step backwards. 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. From the beginning this page was the only place I checked (sometimes daily) for hope. The Mana Village A collection of villa properties opening in stages on the wild and rustic southern coastline of Kochi prefecture, on Shikoku island. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. Thank you Tom and to everyone for all the insights, info, and updates. We mention this in part to own past mistakes, but also as a cautionary tale. The ban on tourists due to the outbreak of COVID-19 has been in effect since April 2020, and for a long time, there has been no clear timeline on when the borders of Japan would be reopening again for tourism. obsolete information. Will Japan open borders in 2023? Do I need to be vaccinated to go to Japan? Thank you, for this wonderful site with its very helpful regular updates! first infection wave in spring 2020, and some closed again during subsequent waves; however, almost all of them are now open again. 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. Japan reopens: Here's what to look forward to in 2023 Its been our perspective that this was a necessary prerequisite towelcoming individual tourists as there would no longer be a need for a responsible receiving party to monitor travelers and act as a liaison for infected individuals. The National Museum of Scotland is currently hosting an exhibition on contemporary Japanese design until 5th March 2023, and Stonehenge will host an exhibition on stone circles and the prehistoric sites of Jomon Japan from 30 Sep 2022 until August 2023. Japan eased its border restrictions last week, raising the daily arrival cap from 20,000 to 50,000 and dropping the requirement for pre-arrival PCR testing for vaccinated travelers. Can I Travel To Japan Now? March 2023 - Inside Kyoto In today's Face-to-Face interview, Professor Wolfgang Arlt, founder and CEO of the China Outbound . Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. Update: As of October 11, 2022, Japan will reopen to individual visitors on a visa-free basis. 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. 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. Nov. Dec. Then Covid hit. Want to receive free updates on when Japan will reopen for travel? The endisnear. Multiple media outlets, including NHK, Kyodo, Nikkei, and Fuji TV are all reporting thatJapansgovernment is planning to further relax restrictions and border measures with an eye to implementing the revisions by the start of October. The good news is that we now have an answer to questionsweve been asking for nearly two years! -. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. 1. Were excited about this great (but overdue) news, but also go in knowing that things will be different, in ways both good and bad. It's official: Japan will reopen to tourism on October 11. The country is also bringing back visa-free entry for visitors from more than 60 countries. 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. We will review all three restrictions together. From the early days of Covid-19, our team of Japan travel experts has been closely monitoring developments and in constant contact with our network throughout the country. A guide to all things new in Japan in 2023, Japan in 2023: A bucket-list-worthy adventure, These locations in Japan inspired beloved Studio Ghibli films, AutoFlight achieves worlds longest eVTOL Flight, Accors Mvenpick BalaLand Resort Lake Balatonopens in, AirAsia X resumes services to Shanghai with four weekly. This includes business travelers on short stays, students in study abroad programs, participants in technical internships, both guided & unguided tour groups, spouses or children (and other relatives) of a Japanese national/permanent resident, others with special exceptional circumstances, and those who would provide a public benefit to Japan. From Tuesday, Japan will reinstate visa-free travel to dozens of countries, ending some of world's strictest border controls to slow the spread of COVID-19 . Demand vaccine certificates or PCR testing, and give people the freedom of movement. Everybody have a great trip! You no longer need a visa to travel to Japan for up to 90 days. And indeed, there was nothing today, either, or even this year so far because at last the Japan we loved, the Japan that rejected us against sense, science and reason, has finally provided a sensible, responsible option for people like us to enter the country, which was all we ever asked for in the first place. After a series of head fake border. Yokohama 2023 sees the return of the Yokohama Biennale art festival, timed with the reopening of the Yokohama Museum of Art post-renovation. 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. As countries across Asia reopen to international travelers, Japan one of the continent's most popular destinations remains firmly closed. 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. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is. Its entirely possible that Kishida sees this polling and his sagging approval numbers and realizes that its time to move forward. Nov. 18, 2021 10:20 am JST Nov. 26, 2021 . The arrivals cap would also be eliminated in this scenario. (Im sorry, I cant help myself. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the news in September at a press conference. Call 81 3 3201 3331. Commentary: Tourists would love to visit Japan. Will Japan love them 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. For better or worse, Japan is an insular and culturally conservative countrya characteristic that is often valued by visitors. The national border is under the management of central government, Koike said. COVID-19 Information - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan It remains unknown when independent travelers will be able to enter the. 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. Come see the new Japan. Japan has maintained some of the strictest . Japan slams the borders shut on Omicron - East Asia Forum 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. Latest Japan Travel Requirements - InsideJapan Tours That theres more upside than downside risk in reopening and encouraging more economic activity. This was a great place to keep up to date on the happenings. This will save you significant money on accommodations, attractions, temples, groceries, transportation, and even Michelin-rated restaurants! Koike said that Japans borders would fully reopen soon. Another possibility is that Japan will allow individual foreign tourists to enter the country andexempt them from visas if they have been vaccinated three times or submit a pre-arrival test result. Unlike the ever-sensational, click-hungry news, it was immediately clear whether something had actually happened (and thereby I could close out of the tab without being sucked into the latest round of Corona-related doom and gloom), and unlike virtually any other Japan-centric community Id encountered so far, it was a positive and generally healthy environment with a pleasant, level-headed and responsible leader at its helm. |. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. Mon 10 Oct 2022 23.22 EDT Last modified on Tue 11 Oct 2022 07.34 EDT Japan has fully opened its doors to visitors after more than two years of pandemic isolation. You all made the (repeated) cancellations and premature excitement a bit more bearable. May all our trips be everything we dreamt of and more. 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. That also offers tips for avoiding crowds and strategy for visiting the best temples, shrines, and evening illuminations. Japan has vilified and scapegoated foreigners and had an overly aggressive approach to its borders. This is specifically forunguided tour groups or non-escorted visitors on package tours andnotindividual tourists. We also recommend consulting ourUltimate Guide to KyotoandUltimate Guide to Tokyoto plan. P.s. Is Japan open to travelers? It's where Singaporeans want to travel - CNBC and executives subscribed to our daily newsletter. While I hope to see you around here on future updates, I know that probably wont be the case. Tour groups from 98 countries, including Australia, can now visit the country - but only if they wear masks, have . Japan Eyes Spring 2022 for Reopening to Travelers With all borders open and international racing officially back on, Asia-Pacific's premier off-road triathlon series is ready to return with some of the best trails on the circuit as local and international age group athletes can finally go head-to-head once again in a season-long race for the title of XTERRA Asia-Pacific Champion. Im very glad its dead but am also appreciative of what existed while it did. Both of these statements are reassuring given the current border closures, and indicate that Japan will unwind its travel ban in months, not years. By. Japan will open an embassy in Malta - The Malta Independent Can you write one last update about the boarder being opened. Autumn is already a lost cause. Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? Japan to reopen to tourists after more than two years of Covid border As of 2022 it features a recently renovated hotel area and local market, as well as a marine leisure area and an exclusive seafood restaurant located on a long pier into the ocean, flanked by infinity pools. From September 7, 2022, the country plans to drop pre-departure testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers (including one booster dose). As governor of Tokyo, that would be tomorrow.. I assume well hear from AndyO soon, admitting he was wrong, like he demanded from so many of us. 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. Read on to find out more! At a news conference in New York City, where he was attending the UN General Assembly meeting, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Japan has been busy over the past two-and-a-half years with preparations to welcome back everyone. Any questions? Thanks again for all the work you put into this. 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. These are questions among those planning trips to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and this covers the answers. Required fields are marked *, Free Money-Saving eBook & Japan Email Updates, https://www.travelcaffeine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/mount-fuji-sunrise-field-autumn-foliage-japan-bricker.jpg, https://www.travelcaffeine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/travel-caffeine-new-logo-2.jpg, Is Japan Open to Tourists? 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? 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. 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. [1/2]Passengers on a plane from Chinas capital Beijing arrive at Narita international airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan January 8, 2023. Second, theres awareness within theKishida administration that the window of opportunity to reopen the border is closing. There are also signs that stringent travel measures, including the border closure, are having a greater impact on Japans economy than previously believed. 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 . 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. Kishidas government has been trying to take advantage of the weak yen and accelerate growth by attracting more foreign visitors. Visit Japan Web App also let me pre fill out for immigration and customs, and just use the QR codes for those as well. Hi Tom, A guide to visiting Japan in 2022/23 - Lonely Planet Travel Daily - Informing, connecting and developing the worlds travel industry professionals. 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. Again, if youd like to be notified as soon as more details are released or rumored, subscribe to ourfree email newsletter for ongoing updates and alerts: (function(d, s, id) { TOKYO, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Japan will maintain its tight entry restrictions to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus until the end of February, the prime minister said on. Not so much in the last couple of years, as this has been reflected in policy-making. Crowds not a problem. 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. 'Ghost town': Japan reopens borders, but visitors find hotels short The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Wada Kouichi . Either way, thats something to continue keeping in mind. The next step for Japan, I think, is Corona downgrade and mask usage. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. As COVID-19's Omicron variant surges around the world, advanced democracies are generally responding vigorously but with lower levels of restrictions on social life and travel than in 2020 and 2021. 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. Im heading to Tokyo for the first time in 3.5 years on October 23rd and I cant wait! Join over 180,000 travel agents, professionals For these two-plus years, weve been closely monitoring the situation in Japan, watching several hours of NHK each day and reading multiple Japanese news sources. Are borders open as normal in 2023? Japan to reopen borders to tourists in October - denver7.com 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. If youre planning a trip to the Japan, check outour other posts about Japanfor ideas on other things to do! 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. 2022 Reopening Borders Japan Tourists | Japan City Tour . Japans economy has serious issues and inbound tourism was previously a bright spot. Japan fully reopening in full is all but inevitable at this point. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Japan to reinstate ban on foreign visitors, G7 to meet over new Covid P.S. Was less crowded than when I was there before, especially at the airport. Do I need to do a pre-departure Covid test? 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. Covid restrictions stymie tourism revival in Japan - Financial Times Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has reacted with powerful . We have more good news! Independent tourists are not yet granted entry, although they can be expected to be allowed back by Autumn 2022. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary Japan opens borders to tourists as last pandemic travel restrictions New Zealand, Japan and Samoa set to reopen to visitors | CNN Well, I visited only recently but it was one of the (very few) level-headed sites that discussed this topic. How do you view the news about guided tours? Yes, Japan's borders are now open to all international tourist travel.. Japan has completely removed the entry cap on daily foreign arrivals.. Additionally, all visa exemptions have now been reinstated.This means that citizens of around 70 countries, including the United States and all European Union nations, can once again visit Japan for 90 days without a visa . I wish you all the best with your upcoming tripsthanks again for everything. First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11 of last year. Measures for Resuming Cross-Border Travel | Ministry of Foreign Affairs If youre planning your trip to Japan, what do you think about these itineraries? for individual tourists. We have to carry it out in the not-so-distant future, he said. Thanks Tom, and everyone! Rediscover Japan with its Borders Fully Open Japan opening borders 2022 for tourists. This is the end weve all be anxiously awaiting for ~2 years! 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. Ive started to see on JP twitter people asking for No mask in Japan too, so the sentiment is shifting even there. Be part of our community of seasoned travel and hospitality industry professionals from all over the world. As frustrating as this whole process has been, Japan is not still (completely) stuck in March 2020. Yet despite the wealth of praises I have for Tom, this article and its two-year community, I am so, so glad, perhaps gladder than ever now, that compulsively opening this link in my browser is no longer part of my daily routine. Finally, there has been some good news about the state of the Japanese border closure for almost all tourists. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. Japan has eased travel restrictions, but will tourism bounce back 2.Realistic time needed to get a feel for Japan. If you cant respect another countrys Covid policies you shouldnt visit and be an entitled tourist. Starting Tuesday October 11, Japan will drop its 50,000 entry cap and will allow independent tourists to visit Japan visa-free. March 2023 Japan is finally open! Up to 20 per cent of these arrivals will also be required to take a COVID-19 test on arrival at the airport. 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. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that his top priority was formulating new economic measures and implementing these goals. ), While presenting the above as a cautionary tale against optimism or over reliance on logic when assessing Japans decisions, thats exactly what Im going to do. As improbable as it mightve seemed even a week ago, Japan welcoming back international visitors who are not part of tours (guided or unguided) sometime before November is likely. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Is Japan Open to Tourists? (February 2023 Update - Travel Caffeine Asia Welcomes Travelers, but Japan Says, Not Yet - The New York Times js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/28/412454028.js"; Japan has chosen a different course. 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. Among fellow G7 countries, Japan has had some of the strictest rules it comes to border restrictions. Its possible the country views this as sufficient for tourism businesses to stave off bankruptcy or other financial hardship for another few months. South Korea eased its border controls on visitors from China early this month, which China welcomed. Except for everyone wearing masks, things seemed mostly back to normal. 2023 when Japan is scheduled to downgrade the categorization of the virus. . The recent lockdowns in Shanghai and Guangdong are unmistakable signs that China will not be backing down from its zero-Covid policy, at least for the rest of 2022. That's a hardship for the many. Updated August 23 2022 Japan has eased border control measures several times in. if (d.getElementById(id)) return; Marufukuro Located in the former HQ of pop culture behemoth Nintendo, this Kyoto hotel is a stylishly renovated property opened in 2022, featuring a suite of exclusive rooms in a richly storied building, with a special whiskey bar and library showcasing the works of Nintendo pre-Super Mario and then through the ages until now. Subscribers also receive a totally free copy of ourJapan on a BudgeteBook. It could start as soon as late November, but is more likely in December. Your email address will not be published. Additionally, the Japan National Tourism Organization has set 2024 as its goal for recovering to 2019 international travel levels. Reopening to individual tourists in October presents minimal (political) risk and maximum (economic) upside. Japan House exhibition running until the end of January 2023, opening 29th Sep, focusing on woodwork in Hida, Takayama. of course the opposition (not all of it, from what I read) is against this. Oct 19, 2022 SHARE Not since 1853, when U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry forced Japan to open its borders to trade, has a reopening been so newsworthy. 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.