Trying a bit of everything is the best way to get beneath the surface of this fascinating country. 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! ), 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. Travelers from most countries can now enter Japan without applying for a visa in advance. Lets have a look at the measures that are still in place, despite the reopening of borders. Thank you Tom and to everyone for all the insights, info, and updates. During the Bloomberg New Voices panel,Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said she would open the countrys doors tomorrow if it were her decision. If there are no screens, you may be expected to practice social distancing by sitting a table or two away from other customers. The country will allow visa-free entry for. 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! fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); 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. The specifics are not consistent among outlets, so lets start with where theyre in agreeance. In June, the country first reopened to leisure travelers from 98 countries including the U.S., but officials required a visa . Economic benefits of international tourists is one big reason why Japan is expected to reopen its border. 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. 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. Yes! Im heading to Tokyo for the first time in 3.5 years on October 23rd and I cant wait! From October 11th 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. Here is a useful link for the latest coronavirus numbers on Japan: Disclosure: InsideKyoto.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. This is a necessary prerequisite for further reopening and the resumption of more inbound international flights, but this alone was not an obstacle dissuading most international visitors. By contrast,Fuji TV is treating this as a done deal, using less ambiguous language. In this case, his/her screen will be Yellow, but he/she can use Fast Track.. The rest of 2022 offers a rare chance to experience Japan before the crowds return in 2023. Together, youll craft your itinerary. Bon voyage! 2022, Japan removed visa requirements and arrival caps, returning to pre-pandemic travel arrangements. May all our trips be everything we dreamt of and more. Previously, travellers were required to join a tour group to enter Japan for leisure. 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. Second, theres awareness within theKishida administration that the window of opportunity to reopen the border is closing. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, Japan welcomed 31.9 million . Were preserving this for posterity, but everything that follows is now (thankfully!) js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; These include: checking body temperature on arrival, social distancing when possible and regularly sanitizing hands, in addition to wearing a mask. Your email address will not be published. Well, I visited only recently but it was one of the (very few) level-headed sites that discussed this topic. I land on Nov. 2, the website the new form come out Nov.I am so confusedbut no one seems to come here anymore.if anyone reads this please answer if you can. Of course you can! I wish you all the best with your upcoming tripsthanks again for everything. Our trips to Japan come in two travel styles: Check out our Small Group Tours departures calendar, Check out our Best of Japan itinerary its perfect as inspiration for a first-time trip. The basics. If you decide to travel to Japan: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Here are all the details on visa-free travel, vaccination and Covid test requirements. Japan eases foreign tourism ban and allows guided package tours. It now appears that the time is hereor coming very soon. The government is planning to submit a bill in October, which could give accommodation operators more authority to impose these types of infection control measures. Thats all we need, more authority (power), given to an already power drunk country, to impose more measures on us tourists. Against that economic backdrop, lets take a look at the latest changes to Japans reopening plans. Autumn is already a lost cause. Japan's borders could be set to reopen in March after being closed to tourists for two years. And even now, as it opens its borders to tourists from nearly. "We will lift the ceiling of the . Here are all the details on visa-free travel, vaccination and Covid test requirements. These are all our latest exclusive holiday, vacation and tour offers brought to you from InsideJapan Tours. Traveling in Japan without constraint as a tourist is possible from October 11, 2022. Use the Visit Japan Web app to upload your Covid vaccination status or Covid test results. There are only a few rules to keep in mind. Cases are currently in freefall and will continue decreasing next month before bottoming out sometime between late October and early November. The national border is under the management of central government, Koike said. Heres the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-free travel list. Japan is open to travel. Just over half a million visitors have come to Japan so far in 2022, compared with a record 31.8 million in 2019. While Japan is keeping in place its quarantine system for arrivals from a list of at-risk countries, no countries are actually currently on that list. Japanese researchers may have found a way. We mention this in part to own past mistakes, but also as a cautionary tale. This is the end weve all be anxiously awaiting for ~2 years! Before heading to Japan to travel, make sure to check the most up-to-date information. Best wishes to everyone on your travels!! That may soon change. October. Citizens of 68 countries now get visa-free travel to Japan. 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. Visit Japan (@Visit_Japan) September 22, 2022 If the prime minister's announcement is followed, then from October 11, individual tourists will once again be able to travel to Japan. You will receive a link to download the eBook and periodic emails when there's news to share. Travelers who are unsure of their eligibility to travel to Japan should contact the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate for additional . To enjoy our content, please include The Japan Times on your ad-blocker's list of approved sites. But were over the moon to announce that travel to Japan has now returned to something that looks a lot like the old normal. If youve received three vaccine doses, you dont need to take a pre-travel Covid test. Exercise normal precautions in Japan. Japan, like much of the world, has changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In terms of the latest news, the current vaccine and testing policies are likely to end on May 8, 2023. Economists fear a double dip recession in Japan due to the prolonged closures and restrictions. 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). 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 . Read on to find out about the current atmosphere in the country. 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. Im very glad its dead but am also appreciative of what existed while it did. Is Japan open for internationalindividual travelers? Most people need months of time between booking and traveling; very few plan and take last-minute tripsespecially international ones. This will save you significant money on accommodations, attractions, temples, groceries, transportation, and even Michelin-rated restaurants! Gradual speeding-up of the reopening. 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. On September 22, 2022, however, Prime Minister Kishida finally revealed that these restrictions would be scrapped. More likely, the impact wont be fully felt until next years cherry blossom season. 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. Chris Rowthorns 10 Favorite Kyoto Temples, Kyotos Best Sentos Japanese Public Baths, Internet In Japan For Tourists: Wifi, Pocket Wifi, SIM Cards, Rental Phones etc, Kyoto Shopping The Best Shops And Gifts, Sword Dancing in Kyoto at Samurai Kembu Theater, Solo Travel in Kyoto (and the Rest of Japan), Solo Female Travel in Kyoto (and the Rest of Japan), Chris Rowthorns Favorite Movies, TV Shows and Documentaries on Japan, Kyoto Long Stay Accommodation Monthly House Rentals And Apartment Rentals, The Kumano Kodo Walking Trail: A Guide with Maps, Walking the Nakasendo from Kyoto Guide and Map, The Kitayama Area: Bujo-ji, Miyama, Kayabuki-no-Sato, Best Japanese Tea and Sweet Shops in Kyoto, Best Kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine) in Kyoto, Best Shojin Ryori (Japanese Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), Best Shokudo (All Round Restaurants) in Kyoto, The Nearest Airport To Kyoto and Kyoto Airport Transport, Arriving at Kansai International Airport (KIX), Kansai International Airport (KIX) Airport Guide, Kansai International Airport (KIX) Hotels, How To Buy Shinkansen Bullet Train Tickets, How to Buy Japan Rail Tickets and Shinkansen Tickets Online, JR Trains: Green Cars Versus Ordinary Cars, Japan Ferry Pass 21 A Great Way to Explore Japan, How to Travel from Kyoto to Busan by Ferry, Kyoto Prepaid Cards: Icoca, Pasmo and Suica, Special Kyoto Bus, Train and Subway Passes, The Best Japanese Translation Apps For Japan Travel, 7 to 10 Day Japan Itinerary: Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Hiroshima, 10 Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto and Takayama, 10 Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto and Kanazawa, Japan Itinerary For Traveling With Children, Japan Rail Pass: How To Make The Most Of It. Updated overall advisory level after periodic review. We had a nice little community here, and that was greatly appreciated. Like a moth to a flame.). obsolete information. A key challenge will be to make the country more responsible and open-minded to foreigners. 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. But from 11 Oct 2022, travellers are free to explore Japan independently . While it certainly sounds likethe end is nearfor the Japan travel ban, its premature to have a high degree of confidence. The time is is japan open for tourism 2022 coming very soon currently in freefall and will continue decreasing next before. Premature to have a look at the measures that are still in place despite... 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