So, it seems the country is finallyon the road to properly welcoming travellers again and thats something that we can all get very excited about. To enter Japan tourists simply need to: Return a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure, OR provide a valid Covid-19 certificate of having had at least 3 vaccine doses (the certificate needs to be uploaded onto Visit Japan web) If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site. The new experiment is a way of testing how tourism providers deal with outbreaks of Covid-19. 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. Not sure whether youll ever see this, but just want to let you know that I saw your comment and really appreciate you taking the time to share. In our view, koyo (autumn leaves) season is a good bet, and that takes place from mid-November through December. Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. We recommend checking with the facilities you want to visit before heading out. Contact, Vancouver: Air Canada, ANA, Japan Airlines, American Airlines, Seattle: ANA, Japan Airlines, Delta, American, United, San Francisco: United, American, ANA, Japan Airlines, Los Angeles: Zipair, United, American, ANA, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Chicago: United, American, ANA, Japan Airlines, Dallas/Fort Worth: American, Japan Airlines, New York: United, American, ANA, Japan Airlines, London: British Airways, ANA, Japan Airlines, Frankfurt: Lufthansa, ANA, Japan Airlines, Finnair, British Airways, Helsinki: Finnair, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Bangkok: Thai, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia X, ZIPAIR, ANA, Japan Airlines, HCMC: Viet Jet Air, Vietname, VietJet Air, ANA, Japan Airlines, Hong Kong: Cathay, Hong Kong Express, ANA, Japan Airlines, Taipei: China Airlines, EVA, Scoot, Starlux, ANA, Japan Airlines, Singapore: Singapore Airlines, ZIPAIR, ANA, Japan Airlines, Seoul: Korean Air, Asiana, Ethiopian, ANA, Japan Airlines, For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my, Check Kyoto accommodation availability on, Need tips on where to stay? If/when theres another winter resurgence in cases, the reopening can would effectively be kicked down the road for a few more months. Japan has been largely closed to foreign visitors since 2020, as it implemented some of the world's toughest Covid-19 restrictions. We also recommend consulting ourUltimate Guide to KyotoandUltimate Guide to Tokyoto plan. And the country is not rushing to change. Gradual speeding-up of the reopening. February 2023 Japan is finally open! Traveling in Japan without constraint as a tourist is possible from October 11, 2022. If this does not resolve the issue or you are unable to add the domains to your allowlist, please see this FAQ. We humbly apologize for the inconvenience. 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. On September 22, 2022, however, Prime Minister Kishida finally revealed that these restrictions would be scrapped. By Lilit Marcus, CNN Published 9:20 PM EDT, Sun July 31, 2022 Link Copied! Learn about the current situation, checklist for tourists, entry restrictions and safety measures before you travel. I already moved on to read your other Japan travel posts to get tips which are also so helpful! fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); 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. Thank you Tom for providing us a platform to discuss thing amidst all the confusing developments and giving us updates. Among fellow G7 countries, Japan has had some of the strictest rules it comes to border restrictions. Everybody have a great trip! 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. TOKYO, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Japan's government is planning to waive tourist visa requirements from some countries as part of a further easing of border controls enacted to stop the spread of COVID . Read on to find out about the current atmosphere in the country. For more than two years, Japan's borders remained closed to tourists. Can you really see Japan's best bits on a budget? "The Group's Director, Public Relations, Takamoto Yokoyama also said that after the development of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor in Varanasi, the number of . (See above 'Latest News') Short-term travelers to Japan will be allowed to enter Japan without a visa. First, theres already the realization that unguided tourslike guided tours before themwill not move the needle on inbound tourism in any meaningful way. To learn more see our FAQ, Rust belt province got old before it got rich, as much of China will. If you are unvaccinated or not boosted, you need a negative Covid test. What follows is based on that research and fixation with the on-the-ground situation in Japan. Cheers . Yes, visa free tourism resumed October 11, 2022. These are questions among those planning trips to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and this covers the answers. Find inspiration for your Japan holiday plans by exploring our latest brochure. sheeesh still cant believe my trip starting october 22nd might actually happen this time (). Validity of visas issued under "Business Track" / "Residence Track" or "New border measures (4)" is suspended for the time being. 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.. I assume well hear from AndyO soon, admitting he was wrong, like he demanded from so many of us. 2. Jul 18, 2022, 1:40 PM. Except for everyone wearing masks, things seemed mostly back to normal. With all of this said, Ill present my revised best, worst, and base-case scenarios for Japans reopening to individual tourists, Lets start with the best-case scenario. We recommend consulting the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We also create tailormade trips. 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. Economists fear a double dip recession in Japan due to the prolonged closures and restrictions. But were over the moon to announce that travel to Japan has now returned to something that looks a lot like the old normal. Think the need to adapt and live with the endemic virus will outweigh fear when it comes to Japans reopening plans? You need to wait until the end of August to foresee that possibility. October. japan, . 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. This is specifically forunguided tour groups or non-escorted visitors on package tours andnotindividual tourists. Japan is open! Sep 12, 2022 SHARE 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. 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! The U.S. Embassy strongly urges any U.S. citizens considering travel to Japan to carefully review the information available from the Government of Japan. Even though the Japanese government relaxed 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. Ready for the trip of a lifetime? This was a great place to keep up to date on the happenings. Japan has some of the biggest, boldest and most exciting cities in the world, frozen-in-time samurai towns, remote alpine villages, tiny islands brimming with contemporary art, and mountaintop temple communities unchanged for centuries. Japan finally opened its borders to tourists on Friday, but with strict rules. Why Expecting Japan's Reopening to Tourism Before Summer 2022 at Best is Unrealistic. Hospitalizations and mortality remain relatively low. First, there is consensus that the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, will be eliminated entirely. Speaking of which, check out ourJapan Fall Colors Forecast & Autumn Foliage Viewing Guideto get started on planning your trip to visit Japans popular fall foliage cities, including Kyoto, Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Himeji, and Nara. 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. Single entry visa and multiple entry visa issued by Embassies, Consulate-Generals, and Consulates of Japan in all countries/regions whose validity had been temporary suspended resumed on October 11, 2022. We have all the answers you need about Japan's full border opening on 11th October 2022. Guided trips also had to be booked through a government-authorized provider. Japan is open to travel. 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? if (d.getElementById(id)) return; You do NOT need to be vaccinated with a Covid vaccine to enter Japan. Want to receive free updates on when Japan will reopen for travel? Japan Tourism: The decision means Japan will allow in a limited number of foreign . so its confirmed Thanks so much Tom. June 23, 2022 2022 . 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. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, according to the news outlets sources. Kyoto in cherry blossom season: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com. Short answer: as incredible as ever but with far fewer tourists! That would mean individual tourists would not be welcomed back to Japan until sometime in the first half of 2023. This indicates that Japan is finally ready to move forward and sets the precedent for future changes during waves. Ill never forget this amazing, special blog and the unlikely community of shared pain that flourished here for as long as I live. First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11 of last year. This is now the same as the best-case scenario. The total of guests at hotels and inns was 315.75 million, down 4.8% from 2020 and 47% from 2019. Those two posts cover essentially everything you need to know about visiting Japan as of 2023. Japanese researchers may have found a way. 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.". 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. 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. Visit our main site to read more about this topic or contact one of our specialists. Some places expect more self-service, such as helping yourself to water, though this can change from one establishment to another. All others must show such proof. Lets have a look at the measures that are still in place, despite the reopening of borders. This Article is From May 30, 2022. See below for more details. And even now, as it opens its borders to tourists from nearly. Autumn is already a lost cause. 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. 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