The total of guests at hotels and inns was 315.75 million, down 4.8% from 2020 and 47% from 2019. 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. 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. Do I need to be vaccinated to go to Japan? The new Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park opens here with a rooftop infinity pool and views over the park, in 2023. Essentially, there will be no (legal) basis for the current border protocol effective May 8, 2023. So you can do more than take in Japans captivating culture, history, nature, and cuisine, we are also working hard on projects for sustainable tourism, adventure travel, and luxury travel. Not A Hotel Ishigaki Opening on the island of Ishigaki in 2023, this Sou Fujimoto set of luxury sea-view villas have the unique property of being raised as if from the ground, with meadows for rooftops, a sleek futuristic design reminiscent of his designs at the recent Shiroiya Hotel in Gunma. Japan House exhibition running until the end of January 2023, opening 29th Sep, focusing on woodwork in Hida, Takayama. Thank you Tom and to everyone for all the insights, info, and updates. Demand vaccine certificates or PCR testing, and give people the freedom of movement. But I was there from the beginning, first as a lurker and then eventually as a participant, so I know precisely how it came to be. 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. 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. js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/28/412454028.js"; Ill never forget this amazing, special blog and the unlikely community of shared pain that flourished here for as long as I live. Thanks to everyone in here in the comments for that! 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. Then theres the middle ground or base case. 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. Intrepid Travel: Japan - Land of the Rising Sun. 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 . P.s. Any questions? Japan will close its borders to all foreigners from Tuesday, . Hi Tom, Thanks for the posts, Tom. Were excited about this great (but overdue) news, but also go in knowing that things will be different, in ways both good and bad. . TRAVEL NEWS, JOBS & EVENTS! 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. If youre planning a trip to the Japan, check outour other posts about Japanfor ideas on other things to do! Thanks for all the updates and helpful info during this stressful and hard time, Tom!! Japan fully reopened its borders to tourists on October 11, 2022. In terms of the latest news, the current vaccine and testing policies are likely to end on May 8, 2023. Ive missed it so much. Compared with the pre-pandemic level in 2019, it dropped 99.2 percent. 2023 Yosemite Firefall Viewing Guide: Best Dates, Reservations Info & Face Masks in Japan: Rules v. Reality (2023), Please subscribe to our FREE email newsletter, Japan Fall Colors Forecast & Autumn Foliage Viewing Guide, Tokyo Disneyland 40th Anniversary 'Dream-Go-Round' Details, New Parade & Japan Reopening Disney Tourist Blog The KKK News. Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. 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. First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11 of last year. 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. More likely, the impact wont be fully felt until next years cherry blossom season. Visit Japan Web App also let me pre fill out for immigration and customs, and just use the QR codes for those as well. Despite the aforementioned numbers, Japan is maintaining its goal of attracting 60 million foreign visitors by 2030. More information can be found here . Ive started to see on JP twitter people asking for No mask in Japan too, so the sentiment is shifting even there. We have to carry it out in the not-so-distant future, he said. This . 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. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. 2 days agoJapan on Monday reported 95916 new coronavirus cases. . Japan opening borders 2022 for tourists. 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. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. This indicates that Japan is finally ready to move forward and sets the precedent for future changes during waves. Moreover, how this played out with Japans last announcement is also instructive. At a news conference in New York City, where he was attending the UN General Assembly meeting, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The big one for most of you is likely going to beJapan Face Mask Rules v. Reality in 2023. 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. }(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. 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. To differentiate the two, Ill also allow for a middle ground possibility of a bifurcated decision with the individual tourist reopening a few weeks after the entry cap elimination. Im inclined to say Spring 2023, but its easy to envision a worst-case that isnt until summer. Japan has been busy over the past two-and-a-half years with preparations to welcome back everyone. I already moved on to read your other Japan travel posts to get tips which are also so helpful! Second, theres awareness within theKishida administration that the window of opportunity to reopen the border is closing. This is specifically forunguided tour groups or non-escorted visitors on package tours andnotindividual tourists. The Polynesian island country of Samoa will open its international borders in August, although again . Japans economy has serious issues and inbound tourism was previously a bright spot. 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. 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. 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. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party recognizes these problems and realizes it needs to rebuild Japans economy. Thank you, for this wonderful site with its very helpful regular updates! Were preserving this for posterity, but everything that follows is now (thankfully!) There are also signs that stringent travel measures, including the border closure, are having a greater impact on Japans economy than previously believed. We know there are a lot of people overseas who want to come to Japan, Kihara added. Wow, i cant believe it. Just booked my accommodation/flights/insurance/rail pass for a 22 day trip to Hiroshima, Fukui, Kanazawa, Nagoya and Osaka! Subscribers also receive a totally free copy of ourJapan on a BudgeteBook. On August 23, specifics of the September relaxation measures were leaked to the same media outlets. 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. The provisional measures from March 1, 2023. . Its possible the country views this as sufficient for tourism businesses to stave off bankruptcy or other financial hardship for another few months. Everybody have a great trip! Would you consider visiting Japan later this year, or is international travel out of the question for you anytime soon? so its confirmed Thanks so much Tom. Okushibu The nickname given to Deep Shibuya, this secluded strip around Yoyogi and parallel to the new rooftop Miyashita Park, has seen an explosion in late night caf culture, unique eateries and flower shops. Cant wait! Join over 180,000 travel agents, professionals Obviously, the easing has to occur at some point and this lag will always play out, but the notion that this moves the needle for fall is misguided. May its borders remain open forevermore. Thatll help you prepare for arrival, and potentially save time at the airport. The country is also about to increase the daily cap of tourists allowed to enter Japan from 20,000 to 50,000. The infection situation has been stabilizing in Japan and the government will consult with public health experts before reviewing the country's . March 2023 Japan is finally open! Updated 7 June 2022. Japan has seasonal attractions in fall and winter. Japan has resumed its visa exemption scheme for short-stay tourism and business travel. The good news is that we now have an answer to questionsweve been asking for nearly two 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. Like a moth to a flame.). Saturday, 4 March 2023, 15:47 Last update: about 1 hour ago. It's official: Japan will reopen to tourism on October 11. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Tour groups from 98 countries, including Australia, can now visit the country - but only if they wear masks, have . If youre planning your trip to Japan, what do you think about these itineraries? Thanks, [] to individual tourists for the duration of the festivities. Among fellow G7 countries, Japan has had some of the strictest rules it comes to border restrictions. Kishidas government has been trying to take advantage of the weak yen and accelerate growth by attracting more foreign visitors. Hi Tom and THANK YOU for everything this platform had AND still has to offer! Japan also began allowing unguided tours, meaning ones not accompanied by tour conductors. That's a hardship for the many. This follows on from the opening of high-end luxury Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo (2020) and in the run-up to the Adventure Travel World Summit due to be held here in the autumn of 2023. I just got back from my first post re-opening trip to Japan, and am open to answering questions. Think those will stick around for several months, or are simply theater to shift public opinion? Economic migrants are sending more teenagers and children into the United States via a much-traveled loophole in President Joe Biden's much-touted border curbs. 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. 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 . Or, that this barrier does still exist and Japan will have to create a solution for it (travel insurance?) Is Japan open for internationalindividual travelers? From September 7, 2022, the country plans to drop pre-departure testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers (including one booster dose). Japan slams the borders shut on Omicron. Economic benefits of international tourists is one big reason why Japan is expected to reopen its border. [1/2] Passengers on a plane from China's capital Beijing arrive at Narita international airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan January 8, 2023.REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon It was finally announced that from October 11, 2022, the borders would be reopening to visa-free tourists. As for you, Tom Id buy you a round at my favourite izakaya if I could! 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. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Wada Kouichi . Lets say that happens in early November. Two years after their Euro 2008 triumph, Spain went to South Africa determined to make history-but they would have to overcome defensive tactics, lunging tackles and intense media scrutiny. 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. TOKYO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Japan will from Wednesday ease its COVID restrictions on travellers from China, dropping a requirement that everyone take a test for the virus upon arrival, its top government spokesperson said. This becomes increasingly true as the yen weakens due to the Bank of Japan continuing to pursue its loose monetary policy while the United States Federal Reserve, European, and other central banks raise interest rates. Im so excited and happy for everyone! On the same topic. First, there is consensus that the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, will be eliminated entirely. People attending the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, sing the national anthem during the opening session, at the National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Md., Thursday, March 2, 2023. 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. This will save you significant money on accommodations, attractions, temples, groceries, transportation, and even Michelin-rated restaurants! Human behavior and sentiment dont change overnight, even if its economically advantageous and objectively safer to do so. 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. This is. Be part of our community of seasoned travel and hospitality industry professionals from all over the world. China reopening most likely late Jan/Feb 2023. Travelers from most countries can now enter Japan without applying for a visa in advance. 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. |. Japan is open to travel. Its borders were shut. Nov. Dec. Then Covid hit. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, according to the news outlets sources. 2023 when Japan is scheduled to downgrade the categorization of the virus. 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. 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. 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. 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 . At that time, it was unclear whether unguided tourists would be allowed to enter. At best, this helps with winter. Either way, thats something to continue keeping in mind. Of course, things could change between now and then, but its likely the border will revert to late 2019 status as of that date. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. 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. May 6, 2022. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary By contrast,Fuji TV is treating this as a done deal, using less ambiguous language. Ill be sticking around for the future updates and travel guides. The prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said on Thursday that the. The government will also take measures to stimulate and jump-start the economy. 7:09. If you cant respect another countrys Covid policies you shouldnt visit and be an entitled tourist. Those reading regular updates on Japans reopening are not representative of international travelers at large. Frankly, the miscalculation here by the Kishida administration is thinking that this will have an immediate impact on inbound 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. Nevertheless, despite loosening restrictions in September, travelers will still need to . Both of these statements are reassuring given the current border closures, and indicate that Japan will unwind its travel ban in months, not years. 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. "We will lift the ceiling of the number of entrants. tomthanks for ALL the help.I was told I need the MYSOS app to enter now, but there is mixed information on JapanWeb. This is the first step in our gradual easing of the [border] restrictions, Kishida has said. On Tuesday, the country. (Im sorry, I cant help myself. Weve already returned to Japan, spending about a month in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and elsewhere. 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. . Just open the borders already. 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. The endisnear. Sheesh! 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. However, as we have seen time and time again, the patently obvious conclusion often is not the outcome reached by Japan. What we had here was a weird little community of sorts, and a really nice one considering the circumstances. That may soon change. With the yen weak, tourism has the potential to provide an . You no longer need a visa to travel to Japan for up to 90 days. obsolete information. Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) looks forward to welcoming individual inbound travellers back to Japan with the long-awaited lifting of entry restrictions. Some events and . 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. One of the last closed-border hold-outs is now allowing entry for Australian tourists, with visitors from the rest of the world to follow on May 1. 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) { Was less crowded than when I was there before, especially at the airport. South Korea eased its border controls on visitors from China early this month, which China welcomed. Thank you so much for this free and respectful space for everyones opinions that has helped us get through these difficult years. Cheers . Even if China begins opening sooner, we forecast China will not fully reopen until at . In today's Face-to-Face interview, Professor Wolfgang Arlt, founder and CEO of the China Outbound . Sort of. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government launched a multilingual call center on COVID-19 for foreign residents. First, theres already the realization that unguided tourslike guided tours before themwill not move the needle on inbound tourism in any meaningful way. Do you or anyone here know if we need this after Oct. 11? We had a nice little community here, and that was greatly appreciated. Not so much in the last couple of years, as this has been reflected in policy-making. Your email address will not be published. Take a dip in one at the soon-to-open, . Along with revelling in the many ways to take in the allures across Japan, now is a time when international visitors can take advantage of shopping opportunities. Japan: A deep-fried pork . With this, the visa exemption would be reinstated, making that a non-issue. We were wrongthe unguided tours offered two steps forward but one step backwards. 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. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is. 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. 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? Japan is always one decade lagging behind the developed world. Critically, this would eliminate the legal requirement of a responsible receiving party for visitors to Japan. Here are all the details on visa-free travel, vaccination and Covid test requirements. 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Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has confirmed "no schedule has been decided" for fully reopening the borders, though members of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party have discussed a potential. Japan has vilified and scapegoated foreigners and had an overly aggressive approach to its borders. In our view, koyo (autumn leaves) season is a good bet, and that takes place from mid-November through December. Explore Japan's lesser-known destinations over 13 adventure-packed days, sipping sake in Takayama and marvelling at the iconic floating torii gate .
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