Saturday, 4 March 2023, 15:47 Last update: about 1 hour ago. This is would allow a bit of wiggle room for Japans slow and belabored decision-making process that involves a lot of careful consideration and evaluating the situation. If anything has been well-established during the last two-plus years, its that inaction is Japans baseline, and anything that does happen occurs gradually and in stages. 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. Those two posts cover essentially everything you need to know about visiting Japan as of 2023. What follows is based on that research and fixation with the on-the-ground situation in Japan. 2023 - Travel Daily. Analysis | Relax, This Isn't the Future of Japanese Tourism Then theres the middle ground or base case. [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 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. We have more good news! Thanks Tom, and everyone! At Juwai IQI, we believe China will maintain zero-Covid through at least the rst-quarter of 2023. Japan's islands call as nation reopens to tourists - New York Post At a news conference in New York City, where he was attending the UN General Assembly meeting, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Trump promises GOP will never again be led by 'freaks, neocons Japan opening borders 2022 for tourists. It's official: Japan will reopen to tourism on October 11. Japan reopens: Heres what to look forward to in 2023, Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions (MICE), Destination NaJomtien BanAmphur BangSaray *NEW*, *NEW*, Affordable Luxury in Thailand by Centara Hotels, Rising Above the Oridinary by Conrad Bangkok, Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), 5 reasons why traditional travel protection is obsolete, 5 reasons why Cross Hotels & Resorts is APACs hotel operator of choice, Wake up at the magnificent Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions). Up to 20 per cent of these arrivals will also be required to take a COVID-19 test on arrival at the airport. Japan to reinstate ban on foreign visitors, G7 to meet over new Covid 'Ghost town': Japan reopens borders, but visitors find hotels short 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.. Japan Opening Borders 2022 For Tourists Airlines will also be allowed to operate direct flights from China to more Japanese airports, Matsuno said. Do I need to do a pre-departure Covid test? Flooding in southern Malaysia forces 40,000 people to flee homes, Hong Kong court convicts 3 members of Tiananmen vigil group for security offence, Reporting by Kantaro Komiya and Eimi Yamamitsu; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Robert Birsel, China says should advance 'peaceful reunification' with Taiwan, Philippines says Chinese navy ship spotted near disputed island, North Korea says US causing international arms control collapse, China plans 7.2% defence spending rise this year, faster than GDP target, Hong Kong women's rights protest cancelled after police cite risk of violence, Cameroonian businessman charged with complicity in torture after journalist's murder, Ecuador assembly backs report calling for Lasso impeachment process, UK to unveil new law to stop Channel migrants on Tuesday - paper, China to promote vaccine development, new medicines, Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals. What is required to travel to Japan and what about visas? The provisional measures from March 1, 2023. . That's a hardship for the many. May all our trips be everything we dreamt of and more. 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 eagerly await your arrival!. More information can be found here . The Government of Japan announced a policy of resuming entry by individual travellers for tourism purposes beginning on October 11. 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. Japan's Tentative Border Reopening Likely to Have Limited Impact Visiting Japan in 2023 - Japan Forum - Tripadvisor Autumn is already a lost cause. Your email address will not be published. |. Are borders open as normal in 2023? Japan is open to travel. Covid restrictions stymie tourism revival in Japan - Financial Times Finally, the worst-case scenario is that Japan instead opts to revive its Go to Travel campaign just in time for fall colors season, and uses that to buoy the tourism sector through December. 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. 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. They can be reached by phone from 10:00 to 17:00, Monday through Friday, at 0120-296-004. On Tuesday, the country. Hi Tom and THANK YOU for everything this platform had AND still has to offer! Hi Tom, I already moved on to read your other Japan travel posts to get tips which are also so helpful! May its borders remain open forevermore. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. It aint over till its over.pls see my recent post which I HOPE isnt accurate and just some fake news, but Reuters is pretty accurate. This is the end weve all be anxiously awaiting for ~2 years! The changes were intended to "support smooth international travels, given a low rate of positive test results among entrants", Matsuno said. More likely, the impact wont be fully felt until next years cherry blossom season. A guide to visiting Japan in 2022/23 - Lonely Planet 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 . Cheers . Grab your passport: Japan is once again open to the world Passengers from Hong Kong and Macau will be exempt from any on-arrival testing or pre-boarding negative test requirements, broadcaster TBS reported earlier on Monday, citing government sources. sheeesh still cant believe my trip starting october 22nd might actually happen this time (). Its pretty clear the government is focused on moving forward. Would you consider visiting Japan later this year, or is international travel out of the question for you anytime soon? Moreover, how this played out with Japans last announcement is also instructive. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the news in September at a press conference. This will save you significant money on accommodations, attractions, temples, groceries, transportation, and even Michelin-rated restaurants! 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. We mention this in part to own past mistakes, but also as a cautionary tale. 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. The yen has fallen to a 24-year low of 144 to the dollar, likely contributing to the sense of urgency in the aforementioned interviews. 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. World News Reuters Updated: May 30, 2022 2:06 pm IST The downgrade would pave the way for a normalization of social and economic activities in Japan, and should mean that non-residents are able to enter the country without PCR tests or additional paperwork. so its confirmed Thanks so much Tom. This is something weve pointed out in our best and worst case scenarios in prior updates, but theres only a limited amount of time between waves. The Japanese government recently eased its COVID-19 entry restrictions, meaning tourists can now visit without being on a guided tour. Japan also began allowing unguided tours, meaning ones not accompanied by tour conductors. 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. We can't expect Japanese government to reopen their border on April 2022 due to the emergence of Omicron variant. So why aren't tourists coming back? 2023 will bring the opening of a farm area for agritourism, with a private villa area due to open in 2024. China retaliated by suspending the issuing of short-term visas in South Korea and Japan. One wildcard is the downgrade of COVIDs legal status. 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. Its borders were shut. Japan's Reopening & Entry Requirements for Tourists - Boutique Japan It kind of fell like a little community in here, like I know from Discord groups. Japan opens borders to tourists as last pandemic travel restrictions Explore Japan's lesser-known destinations over 13 adventure-packed days, sipping sake in Takayama and marvelling at the iconic floating torii gate . 32 last-minute Valentine's Day 2023 gifts . 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. 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. The Mana Village A collection of villa properties opening in stages on the wild and rustic southern coastline of Kochi prefecture, on Shikoku island. Japan Set to Welcome Unrestricted Tourism by October Can I Travel To Japan? Requirements and Travel Restrictions [March 2023] Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is. Its another symbolic measure, and coming at a time when an increasing number of international visitors have already moved on to other destinations and pent-up demand has begun fizzling out. TRAVEL NEWS, JOBS & EVENTS! Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered new guidance that were covering inJapan Reopening to Individual Tourists: FAQ, Rules & Guidelines. Its thus our view that Japan reopening in some capacity to individual tourists in October is a very realistic scenario. The country is also bringing back visa-free entry for visitors from more than 60 countries. Travel Daily - Informing, connecting and developing the worlds travel industry professionals. This is specifically forunguided tour groups or non-escorted visitors on package tours andnotindividual tourists. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. Japan has resumed its visa exemption scheme for short-stay tourism and business travel. If youre planning a trip to the Japan, check outour other posts about Japanfor ideas on other things to do! It is available from 10:00 to 17:00, and can be reached at 03-6233-9266. Thank you, for this wonderful site with its very helpful regular updates! From the beginning this page was the only place I checked (sometimes daily) for hope. Yokohama 2023 sees the return of the Yokohama Biennale art festival, timed with the reopening of the Yokohama Museum of Art post-renovation. The key question is: Can it learn to love foreign tourists again? Do I need to be vaccinated to go to Japan? Best wishes to everyone on your travels!! Im very glad its dead but am also appreciative of what existed while it did. And thank you for providing this space for all of us. 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. While it certainly sounds likethe end is nearfor the Japan travel ban, its premature to have a high degree of confidence. This is. 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. Beloved for its unique mix of vibrant urban culture and natural beauty, the country is lifting its tight regulations on foreign tourists, according to a tweet Thursday from Taro Kono, Japan's . On the same topic. Nevertheless, despite loosening restrictions in September, travelers will still need to . 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. The good news is that we now have an answer to questionsweve been asking for nearly two years! Its entirely possible that Kishida sees this polling and his sagging approval numbers and realizes that its time to move forward. The next step for Japan, I think, is Corona downgrade and mask usage. Ive missed it so much. Economists fear a double dip recession in Japan due to the prolonged closures and restrictions. Even if China begins opening sooner, we forecast China will not fully reopen until at . Just booked my accommodation/flights/insurance/rail pass for a 22 day trip to Hiroshima, Fukui, Kanazawa, Nagoya and Osaka! oh wow!! The new Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park opens here with a rooftop infinity pool and views over the park, in 2023. 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 . Thanks for all the updates and helpful info during this stressful and hard time, Tom!! Human behavior and sentiment dont change overnight, even if its economically advantageous and objectively safer to do so. Its now the popular position being advanced publicly by politicians, not just being advocated by Keidanren or Japans business lobby. Japan fully reopening in full is all but inevitable at this point. For now, direct flights from China can only land at the Narita, Haneda, Kansai and Chubu airports. 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 . Finally, there has been some good news about the state of the Japanese border closure for almost all tourists. 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. The Tokyo Olympics briefly saw Japan reopen its borders to the world (a year later than planned) in 2021, amid the onset of the pandemic, but just three months after the closing ceremony Prime Minister Fumio Kishida banned all incoming foreign travellers in a bid to prevent the spread of omicron. Thatll help you prepare for arrival, and potentially save time at the airport. "We will lift the ceiling of the number of entrants. If you cant respect another countrys Covid policies you shouldnt visit and be an entitled tourist. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, according to the news outlets sources. 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. Currently, citizens of 68 countries and regions will be allowed to . It was finally announced that from October 11, 2022, the borders would be reopening to visa-free tourists. Think the need to adapt and live with the endemic virus will outweigh fear when it comes to Japans reopening plans? 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 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. 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 . 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. 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. 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. Japan to reopen to mass tourism in October | CNN Thank you Tom and to everyone for all the insights, info, and updates. Summary Since October 2022, Japan is fully open, without the requirement for a visa for most visitors. 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. First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11 of last year. Update: As of October 11, 2022, Japan will reopen to individual visitors on a visa-free basis. 1. 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 . Though some things feel different, this nation Ive travelled for the last two months, ing and ing about the forty-seven prefectures as I once did in the 2010s, is certainly the same marvellous place that I fell in love with so long ago. despite protests. Visit in Spring or Autumn. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary Japan is open to travel. So why aren't tourists coming back? That may soon change. Felix Ng. 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. (With the possible workaround of travel insurance or some other awkward fix.). }(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. Japan's struggling tourism sector despairs at lack of COVID exit See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Nov. Dec. Then Covid hit. 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. 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. 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. 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. Japan has vilified and scapegoated foreigners and had an overly aggressive approach to its borders. According to data from the Japan Tourism Agency, stays athotels and other accommodation facilities hit another record low in Japan last yearbreaking the previous record set in 2020. It thus stands to reason that opening to individual tourists necessarily needs to occurthat raising the entry cap will do nothing in furtherance of their stated goal. COVID-19 Information - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan Morgan Stanley Research analysts expect China to broadly reopen in the second half of 2022 and move away from the Zero-COVID policy by the end of this year. 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. 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. Kishidas government has been trying to take advantage of the weak yen and accelerate growth by attracting more foreign visitors. The country is also about to increase the daily cap of tourists allowed to enter Japan from 20,000 to 50,000. New Zealand is finally open for business. . Cant wait! Everybody have a great trip! I was there for 11 days, mostly in Tokyo, and also to the bullet train to Sanjo (near Niigata) for a couple of days, and also a day trip to Mount Fuji with a driver/guide. tomthanks for ALL the help.I was told I need the MYSOS app to enter now, but there is mixed information on JapanWeb. Want to receive free updates on when Japan will reopen for travel? 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. 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. Measures for Resuming Cross-Border Travel | Ministry of Foreign Affairs REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon. Japan is finally reopening its borders to mass tourism on October 11. May 6, 2022. -. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. On August 23, specifics of the September relaxation measures were leaked to the same media outlets. Those reading regular updates on Japans reopening are not representative of international travelers at large. What are testing, face mask, and vaccine requirements for visitors? The country sealed its borders to most foreign travelers early in the pandemic and has only recently begun to allow a slow drip of students and business people to return a sharp contrast to. 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. Why You Should Visit Japan in 2023and Where to Go 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. Japan plans to reopen to independent travelers in major shift, report 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. 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. Of . With the yen weak, tourism has the potential to provide an . However, the number of foreign visitors to Japan dropped to 245,900 last year, the lowest since 1964, as the country enforced tighter border controls. (This number includes hotels used as government quarantine facilities, not just leisure stays.). 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. Thanks again for all the work you put into this. You no longer need a visa to travel to Japan for up to 90 days. Bon voyage! Its possible the country views this as sufficient for tourism businesses to stave off bankruptcy or other financial hardship for another few months. Japan to ease COVID border controls like G-7 states in June: Kishida In terms of the latest news, the current vaccine and testing policies are likely to end on May 8, 2023. First, there is consensus that the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, will be eliminated entirely. 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. 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. 7:09. 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. Finally, Japan will reopen the border. New Zealand, Japan and Samoa set to reopen to visitors | CNN Updated 7 June 2022. China reopening most likely late Jan/Feb 2023 | AGB From September 7, 2022, the country plans to drop pre-departure testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers (including one booster dose). As always, Japan is cautious and conservative, with a slow and belabored decision-making process that often embodies analysis paralysis and usually defies logic.