Weve already returned to Japan, spending about a month in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and elsewhere. Thank you, for this wonderful site with its very helpful regular updates! Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. 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. Finally, there has been some good news about the state of the Japanese border closure for almost all tourists. Ill be sticking around for the future updates and travel guides. 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Oridinary by Conrad Bangkok, Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), 5 reasons why traditional travel protection is obsolete, 5 reasons why Cross Hotels & Resorts is APACs hotel operator of choice, Wake up at the magnificent Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, MICE (Meetings, Incentives,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). 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. 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. Here are all the details on visa-free travel, vaccination and Covid test requirements. 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. Koike said that Japans borders would fully reopen soon. Against that economic backdrop, lets take a look at the latest changes to Japans reopening plans. There are also signs that stringent travel measures, including the border closure, are having a greater impact on Japans economy than previously believed. 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. 216. 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 . There will be a winter resurgence. Like a moth to a flame.). Yokohama 2023 sees the return of the Yokohama Biennale art festival, timed with the reopening of the Yokohama Museum of Art post-renovation. Even if China begins opening sooner, we forecast China will not fully reopen until at . This is where there is disagreement among the major outlets. 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. Both of these statements are reassuring given the current border closures, and indicate that Japan will unwind its travel ban in months, not years. 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. As governor of Tokyo, that would be tomorrow.. Everybody have a great trip! 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. 28 Feb 2023 0. We know there are a lot of people overseas who want to come to Japan, Kihara added. Hi Tom, I assume well hear from AndyO soon, admitting he was wrong, like he demanded from so many of us. Im inclined to say Spring 2023, but its easy to envision a worst-case that isnt until summer. =w=)b. 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 . In such a scenario, the borders could almost immediately return to their normal pre-closure status in early October. Japan has announced it will lift tough Covid restrictions on foreign tourists, reopening the borders after two and a half years. The arrivals cap would also be eliminated in this scenario. Also as previously mentioned, recent poll data also shows the public is now far less concerned with COVID than the economy, Unification Church scandal, Abes state funeral, and other issues. Fly into one airport and out of another Plan to do 4 nights in Singapore on way back to Australia Either way, thats something to continue keeping in mind. 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. Of . The number of people anxiously awaiting Japans reopening is shrinking, not growing. 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. Does that mean it will be as easy to visit now as it was pre-pandemic? obsolete information. By. Who knowsit still may take until early 2023 to fully downgrade the legal status of COVID. TEL: 0120-248-668 (Japanese only) . That would mean individual tourists would not be welcomed back to Japan until sometime in the first half of 2023. 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. I have been to Japan many times pre-covid, and I am now going again this year late October. Japan, one of the world's last major holdouts during the pandemic, is dissolving its COVID-19 restrictions and opening the door back up to mass tourism. 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. 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 . Felix Ng. If youre planning your trip to Japan, what do you think about these itineraries? As countries across Asia reopen to international travelers, Japan one of the continent's most popular destinations remains firmly closed. 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. From September 7, 2022, the country plans to drop pre-departure testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers (including one booster dose). 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. 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? 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. The changes were intended to "support smooth international travels, given a low rate of positive test results among entrants", Matsuno said. This is the end weve all be anxiously awaiting for ~2 years! You will receive a link to download the eBook and periodic emails when there's news to share. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; Do I need to be vaccinated to go to Japan? Just booked my accommodation/flights/insurance/rail pass for a 22 day trip to Hiroshima, Fukui, Kanazawa, Nagoya and Osaka! The Polynesian island country of Samoa will open its international borders in August, although again . On Tuesday, the country. Except for everyone wearing masks, things seemed mostly back to normal. -. "We will lift the ceiling of the number of entrants. Think the need to adapt and live with the endemic virus will outweigh fear when it comes to Japans reopening plans? Who is currently allowed to travel to Japan? The infection situation has been stabilizing in Japan and the government will consult with public health experts before reviewing the country's . 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. It was finally announced that from October 11, 2022, the borders would be reopening to visa-free tourists. Updated 7 June 2022. |. 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. 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. See countries around the world ring in 2023 with a bang. In terms of the latest news, the current vaccine and testing policies are likely to end on May 8, 2023. China reopening most likely late Jan/Feb 2023. After a series of head fake border. They can be reached by phone from 10:00 to 17:00, Monday through Friday, at 0120-296-004. Finally booked my flights, enjoy your trips everyone! Japan has maintained some of the strictest Bon voyage! What follows is based on that research and fixation with the on-the-ground situation in Japan. On the same topic. 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. Those two posts cover essentially everything you need to know about visiting Japan as of 2023. Japan slams the borders shut on Omicron. 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. Despite the aforementioned numbers, Japan is maintaining its goal of attracting 60 million foreign visitors by 2030. This is. 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. The total of guests at hotels and inns was 315.75 million, down 4.8% from 2020 and 47% from 2019. Thank you Tom for providing us a platform to discuss thing amidst all the confusing developments and giving us updates. 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. Read on to find out more! The key question is: Can it learn to love foreign tourists again? 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. Thank you so much for this free and respectful space for everyones opinions that has helped us get through these difficult years. 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. Subscribers also receive a totally free copy of ourJapan on a BudgeteBook. Which brings us to a threshold issue:when will Japan reopen?This week, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is in New York to deliver an address at the U.N. General [], Your email address will not be published. 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 . During the Bloomberg New Voices panel,Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said she would open the countrys doors tomorrow if it were her decision. 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. Thanks Tom, and everyone! All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. Im very glad its dead but am also appreciative of what existed while it did. On August 31, Kishida made an official announcement encompassing all of the rumored changes, including unguided tourists. May all our trips be everything we dreamt of and more. Kihara isnt the only one who has been vocal about fully reopening to tourists recently. Were preserving this for posterity, but everything that follows is now (thankfully!) From the beginning this page was the only place I checked (sometimes daily) for hope. 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. Japan also began allowing unguided tours, meaning ones not accompanied by tour conductors. 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. 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. But whatever winter wave occurs (and onewillhappen), thats unlikely to be an obstacle to reopening progress, as was the case last year. Is this a here we go again moment looming? (February 2023 Update). Are borders open as normal in 2023? It will happen soon. Nov. Dec. Then Covid hit. 32 last-minute Valentine's Day 2023 gifts . These measures are long-awaited news for tourists around the world who have been looking forward to visiting Japan. Ill never forget this amazing, special blog and the unlikely community of shared pain that flourished here for as long as I live. Japan House exhibition running until the end of January 2023, opening 29th Sep, focusing on woodwork in Hida, Takayama. I wish you all the best with your upcoming tripsthanks again for everything. Explore Japan's lesser-known destinations over 13 adventure-packed days, sipping sake in Takayama and marvelling at the iconic floating torii gate . 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. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. 7:09. What are testing, face mask, and vaccine requirements for visitors? Im heading to Tokyo for the first time in 3.5 years on October 23rd and I cant wait! 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. 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. 23/02/2023. 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. This is sad fact, though. Toranomon-Azabudai- A futuristic development project by Heatherwick opening in 2023 in the well-heeled area of south-west Tokyo by the same name, the Toranomon-Azabudai Project will foreground. 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. Nov. 18, 2021 10:20 am JST Nov. 26, 2021 . We can't expect Japanese government to reopen their border on April 2022 due to the emergence of Omicron variant. 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. May its borders remain open forevermore. 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. 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. Lets see where THIS goes. TOKYO: Japan looks like it may finally open its borders and end its splendid isolation. As weve stressed repeatedly, Japans populace has been among the most cautious in the world with regard to COVID-19. Thanks, [] to individual tourists for the duration of the festivities. Decreased tourism plus falling exports, an increased consumption tax, reduced consumer spending, weak yen, and growing national debt. 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. Japan: A deep-fried pork . To say it one last time cheers, Tom. Thanks for your commitment, communication and consultation over the last 2 years. 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. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that his top priority was formulating new economic measures and implementing these goals. 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. Amid the weakening yen, inbound travelers will have greatest economic effectThere are many foreign visitors who want to come visit Japan. Kihara added that eliminating the arrival cap alone was not enough. Japan is open to travel. 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. Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? 1. With the yen weak, tourism has the potential to provide an . We have to carry it out in the not-so-distant future, he said. Japansreclassification of COVID-19 to Class 5 came after a panel of experts under the health ministry agreed on the plan earlier in the day. 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. Intrepid Travel: Japan - Land of the Rising Sun. Thank you Tom and to everyone for all the insights, info, and updates. It is available from 10:00 to 17:00, and can be reached at 03-6233-9266. 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. Japan will open an embassy in Malta. These are questions among those planning trips to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and this covers the answers. 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. . Do I need to do a pre-departure Covid test? Public opinion nowadays is very reluctant to allow foreigner to enter Japan even if you guys want to enter Japan on the purpose of studying or business. Updated August 23 2022 Japan has eased border control measures several times in. 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. Mount Fuji: One of Japan's three sacred mountains and. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has reacted with powerful . 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Of course, things could change between now and then, but its likely the border will revert to late 2019 status as of that date. This is the first step in our gradual easing of the [border] restrictions, Kishida has said. [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 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. 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. If/when theres another winter resurgence in cases, the reopening can would effectively be kicked down the road for a few more months. Under the current COVID-19 border restrictions, foreign tourists need to obtain a short-term visa and prepare their flights, itinerary, accommodation, and car rentals ahead of time through a. Its pretty clear the government is focused on moving forward. 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. P.S. You no longer need a visa to travel to Japan for up to 90 days. (With the possible workaround of travel insurance or some other awkward fix.). In today's Face-to-Face interview, Professor Wolfgang Arlt, founder and CEO of the China Outbound . While it certainly sounds likethe end is nearfor the Japan travel ban, its premature to have a high degree of confidence. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary if (d.getElementById(id)) return; Human behavior and sentiment dont change overnight, even if its economically advantageous and objectively safer to do so. This is specifically forunguided tour groups or non-escorted visitors on package tours andnotindividual tourists. We mention this in part to own past mistakes, but also as a cautionary tale. This assumes thatJapan downgrades COVID-19 from its special status to Category 5 literally any day now orthat this is not a necessary prerequisite to an individual tourist reopening. Think those will stick around for several months, or are simply theater to shift public opinion? Travel Daily - Informing, connecting and developing the worlds travel industry professionals. Travelers from most countries can now enter Japan without applying for a visa in advance. and executives subscribed to our daily newsletter. As always, Japan is cautious and conservative, with a slow and belabored decision-making process that often embodies analysis paralysis and usually defies logic. 2023 when Japan is scheduled to downgrade the categorization of the virus. So why aren't tourists coming back? 01:51 . 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. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Want to receive free updates on when Japan will reopen for travel? First, there is consensus that the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, will be eliminated entirely. With this, the visa exemption would be reinstated, making that a non-issue. This indicates that Japan is finally ready to move forward and sets the precedent for future changes during waves. We had a nice little community here, and that was greatly appreciated. Thats a wild card that could further extend any timeline. All of this in the hope for some clarity as to when the country will fully reopen and Japan will begin allowing international tourists to enter once again. for individual tourists. This . Japan fully reopened its borders to tourists on October 11, 2022. It now appears that the time is hereor coming very soon. Was great being here. 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. How do you view the news about guided tours? Currently, citizens of 68 countries and regions will be allowed to . 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. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Wada Kouichi . 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. 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.
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