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. 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. Take a dip in one at the soon-to-open, . We had a nice little community here, and that was greatly appreciated. That would mean individual tourists would not be welcomed back to Japan until sometime in the first half of 2023. With the yen weak, tourism has the potential to provide an . This includes business travelers on short stays, students in study abroad programs, participants in technical internships, both guided & unguided tour groups, spouses or children (and other relatives) of a Japanese national/permanent resident, others with special exceptional circumstances, and those who would provide a public benefit to Japan. 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. oh wow!! 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. Lets see where THIS goes. 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 . If you cant respect another countrys Covid policies you shouldnt visit and be an entitled tourist. So why aren't tourists coming back? May all our trips be everything we dreamt of and more. 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. The Polynesian island country of Samoa will open its international borders in August, although again . As improbable as it mightve seemed even a week ago, Japan welcoming back international visitors who are not part of tours (guided or unguided) sometime before November is likely. For better or worse, Japan is an insular and culturally conservative countrya characteristic that is often valued by visitors. It kind of fell like a little community in here, like I know from Discord groups. 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. 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. We typically spend a couple of months in Japan each year, and are ecstatic to be returning after nearly 3 years away. 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. Summary Since October 2022, Japan is fully open, without the requirement for a visa for most visitors. 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. 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. 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. 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. Thanks Tom, and everyone! Its possible the country views this as sufficient for tourism businesses to stave off bankruptcy or other financial hardship for another few months. 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. . 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. Japan has resumed its visa exemption scheme for short-stay tourism and business travel. 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. Update: As of October 11, 2022, Japan will reopen to individual visitors on a visa-free basis. The country is also about to increase the daily cap of tourists allowed to enter Japan from 20,000 to 50,000. Visit in Spring or Autumn. Frankly, the miscalculation here by the Kishida administration is thinking that this will have an immediate impact on inbound travel. After a series of head fake border. 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. Kishidas government has been trying to take advantage of the weak yen and accelerate growth by attracting more foreign visitors. In today's Face-to-Face interview, Professor Wolfgang Arlt, founder and CEO of the China Outbound . 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. Boosting tourism was core to the late former Prime Minister Abes economic revitalization, and both subsequent prime ministers have indicated their intentions to maintain continuity with those plans. Thank you Tom and to everyone for all the insights, info, and updates. 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 . js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; 2023 will bring the opening of a farm area for agritourism, with a private villa area due to open in 2024. It could start as soon as late November, but is more likely in December. China retaliated by suspending the issuing of short-term visas in South Korea and Japan. On August 23, specifics of the September relaxation measures were leaked to the same media outlets. 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. 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. Nov. 18, 2021 10:20 am JST Nov. 26, 2021 . 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. At a news conference in New York City, where he was attending the UN General Assembly meeting, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Wow, i cant believe it. On August 31, Kishida made an official announcement encompassing all of the rumored changes, including unguided tourists. 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. 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. You no longer need a visa to travel to Japan for up to 90 days. 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Second, theres awareness within theKishida administration that the window of opportunity to reopen the border is closing. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. 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. Japan House exhibition running until the end of January 2023, opening 29th Sep, focusing on woodwork in Hida, Takayama. On Tuesday, the country. for individual tourists. 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? 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. 2023 GPlusMedia Inc. national Japan to increase daily border cap to 5,000 people from Nov 26. 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 green spaces, a new temple, retail spaces designed by Sou Fujimoto, Japans tallest high-rise building, two Aman properties and the new permanent location for teamLab exhibitions in Tokyo from 2023. Nevertheless, despite loosening restrictions in September, travelers will still need to . Hi Tom, JNTO President SEINO Satoshi commented: The Japanese government has, at last, announced the resumption of individual travel for tourism purposes, visa waivers, and the elimination of the daily arrival cap. . Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary Japan is always one decade lagging behind the developed world. As weve stressed repeatedly, Japans populace has been among the most cautious in the world with regard to COVID-19. Japan has seasonal attractions in fall and winter. js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/28/412454028.js"; I am incredibly pleased to finally welcome back individual travellers after coping with the pandemic during a wait of two-and-a-half years. We have more good news! We mention this in part to own past mistakes, but also as a cautionary tale. Not so much in the last couple of years, as this has been reflected in policy-making. Yokohama 2023 sees the return of the Yokohama Biennale art festival, timed with the reopening of the Yokohama Museum of Art post-renovation. Thanks again for all the work you put into this. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party recognizes these problems and realizes it needs to rebuild Japans economy. 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. Independent tourists are not yet granted entry, although they can be expected to be allowed back by Autumn 2022. 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. 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. Regardless, its good to have this removed as it eliminates an element of uncertainty and could have been an issue during peak travel times for the Japanese. Your updates were by far the best I could find on the internet and helped lots of us getting through this (dare I say; emotional) rollercoaster the past several years. More information can be found here . 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. Come see the new Japan. Thatll help you prepare for arrival, and potentially save time at the airport. While I hope to see you around here on future updates, I know that probably wont be the case. 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. This is now the same as the best-case scenario. 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. 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. World News Reuters Updated: May 30, 2022 2:06 pm IST This is specifically forunguided tour groups or non-escorted visitors on package tours andnotindividual tourists. 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. STAY UPDATED WITH THE LATEST 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. TRAVEL NEWS, JOBS & EVENTS! This is sad fact, though. Some events and . tomthanks for ALL the help.I was told I need the MYSOS app to enter now, but there is mixed information on JapanWeb. Human behavior and sentiment dont change overnight, even if its economically advantageous and objectively safer to do so. Thanks for the updates Tom and thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and opinions over the past 2 years. . You will receive a link to download the eBook and periodic emails when there's news to share. (This number includes hotels used as government quarantine facilities, not just leisure stays.). How do you view the news about guided tours? sheeesh still cant believe my trip starting october 22nd might actually happen this time (). Crowds not a problem. Additionally, the Japan National Tourism Organization has set 2024 as its goal for recovering to 2019 international travel levels. The Japanese government recently eased its COVID-19 entry restrictions, meaning tourists can now visit without being on a guided tour. 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 . Its now the popular position being advanced publicly by politicians, not just being advocated by Keidanren or Japans business lobby. 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. Ive missed it so much. 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. Either way, thats something to continue keeping in mind. Tourism is a big industry in Tokyo, as well as in all Japan, so this is the time to greet more foreign tourists by using this advantage of the depreciation of the yen, she said. 2.Realistic time needed to get a feel for Japan. Any questions? 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 . Thank you Tom for providing us a platform to discuss thing amidst all the confusing developments and giving us updates. As governor of Tokyo, that would be tomorrow.. Subscribe to our email newsletter for the latest news & instant alerts. of course the opposition (not all of it, from what I read) is against this. Do I need to be vaccinated to go to Japan? Cases are currently in freefall and will continue decreasing next month before bottoming out sometime between late October and early November. 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. Economists fear a double dip recession in Japan due to the prolonged closures and restrictions. Your email address will not be published. Its thus our view that Japan reopening in some capacity to individual tourists in October is a very realistic scenario. If you want a copy of thistotally freeeBook and Japan reopening updates, all you need to do issubscribe to our newsletter! Economic benefits of international tourists is one big reason why Japan is expected to reopen its border. For more than two years, the nation was effectively impossible visit Japan. 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. -. Did the Visit Japan Web App before arrival and was simple getting through everything at Narita, just had to show them the QR codes, two people traveling, one with the triple vaccination and one just using pre travel PCR test. 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. Thank you, for this wonderful site with its very helpful regular updates! What we had here was a weird little community of sorts, and a really nice one considering the circumstances. That may soon change. 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. But whatever winter wave occurs (and onewillhappen), thats unlikely to be an obstacle to reopening progress, as was the case last year. The Government of Japan announced a policy of resuming entry by individual travellers for tourism purposes beginning on October 11. What follows is based on that research and fixation with the on-the-ground situation in Japan. Are you concerned that Japan wont reopen until 2023, or think October is still realistic? =w=)b. 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. 2023 when Japan is scheduled to downgrade the categorization of the virus. 2 days agoJapan on Monday reported 95916 new coronavirus cases. Essentially, there will be no (legal) basis for the current border protocol effective May 8, 2023. Thats the sharpest fall on record according to the Japan Tourism Agency. P.s. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. As countries across Asia reopen to international travelers, Japan one of the continent's most popular destinations remains firmly closed. Despite the aforementioned numbers, Japan is maintaining its goal of attracting 60 million foreign visitors by 2030. From the beginning this page was the only place I checked (sometimes daily) for hope. Will Japan open borders in 2023? Quite simply,Japan is inflicting pain on itself by remaining closed. We have to carry it out in the not-so-distant future, he said. 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. What is required to travel to Japan and what about visas? By Lilit Marcus, CNN Published 9:20 PM EDT, Sun July 31, 2022 Link Copied! Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered new guidance that were covering inJapan Reopening to Individual Tourists: FAQ, Rules & Guidelines. 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. 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. Multiple media outlets, including NHK, Kyodo, Nikkei, and Fuji TV are all reporting thatJapansgovernment is planning to further relax restrictions and border measures with an eye to implementing the revisions by the start of October. Subscribers also receive a totally free copy of ourJapan on a BudgeteBook. [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 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 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. Decreased tourism plus falling exports, an increased consumption tax, reduced consumer spending, weak yen, and growing national debt. This is the end weve all be anxiously awaiting for ~2 years! (February 2023 Update). Autumn is already a lost cause. Thats simply a good time to visit Japan and, hopefully, the country will be open to individual tourists by then. 216. The country's domestic and international business community united on Friday in urging the government to open further, including "rapidly resuming" individual tourist travel and bringing. Copyright - Sarah & Tom Bricker, Travel Caffeine. 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. 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. 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. Is this a here we go again moment looming? All Rights Reserved. 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. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Hi Tom and THANK YOU for everything this platform had AND still has to offer! Still, Wanping Aw, CEO of the Tokyo-based travel agency Tokudaw said her company saw a large uptick in business after Japan reopened its borders in June with 50% of enquires and bookings . 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. Then theres the middle ground or base case. For general inquiries about border measures for entry into Japan, please contact the following numbers Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's Call Center Open 9 AM to 9 PM, everyday including weekend and holidays. 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. Want to receive free updates on when Japan will reopen for travel? Ill be sticking around for the future updates and travel guides. 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. The infection situation has been stabilizing in Japan and the government will consult with public health experts before reviewing the country's . The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Wada Kouichi . Its pretty clear the government is focused on moving forward. Japan Tourism: The decision means Japan will allow in a limited number of foreign tourists on package tours starting June 10. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; I assume well hear from AndyO soon, admitting he was wrong, like he demanded from so many of us. Japan finally opened its borders to tourists on Friday, but with strict rules. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. This is where there is disagreement among the major outlets. I wish you all the best with your upcoming tripsthanks again for everything. 28 Feb 2023 0. I have been to Japan many times pre-covid, and I am now going again this year late October. Japans economy has serious issues and inbound tourism was previously a bright spot. That theres more upside than downside risk in reopening and encouraging more economic activity. Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) looks forward to welcoming individual inbound travellers back to Japan with the long-awaited lifting of entry restrictions. Kishida has also acknowledged that Japans border control measures are the strictest among Group of Seven nations, and expressed a desire/need to bring Japan in line with its counterparts. Japan has announced it will lift tough Covid restrictions on foreign tourists, reopening the borders after two and a half years. 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. Japan is Likely to Reopen to Foreign Travelers in Spring 2022 if COVID-19 numbers remain low, according to industry estimates, although the government hasn't set a hard date yet.
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