2023 when Japan is scheduled to downgrade the categorization of the virus. Thanks, [] to individual tourists for the duration of the festivities. What is required to travel to Japan and what about visas? Tour groups from 98 countries, including Australia, can now visit the country - but only if they wear masks, have . On August 31, Kishida made an official announcement encompassing all of the rumored changes, including unguided tourists. Wow, i cant believe it. Despite the aforementioned numbers, Japan is maintaining its goal of attracting 60 million foreign visitors by 2030. See countries around the world ring in 2023 with a bang. In our view, koyo (autumn leaves) season is a good bet, and that takes place from mid-November through December. Japan is open to travel. 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. Either way, thats something to continue keeping in mind. 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. We eagerly await your arrival!. The key question is: Can it learn to love foreign tourists again? Nov. Dec. Then Covid hit. Except for everyone wearing masks, things seemed mostly back to normal. I have been to Japan many times pre-covid, and I am now going again this year late October. 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. Saturday, 4 March 2023, 15:47 Last update: about 1 hour ago. With all of that in mind, we remain cautiously optimistic that individual tourists will be allowed to enter Japan sooner rather than later. Japan Tourism: The decision means Japan will allow in a limited number of foreign tourists on package tours starting June 10. 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. Visit in Spring or Autumn. 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. Compared with the pre-pandemic level in 2019, it dropped 99.2 percent. Just open the borders already. With the yen weak, tourism has the potential to provide an . Another possibility is that Japan will allow individual foreign tourists to enter the country andexempt them from visas if they have been vaccinated three times or submit a pre-arrival test result. With the relaxed travel measures, Japan is fully prepared to host these events. PP PRITESH C PATEL 10 months ago How about Sept, Oct? =w=)b. In terms of the latest news, the current vaccine and testing policies are likely to end on May 8, 2023. If youre planning your trip to Japan, what do you think about these itineraries? 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. 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 . Japan fully reopening in full is all but inevitable at this point. 01:51 . Are borders open as normal in 2023? Or, that this barrier does still exist and Japan will have to create a solution for it (travel insurance?) Do you or anyone here know if we need this after Oct. 11? The endisnear. Against that economic backdrop, lets take a look at the latest changes to Japans reopening plans. This will save you significant money on accommodations, attractions, temples, groceries, transportation, and even Michelin-rated restaurants! Of course, things could change between now and then, but its likely the border will revert to late 2019 status as of that date. Finally, Japan will reopen the border. Japan will close its borders to all foreigners from Tuesday, . Japan is finally reopening its borders to mass tourism on October 11. 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. so its confirmed Thanks so much Tom. 2 days agoJapan on Monday reported 95916 new coronavirus cases. 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. Thats a wild card that could further extend any timeline. Were preserving this for posterity, but everything that follows is now (thankfully!) 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. Recently, Japan reopened to limited numbers of fully vaccinated foreign business travelers and students, and raised its daily limit of these arrivals from 3500 to 5000. The big one for most of you is likely going to beJapan Face Mask Rules v. Reality in 2023. For better or worse, Japan is an insular and culturally conservative countrya characteristic that is often valued by visitors. We typically spend a couple of months in Japan each year, and are ecstatic to be returning after nearly 3 years away. }(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. 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. 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. Here are all the details on visa-free travel, vaccination and Covid test requirements. Im so excited and happy for everyone! 1. 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. As governor of Tokyo, that would be tomorrow.. What follows is based on that research and fixation with the on-the-ground situation in Japan. Thanks for all the updates and helpful info during this stressful and hard time, Tom!! With this, the visa exemption would be reinstated, making that a non-issue. Finally, there has been some good news about the state of the Japanese border closure for almost all tourists. Thanks for the posts, Tom. Those two posts cover essentially everything you need to know about visiting Japan as of 2023. (With the possible workaround of travel insurance or some other awkward fix.). 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 . 2023 - Travel Daily. 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 . Want to receive free updates on when Japan will reopen for travel? 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. Updated August 23 2022 Japan has eased border control measures several times in. Would you consider visiting Japan later this year, or is international travel out of the question for you anytime soon? 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. 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. 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. 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. That theres more upside than downside risk in reopening and encouraging more economic activity. P.s. Will be heading back again in a couple of weeks. 7:09. The infection situation has been stabilizing in Japan and the government will consult with public health experts before reviewing the country's . 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. Finally booked my flights, enjoy your trips everyone! 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. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherries in full bloom: f11 photo / Shutterstock.com Situation Summary The number of people anxiously awaiting Japans reopening is shrinking, not growing. Who knowsit still may take until early 2023 to fully downgrade the legal status of COVID. The new Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park opens here with a rooftop infinity pool and views over the park, in 2023. While it certainly sounds likethe end is nearfor the Japan travel ban, its premature to have a high degree of confidence. Thanks to so many of you regular readers and commenters who made the last couple of years easier, shared articles, optimistic/pessimistic updates, and so much more. 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. STAY UPDATED WITH THE LATEST 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. In short, the early October reopening is not just our most optimistic viewits now what we expect to happen. 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. I already moved on to read your other Japan travel posts to get tips which are also so helpful! Yokohama 2023 sees the return of the Yokohama Biennale art festival, timed with the reopening of the Yokohama Museum of Art post-renovation. It also will see the opening of the TIAD luxury hotel in the buzzy Sakae/Shin-Sakae entertainment districts, after the opening of the art deco hotel The Tower Hotel Nagoya (2020) on the upper levels of Nagoyas TV tower, with the large beams of the tower as a centrepiece within each room. Was less crowded than when I was there before, especially at the airport. 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. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, according to the news outlets sources. 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). It remains unknown when independent travelers will be able to enter the. The Mana Village A collection of villa properties opening in stages on the wild and rustic southern coastline of Kochi prefecture, on Shikoku island. |. Economic benefits of international tourists is one big reason why Japan is expected to reopen its border. js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/28/412454028.js"; (It took a few more days for the guidelines to be released, and the clarifying FAQ isstillbeing updated. There are also signs that stringent travel measures, including the border closure, are having a greater impact on Japans economy than previously believed. Intrepid Travel: Japan - Land of the Rising Sun. first infection wave in spring 2020, and some closed again during subsequent waves; however, almost all of them are now open again. 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. This is where there is disagreement among the major outlets. Crowds not a problem. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; Call 81 3 3201 3331. Nov. 18, 2021 10:20 am JST Nov. 26, 2021 . TOKYO: Japan looks like it may finally open its borders and end its splendid isolation. 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. We know there are a lot of people overseas who want to come to Japan, Kihara added. Economists fear a double dip recession in Japan due to the prolonged closures and restrictions. On Tuesday, the country. This is now the same as the best-case scenario. We will review all three restrictions together. Im very glad its dead but am also appreciative of what existed while it did. It was, indeed, a rare bright spot in such a dark, sad time. Like a moth to a flame.). Demand vaccine certificates or PCR testing, and give people the freedom of movement. sheeesh still cant believe my trip starting october 22nd might actually happen this time (). That would mean individual tourists would not be welcomed back to Japan until sometime in the first half of 2023. They can be reached by phone from 10:00 to 17:00, Monday through Friday, at 0120-296-004. 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. By. Human behavior and sentiment dont change overnight, even if its economically advantageous and objectively safer to do so. Frankly, the miscalculation here by the Kishida administration is thinking that this will have an immediate impact on inbound travel. Japan relaxed its border measures earlier in September while still being #1 in the world for new cases. Our view is that the worst-case scenario is nowhighlyunlikely. 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. Japan has resumed its visa exemption scheme for short-stay tourism and business travel. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. 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. 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. Japan is now allowing foreign nationals to enter Japan for purposes other than tourism so long as they have a sponsor in the country. Thats simply a good time to visit Japan and, hopefully, the country will be open to individual tourists by then. Do I need to be vaccinated to go to Japan? Take a dip in one at the soon-to-open, . Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Its possible the country views this as sufficient for tourism businesses to stave off bankruptcy or other financial hardship for another few months. Japan will further ease in June border controls implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and bring them on par with other Group of Seven nations, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday his country will ease COVID-19 border control requirements next month, a key step in fostering a recovery in Japan's tourism sector, which is eager to take advantage of the yen's slide to a 24-year low. First, theres already the realization that unguided tourslike guided tours before themwill not move the needle on inbound tourism in any meaningful way. Independent tourists are not yet granted entry, although they can be expected to be allowed back by Autumn 2022. First, there is consensus that the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, will be eliminated entirely. . Everybody have a great trip! Just booked my accommodation/flights/insurance/rail pass for a 22 day trip to Hiroshima, Fukui, Kanazawa, Nagoya and Osaka! 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. This . Sort of. oh wow!! 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. 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. Additionally, the Japan National Tourism Organization has set 2024 as its goal for recovering to 2019 international travel levels. On the same topic. That also offers tips for avoiding crowds and strategy for visiting the best temples, shrines, and evening illuminations. 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. This was a great place to keep up to date on the happenings. 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. As borders are reopening, Japan is finally seeing some improvements in its travel performance, according to the latest update of the Skift Travel Health Index. Join over 180,000 travel agents, professionals As weve stressed repeatedly, Japans populace has been among the most cautious in the world with regard to COVID-19. Prefer a couple of nights in a location rather than one night stays, possibly use a location as a central point for a couple of stays 3. 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. South Korea eased its border controls on visitors from China early this month, which China welcomed. What we had here was a weird little community of sorts, and a really nice one considering the circumstances. Thanks again for all the work you put into this. The prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said on Thursday that the. 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. 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. TRAVEL NEWS, JOBS & EVENTS! The changes were intended to "support smooth international travels, given a low rate of positive test results among entrants", Matsuno said. 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. As for you, Tom Id buy you a round at my favourite izakaya if I could! At Juwai IQI, we believe China will maintain zero-Covid through at least the rst-quarter of 2023.