Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. 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. Nov. Dec. Then Covid hit. 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. That may soon change. The number of people anxiously awaiting Japans reopening is shrinking, not growing. At Juwai IQI, we believe China will maintain zero-Covid through at least the rst-quarter of 2023. 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. Up to 20 per cent of these arrivals will also be required to take a COVID-19 test on arrival at the airport. Do you or anyone here know if we need this after Oct. 11? Im very glad its dead but am also appreciative of what existed while it did. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government launched a multilingual call center on COVID-19 for foreign residents. 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 . Ill never forget this amazing, special blog and the unlikely community of shared pain that flourished here for as long as I live. Human behavior and sentiment dont change overnight, even if its economically advantageous and objectively safer to do so. You all made the (repeated) cancellations and premature excitement a bit more bearable. First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11 of last year. 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.. 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. Is Japan open for internationalindividual travelers? 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. Thank you Tom for providing us a platform to discuss thing amidst all the confusing developments and giving us updates. We had a nice little community here, and that was greatly appreciated. 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. Does that mean it will be as easy to visit now as it was pre-pandemic? 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 . All Rights Reserved. 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. The country eased border controls . Update: As of October 11, 2022, Japan will reopen to individual visitors on a visa-free basis. 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. It will happen soon. If youre planning your trip to Japan, what do you think about these itineraries? 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. P.s. One wildcard is the downgrade of COVIDs legal status. The new Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park opens here with a rooftop infinity pool and views over the park, in 2023. Finally, Japan will reopen the border. P.S. 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. 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. The arrivals cap would also be eliminated in this scenario. 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. Japan has chosen a different course. Im inclined to say Spring 2023, but its easy to envision a worst-case that isnt until summer. Take a dip in one at the soon-to-open, . Japan House exhibition running until the end of January 2023, opening 29th Sep, focusing on woodwork in Hida, Takayama. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the news in September at a press conference. (This number includes hotels used as government quarantine facilities, not just leisure stays.). Its thus our view that Japan reopening in some capacity to individual tourists in October is a very realistic scenario. The government will also take measures to stimulate and jump-start the economy. Zenbo Seinei A new meditation experience centre above the canopies of the Hyogo prefecture next to Kyoto and Osaka, designed by award-winning architect Shigeru Ban. ), While presenting the above as a cautionary tale against optimism or over reliance on logic when assessing Japans decisions, thats exactly what Im going to do. 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? oh wow!! Its possible the country views this as sufficient for tourism businesses to stave off bankruptcy or other financial hardship for another few months. Thanks for your commitment, communication and consultation over the last 2 years. The Polynesian island country of Samoa will open its international borders in August, although again . js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; At a news conference in New York City, where he was attending the UN General Assembly meeting, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. 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. For more than two years, the nation was effectively impossible visit Japan. Be part of our community of seasoned travel and hospitality industry professionals from all over the world. These are questions among those planning trips to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and this covers the answers. Yokohama 2023 sees the return of the Yokohama Biennale art festival, timed with the reopening of the Yokohama Museum of Art post-renovation. Given that none of the recent reports have even mentioned COVIDs status in regard to reopening, its possible our perspective was wrong. 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Economic benefits of international tourists is one big reason why Japan is expected to reopen its border. With all of this said, Ill present my revised best, worst, and base-case scenarios for Japans reopening to individual tourists, Lets start with the best-case scenario. Im so excited and happy for everyone! Against that economic backdrop, lets take a look at the latest changes to Japans reopening plans. Do I need to do a pre-departure Covid test? Independent tourists are not yet granted entry, although they can be expected to be allowed back by Autumn 2022. 2023 when Japan is scheduled to downgrade the categorization of the virus. Finally booked my flights, enjoy your trips everyone! We know there are a lot of people overseas who want to come to Japan, Kihara added. The key question is: Can it learn to love foreign tourists again? 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. 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. It is available from 10:00 to 17:00, and can be reached at 03-6233-9266. 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. 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. Saturday, 4 March 2023, 15:47 Last update: about 1 hour ago. Your email address will not be published. 01:51 . The country is also bringing back visa-free entry for visitors from more than 60 countries. In light of the border reopening, Qantas will at last fire up its much-delayed Sydney-Tokyo Haneda service from October 27, with flights from Brisbane also resuming on December 1 and Melbourne primed to join the duo from March 2023.. Qantas International CEO Andrew David says "forward bookings are tracking well, in particular for the upcoming Australian holiday period", which shows how . 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. This is where there is disagreement among the major outlets. js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/28/412454028.js"; sheeesh still cant believe my trip starting october 22nd might actually happen this time (). Are borders open as normal in 2023? first infection wave in spring 2020, and some closed again during subsequent waves; however, almost all of them are now open again. . Autumn is already a lost cause. It now appears that the time is hereor coming very soon. Japan fully reopened its borders to tourists on October 11, 2022. More information can be found here . It takes the shape of a long wooden sky deck on various levels encompassing an open-air deck for meditation, wooden rooms with tatami made for overnight stays, study/contemplation rooms and a restaurant serving fresh seasonal cuisine. China retaliated by suspending the issuing of short-term visas in South Korea and Japan. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, according to the news outlets sources. Frankly, the miscalculation here by the Kishida administration is thinking that this will have an immediate impact on inbound travel. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Tour groups from 98 countries, including Australia, can now visit the country - but only if they wear masks, have . The specifics are not consistent among outlets, so lets start with where theyre in agreeance. Japan has maintained some of the strictest Some events and . 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. That also offers tips for avoiding crowds and strategy for visiting the best temples, shrines, and evening illuminations. 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. 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 . While it certainly sounds likethe end is nearfor the Japan travel ban, its premature to have a high degree of confidence. While I hope to see you around here on future updates, I know that probably wont be the case. Travel Daily - Informing, connecting and developing the worlds travel industry professionals. Thanks for the posts, Tom. However, Japan is now joining the rest of the world as people are ready to move on with life. With the relaxed travel measures, Japan is fully prepared to host these events. Putting aside how I obviously need to be clearing my web history more often, it all feels so surreal now that is, how religiously I checked this comments section for news on Japan not even half a year prior, a somewhat embarrassing fact that Firefox is keen to remind me of. TEL: 0120-248-668 (Japanese only) . The big one for most of you is likely going to beJapan Face Mask Rules v. Reality in 2023. Its now the popular position being advanced publicly by politicians, not just being advocated by Keidanren or Japans business lobby. Are you concerned that Japan wont reopen until 2023, or think October is still realistic? . In such a scenario, the borders could almost immediately return to their normal pre-closure status in early October. This indicates that Japan is finally ready to move forward and sets the precedent for future changes during waves. Most people need months of time between booking and traveling; very few plan and take last-minute tripsespecially international ones. 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. 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. Not so much in the last couple of years, as this has been reflected in policy-making. Japan also began allowing unguided tours, meaning ones not accompanied by tour conductors. 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. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Japan reopened its borders to independent foreign travelers and reintroduced visa-free entry from October 11, 2022. . It remains unknown when independent travelers will be able to enter the. "We will lift the ceiling of the number of entrants. 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. 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. Can I Travel to Japan Now? By. We have to carry it out in the not-so-distant future, he said. Thank you Tom and to everyone for all the insights, info, and updates. Just open the borders already. Thats a wild card that could further extend any timeline. March 2023 Japan is finally open! Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Shimokitazawa An ongoing redevelopment around a suburban railway line stretching across three stations (Senrogai), cementing the districts place as a youth culture hub.