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. js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/28/412454028.js"; Finally, Japan will reopen the border. Thanks again for all the work you put into this. 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 . Japan House exhibition running until the end of January 2023, opening 29th Sep, focusing on woodwork in Hida, Takayama. This is. Does that mean it will be as easy to visit now as it was pre-pandemic? First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11 of last year. 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. At best, this helps with winter. On August 31, Kishida made an official announcement encompassing all of the rumored changes, including unguided tourists. 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. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); Up to 20 per cent of these arrivals will also be required to take a COVID-19 test on arrival at the airport. And thank you for providing this space for all of us. 2 days agoJapan on Monday reported 95916 new coronavirus cases. . 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. Both of these statements are reassuring given the current border closures, and indicate that Japan will unwind its travel ban in months, not years. The new Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park opens here with a rooftop infinity pool and views over the park, in 2023. 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. This . Visit in Spring or Autumn. 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. P.S. The country eased border controls . |. despite protests. 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. Here are all the details on visa-free travel, vaccination and Covid test requirements. Well, I visited only recently but it was one of the (very few) level-headed sites that discussed this topic. These measures are long-awaited news for tourists around the world who have been looking forward to visiting Japan. tomthanks for ALL the help.I was told I need the MYSOS app to enter now, but there is mixed information on JapanWeb. 2023 - Travel Daily. Sort of. Im inclined to say Spring 2023, but its easy to envision a worst-case that isnt until summer. At that time, it was unclear whether unguided tourists would be allowed to enter. Fly into one airport and out of another Plan to do 4 nights in Singapore on way back to Australia 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 . While I hope to see you around here on future updates, I know that probably wont be the case. 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. May its borders remain open forevermore. While it certainly sounds likethe end is nearfor the Japan travel ban, its premature to have a high degree of confidence. 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. This is sad fact, though. It was finally announced that from October 11, 2022, the borders would be reopening to visa-free tourists. Despite the aforementioned numbers, Japan is maintaining its goal of attracting 60 million foreign visitors by 2030. Call 81 3 3201 3331. (With the possible workaround of travel insurance or some other awkward fix.). Japan has been busy over the past two-and-a-half years with preparations to welcome back everyone. It is finally over. These are questions among those planning trips to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and this covers the answers. Even if China begins opening sooner, we forecast China will not fully reopen until at . 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. Thats the sharpest fall on record according to the Japan Tourism Agency. Thank you Tom for providing us a platform to discuss thing amidst all the confusing developments and giving us updates. Japan is open to travel. It has been well over two years since coronavirus initially shut down global travel. Given that none of the recent reports have even mentioned COVIDs status in regard to reopening, its possible our perspective was wrong. 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. 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. Japan has maintained some of the strictest 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. I have been to Japan many times pre-covid, and I am now going again this year late October. It's official: Japan will reopen to tourism on October 11. 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. Some events and . (Updated February 12, 2023.). 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. 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. 2023 will bring the opening of a farm area for agritourism, with a private villa area due to open in 2024. 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. Currently, citizens of 68 countries and regions will be allowed to . 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 . With this, the visa exemption would be reinstated, making that a non-issue. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, according to the news outlets sources. so its confirmed Thanks so much Tom. This is despite Japans Go to Travel campaign that subsidized domestic travel, which was offered at various times during the last two years. With the relaxed travel measures, Japan is fully prepared to host these events. 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 . TOKYO: Japan looks like it may finally open its borders and end its splendid isolation. For now, direct flights from China can only land at the Narita, Haneda, Kansai and Chubu airports. I just got back from my first post re-opening trip to Japan, and am open to answering questions. Koike said that Japans borders would fully reopen soon. As always, Japan is cautious and conservative, with a slow and belabored decision-making process that often embodies analysis paralysis and usually defies logic. I assume well hear from AndyO soon, admitting he was wrong, like he demanded from so many of us. 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. New Zealand is finally open for business. South Korea eased its border controls on visitors from China early this month, which China welcomed. 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. Its now the popular position being advanced publicly by politicians, not just being advocated by Keidanren or Japans business lobby. As frustrating as this whole process has been, Japan is not still (completely) stuck in March 2020. Japan slams the borders shut on Omicron. Then theres the middle ground or base case. Was great being here. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. I already moved on to read your other Japan travel posts to get tips which are also so helpful! 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. Over two years into this, the seasonality of COVID transmission is well-established. Japan Tourism: The decision means Japan will allow in a limited number of foreign tourists on package tours starting June 10. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. Your email address will not be published. I am incredibly pleased to finally welcome back individual travellers after coping with the pandemic during a wait of two-and-a-half years. 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. Yes, Japan's borders are now open to all international tourist travel.. Japan has completely removed the entry cap on daily foreign arrivals.. Additionally, all visa exemptions have now been reinstated.This means that citizens of around 70 countries, including the United States and all European Union nations, can once again visit Japan for 90 days without a visa . Those two posts cover essentially everything you need to know about visiting Japan as of 2023. 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. Japan will open an embassy in Malta. First, theres already the realization that unguided tourslike guided tours before themwill not move the needle on inbound tourism in any meaningful way. 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. China retaliated by suspending the issuing of short-term visas in South Korea and Japan. Cases are currently in freefall and will continue decreasing next month before bottoming out sometime between late October and early November. KONO Taro (@konotaromp) September 22, 2022 "Finally, Japan will reopen the border,". We were wrongthe unguided tours offered two steps forward but one step backwards. On Tuesday, the country. Do I need to do a pre-departure Covid test? Lets see where THIS goes. Against that economic backdrop, lets take a look at the latest changes to Japans reopening plans. Subscribe to our email newsletter for the latest news & instant alerts. 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. From Sept. 22nd, In a Reuters report published on The Japan Times, the government may allow hotels to refuse entry to guests who do not wear masks and follow other anti-virus measures.This new measure is still in its infancy. Again, if youd like to be notified as soon as more details are released or rumored, subscribe to ourfree email newsletter for ongoing updates and alerts: (function(d, s, id) { Do I need to be vaccinated to go to Japan? Subscribers also receive a totally free copy of ourJapan on a BudgeteBook. (Im sorry, I cant help myself. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has reacted with powerful . Any questions? Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Would you consider visiting Japan later this year, or is international travel out of the question for you anytime soon? Japan finally opened its borders to tourists on Friday, but with strict rules. 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. Japan also began allowing unguided tours, meaning ones not accompanied by tour conductors. The national border is under the management of central government, Koike said. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; Thanks for the updates Tom and thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and opinions over the past 2 years. You all made the (repeated) cancellations and premature excitement a bit more bearable. 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. Japan is finally reopening its borders to mass tourism on October 11. Economists fear a double dip recession in Japan due to the prolonged closures and restrictions. Its possible the country views this as sufficient for tourism businesses to stave off bankruptcy or other financial hardship for another few months. 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? Cant wait! 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. That theres more upside than downside risk in reopening and encouraging more economic activity. Ive started to see on JP twitter people asking for No mask in Japan too, so the sentiment is shifting even there. 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. Frankly, the miscalculation here by the Kishida administration is thinking that this will have an immediate impact on inbound travel. 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. 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). 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. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. If youre planning your trip to Japan, what do you think about these itineraries? 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. Of . 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. 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. More information can be found here . [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 Are borders open as normal in 2023? We had a nice little community here, and that was greatly appreciated. Airlines will also be allowed to operate direct flights from China to more Japanese airports, Matsuno said. Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered new guidance that were covering inJapan Reopening to Individual Tourists: FAQ, Rules & Guidelines. Thatll help you prepare for arrival, and potentially save time at the airport. Of course, things could change between now and then, but its likely the border will revert to late 2019 status as of that date. Compared with the pre-pandemic level in 2019, it dropped 99.2 percent. Essentially, there will be no (legal) basis for the current border protocol effective May 8, 2023. The country is also bringing back visa-free entry for visitors from more than 60 countries. How do you view the news about guided tours? May 6, 2022. For better or worse, Japan is an insular and culturally conservative countrya characteristic that is often valued by visitors. Be part of our community of seasoned travel and hospitality industry professionals from all over the world. 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. There are also signs that stringent travel measures, including the border closure, are having a greater impact on Japans economy than previously believed. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Wada Kouichi . InUnguided Tours in Japan Reopening Phase Rules, we cover what this entails and the recently-released guidelines and FAQ for these tours. 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. 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. 32 last-minute Valentine's Day 2023 gifts . Not so much in the last couple of years, as this has been reflected in policy-making. 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.