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. 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. KONO Taro (@konotaromp) September 22, 2022 "Finally, Japan will reopen the border,". First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11 of last year. Grab your passport: Japan is once again open to the world The provisional measures from March 1, 2023. . The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. Japan is finally reopening its borders to mass tourism on October 11. 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. The Japanese government recently eased its COVID-19 entry restrictions, meaning tourists can now visit without being on a guided tour. Ive started to see on JP twitter people asking for No mask in Japan too, so the sentiment is shifting even there. }(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. The number of people anxiously awaiting Japans reopening is shrinking, not growing. (With the possible workaround of travel insurance or some other awkward fix.). Travelers from most countries can now enter Japan without applying for a visa in advance. Japan is open to travel. Japan is a highly attractive country not only for tourism, but also for international conferences and incentive travel. The national border is under the management of central government, Koike said. That may soon change. Lets see where THIS goes. 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 . More likely, the impact wont be fully felt until next years cherry blossom season. 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. This was a great place to keep up to date on the happenings. That also offers tips for avoiding crowds and strategy for visiting the best temples, shrines, and evening illuminations. 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. The country is also bringing back visa-free entry for visitors from more than 60 countries. Is Japan Open to Tourists? (February 2023 Update - Travel Caffeine obsolete information. Do I need to do a pre-departure Covid test? 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. This will save you significant money on accommodations, attractions, temples, groceries, transportation, and even Michelin-rated restaurants! 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. Are borders open as normal in 2023? This is despite Japans Go to Travel campaign that subsidized domestic travel, which was offered at various times during the last two years. Im inclined to say Spring 2023, but its easy to envision a worst-case that isnt until summer. As always, Japan is cautious and conservative, with a slow and belabored decision-making process that often embodies analysis paralysis and usually defies logic. 'Ghost town': Japan reopens borders, but visitors find hotels short This is sad fact, though. Japan will open an embassy in Malta - The Malta Independent Nov. Dec. Then Covid hit. All Rights Reserved. Does that mean it will be as easy to visit now as it was pre-pandemic? 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. As weve stressed repeatedly, Japans populace has been among the most cautious in the world with regard to COVID-19. Cheers . This indicates that Japan is finally ready to move forward and sets the precedent for future changes during waves. The country eased border controls . Take a dip in one at the soon-to-open, . InUnguided Tours in Japan Reopening Phase Rules, we cover what this entails and the recently-released guidelines and FAQ for these tours. Japan: A deep-fried pork . 2 days agoJapan on Monday reported 95916 new coronavirus cases. 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. Were preserving this for posterity, but everything that follows is now (thankfully!) Latest Japan Travel Requirements - InsideJapan Tours 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. The Mana Village A collection of villa properties opening in stages on the wild and rustic southern coastline of Kochi prefecture, on Shikoku island. 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. 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. We were wrongthe unguided tours offered two steps forward but one step backwards. Updated on Oct 29, 2021 01:32 PM IST While other Asian countries are inching toward reopening, Japan's borders will likely remain shut for some time to come. Japan to reinstate ban on foreign visitors, G7 to meet over new Covid Flooding in southern Malaysia forces 40,000 people to flee homes, Hong Kong court convicts 3 members of Tiananmen vigil group for security offence, Reporting by Kantaro Komiya and Eimi Yamamitsu; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Robert Birsel, China says should advance 'peaceful reunification' with Taiwan, Philippines says Chinese navy ship spotted near disputed island, North Korea says US causing international arms control collapse, China plans 7.2% defence spending rise this year, faster than GDP target, Hong Kong women's rights protest cancelled after police cite risk of violence, Cameroonian businessman charged with complicity in torture after journalist's murder, Ecuador assembly backs report calling for Lasso impeachment process, UK to unveil new law to stop Channel migrants on Tuesday - paper, China to promote vaccine development, new medicines, Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals. Like a moth to a flame.). We have more good news! South Korea eased its border controls on visitors from China early this month, which China welcomed. With the relaxed travel measures, Japan is fully prepared to host these events. 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. Well keep watching the news and keep you posted if/when there are further developments about Japan reopening and allowing entry to travelers from the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond. 28 Feb 2023 0. Those reading regular updates on Japans reopening are not representative of international travelers at large. Demand vaccine certificates or PCR testing, and give people the freedom of movement. Japan also began allowing unguided tours, meaning ones not accompanied by tour conductors. 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. for individual tourists. 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. 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. After a series of head fake border. It remains unknown when independent travelers will be able to enter the. Japan slams the borders shut on Omicron - East Asia Forum Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. 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. On Tuesday, the country. Travel Daily - Informing, connecting and developing the worlds travel industry professionals. As COVID Fears Ebb, Japan Readies for Tourists From Abroad Cant wait! Or, that this barrier does still exist and Japan will have to create a solution for it (travel insurance?) Japan opening borders 2022 for tourists. From September 7, 2022, the country plans to drop pre-departure testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers (including one booster dose). =w=)b. Japan's borders remain closed to tourists despite plunge in coronavirus 2023 - Travel Daily. This time, instead of Black Ships, the. At Juwai IQI, we believe China will maintain zero-Covid through at least the rst-quarter of 2023.