Is Japan Open to Tourists?
Is Japan open for international individual travelers? Are borders open as normal in 2024? What are testing, face mask, and vaccine requirements for visitors? These are questions among those planning trips to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and this covers the answers.
The good news is that we now have an answer to questions we’ve been asking for nearly two years! First, after reopening to guided tour groups, Japan reopened to individual tourists on October 11, 2022. In the year-plus since, additional changes have occurred to the extent that it’s basically business as usual for visiting Japan in 2024.
We’ve already returned to Japan, spending about a month in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and elsewhere. In various updates here, we’ve been sharing our experiences and what it’s like as a foreign visitor, what has changed, crowd conditions, expenses of visiting Japan with the weaker yen, and much more. The big one for most of you is likely going to be Japan Face Mask Rules v. Reality in 2024.
Those two posts cover essentially everything you need to know about visiting Japan as of 2024. The short version is that it is possible to enter, regardless of whether you’re vaccinated or unvaccinated, albeit with a testing requirement for the latter. There are no quarantine requirements, and travel is visa-free for the vast majority of people reading this.
Please subscribe to our FREE email newsletter and stay tuned if you are curious about how things are on-the-ground for tourists in Japan post-reopening.
In terms of the latest news, the current vaccine and testing policies ended on May 8, 2023. 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.
This is a major policy shift and will relax–if not eliminate entirely–Japan’s intensive COVID-19 countermeasures, including limiting the movements of infected people and their close contacts. Japan’s reclassification of COVID-19 to Class 5 came after a panel of experts under the health ministry agreed on the plan earlier in the day.
The downgrade would pave the way for a normalization of social and economic activities in Japan, and should mean that non-residents are able to enter the country without PCR tests or additional paperwork. Essentially, there will be no (legal) basis for the current border protocol effective May 8, 2023. Of course, things could change between now and then, but it’s likely the border will revert to late 2019 status as of that date.
We typically spend a couple of months in Japan each year, and are ecstatic to be returning after nearly 3 years away. We are eager to revisit our favorite places, see friends in Japan for the first time in over two years, and continue creating this site’s wealth of free planning resources. We’re excited about this great (but overdue) news, but also go in knowing that things will be different, in ways both good and bad.
For these two-plus years, we’ve been closely monitoring the situation in Japan, watching several hours of NHK each day and reading multiple Japanese news sources. 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.
What follows is based on that research and fixation with the on-the-ground situation in Japan. We’re preserving this for posterity, but everything that follows is now (thankfully!) obsolete information.
Japan is now allowing foreign nationals to enter Japan for purposes other than tourism so long as they have a sponsor in the country. 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.
With that in mind, let’s 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.”
Kishida has also acknowledged that Japan’s border control measures are the strictest among Group of Seven nations, and expressed a desire/need to bring Japan in line with its counterparts. “This is the first step in our gradual easing of the [border] restrictions,” Kishida has said.
As for why Japan’s border is still closed over a year after most democracies reopened, that can largely be explained by the country’s apprehensiveness of outsiders.
For better or worse, Japan is an insular and culturally conservative country–a characteristic that is often valued by visitors. Not so much in the last couple of years, as this has been reflected in policy-making. Japan has vilified and scapegoated foreigners and had an overly aggressive approach to its borders.
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. Economic benefits of international tourists is one big reason why Japan is expected to reopen its border.
Boosting tourism was core to the late former Prime Minister Abe’s economic revitalization, and both subsequent prime ministers have indicated their intentions to maintain continuity with those plans. 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. Compared with the pre-pandemic level in 2019, it dropped 99.2 percent. That’s the sharpest fall on record according to the Japan Tourism Agency.
Economists fear a “double dip” recession in Japan due to the prolonged closures and restrictions. Decreased tourism plus falling exports, an increased consumption tax, reduced consumer spending, weak yen, and growing national debt. Japan’s economy has serious issues and inbound tourism was previously a bright spot.
In other words, reopening to international visitors will be important to the health of Japan’s consumption-driven economy at some point in the not too distant future. 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. Quite simply, Japan is inflicting pain on itself by remaining closed.
There are also signs that stringent travel measures, including the border closure, are having a greater impact on Japan’s economy than previously believed. This is despite Japan’s “Go to Travel” campaign that subsidized domestic travel, which was offered at various times during the last two years.
According to data from the Japan Tourism Agency, stays at hotels and other accommodation facilities hit another record low in Japan last year–breaking the previous record set in 2020. The total of guests at hotels and inns was 315.75 million, down 4.8% from 2020 and 47% from 2019. (This number includes hotels used as government quarantine facilities, not just leisure stays.)
The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party recognizes these problems and realizes it needs to rebuild Japan’s economy. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that his top priority was formulating new economic measures and implementing these goals. The government will also take measures to stimulate and jump-start the economy.
Despite the aforementioned numbers, Japan is maintaining its goal of attracting 60 million foreign visitors by 2030. Additionally, the Japan National Tourism Organization has set 2024 as its goal for recovering to 2019 international travel levels. Both of these statements are reassuring given the current border closures, and indicate that Japan will unwind its travel ban in months, not years.
Against that economic backdrop, let’s take a look at the latest changes to Japan’s reopening plans…
We have more good news! Multiple media outlets, including NHK, Kyodo, Nikkei, and Fuji TV are all reporting that Japan’s government is planning to further relax restrictions and border measures with an eye to implementing the revisions by the start of October.
The specifics are not consistent among outlets, so let’s start with where they’re in agreeance.
First, there is consensus that the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, will be eliminated entirely.
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. 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. Regardless, it’s 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.
Another possibility is that Japan will allow individual foreign tourists to enter the country and exempt them from visas if they have been vaccinated three times or submit a pre-arrival test result.
This is where there is disagreement among the major outlets. 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. By contrast, Fuji TV is treating this as a done deal, using less ambiguous language.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, according to the news outlets’ sources.
These “leaks” came after Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara spoke on Fuji TV over the weekend and stated that Japan will consider easing all three restrictions–the daily arrival cap, ban on individual tourists, and visa requirements. “We will review all three restrictions together. We have to carry it out in the not-so-distant future,” he said.
“Japan has seasonal attractions in fall and winter. We know there are a lot of people overseas who want to come to Japan,” Kihara added. “Amid the weakening yen, inbound travelers will have greatest economic effect…There are many foreign visitors who want to come visit Japan.” Kihara added that eliminating the arrival cap alone was not enough.
Kihara isn’t the only one who has been vocal about fully reopening to tourists recently. During the Bloomberg New Voices panel, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said she would open the country’s doors “tomorrow” if it were her decision. “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.
Koike said that Japan’s borders would fully reopen soon. “The national border is under the management of central government,” Koike said. “As governor of Tokyo, that would be tomorrow.”
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.
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.
Japan also began allowing unguided tours, meaning ones not accompanied by tour conductors. This is specifically for “unguided tour groups” or “non-escorted visitors on package tours” and not individual tourists.
In Unguided Tours in Japan – Reopening Phase Rules, we cover what this entails and the recently-released guidelines and FAQ for these tours. 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. We were wrong–the unguided tours offered two steps forward but one step backwards.
We mention this in part to own past mistakes, but also as a cautionary tale. While it certainly sounds like the end is near for the Japan travel ban, it’s premature to have a high degree of confidence.
Kishida’s government has been trying to take advantage of the weak yen and accelerate growth by attracting more foreign visitors. It thus stands to reason that opening to individual tourists necessarily needs to occur–that raising the entry cap will do nothing in furtherance of their stated goal. However, as we have seen time and time again, the patently obvious conclusion often is not the outcome reached by Japan.
Moreover, how this played out with Japan’s last announcement is also instructive.
On August 23, specifics of the September relaxation measures were leaked to the same media outlets. At that time, it was unclear whether unguided tourists would be allowed to enter. On August 31, Kishida made an official announcement encompassing all of the rumored changes, including unguided tourists. (It took a few more days for the guidelines to be released, and the clarifying FAQ is still being updated.)
While presenting the above as a cautionary tale against optimism or over reliance on logic when assessing Japan’s decisions, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. (I’m sorry, I can’t help myself. Like a moth to a flame.)
First, there’s already the realization that unguided tours–like guided tours before them–will not move the needle on inbound tourism in any meaningful way. It’s 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. The number of people anxiously awaiting Japan’s reopening is shrinking, not growing.
Second, there’s awareness within the Kishida administration that the window of opportunity to reopen the border is closing. This is something we’ve pointed out in our best and worst case scenarios in prior updates, but there’s only a limited amount of time between waves.
Over two years into this, the seasonality of COVID transmission is well-established. Cases are currently in freefall and will continue decreasing next month before bottoming out sometime between late October and early November. There will be a winter resurgence. It could start as soon as late November, but is more likely in December.
Reopening to individual tourists in October presents minimal (political) risk and maximum (economic) upside. 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.
Frankly, the miscalculation here by the Kishida administration is thinking that this will have an immediate impact on inbound travel. Those reading regular updates on Japan’s reopening are not representative of international travelers at large. Most people need months of time between booking and traveling; very few plan and take last-minute trips–especially international ones.
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. Autumn is already a lost cause. At best, this helps with winter. More likely, the impact won’t be fully felt until next year’s cherry blossom season.
One wildcard is the downgrade of COVID’s legal status. Several recent updates have centered around Japan’s internal debate over whether to strip COVID-19 of its special status and downgrade it to the same level as the flu in Japan’s infectious disease categories.
It’s been our perspective that this was a necessary prerequisite to welcoming 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. Given that none of the recent reports have even mentioned COVID’s status in regard to reopening, it’s possible our perspective was wrong. Or, that this barrier does still exist and Japan will have to create a “solution” for it (travel insurance?) for individual tourists. Either way, that’s something to continue keeping in mind.
Also as previously mentioned, recent poll data also shows the public is now far less concerned with COVID than the economy, Unification Church scandal, Abe’s state funeral, and other issues. It’s entirely possible that Kishida sees this polling and his sagging approval numbers and realizes that it’s time to move forward. That there’s more upside than downside risk in reopening and encouraging more economic activity.
As we’ve stressed repeatedly, Japan’s populace has been among the most cautious in the world with regard to COVID-19. Human behavior and sentiment don’t change overnight, even if it’s economically advantageous and objectively safer to do so. Statements by politicians and medical advisors, gradual border relaxation measures, and other changes could be interpreted as Japan laying the groundwork for a resumption of normalcy and the country’s eventual reopening. It now appears that the time is here–or coming very soon.
With all of this said, I’ll present my revised best, worst, and base-case scenarios for Japan’s reopening to individual tourists…
Let’s start with the best-case scenario. This assumes that Japan downgrades COVID-19 from its special status to Category 5 literally any day now or that this is not a necessary prerequisite to an individual tourist reopening. (With the possible workaround of travel insurance or some other awkward “fix.”)
Critically, this would eliminate the legal requirement of a responsible receiving party for visitors to Japan. In such a scenario, the borders could almost immediately return to their normal pre-closure status in early October. With this, the visa exemption would be reinstated, making that a non-issue. The arrivals cap would also be eliminated in this scenario.
Then there’s the middle ground or base case. This is now the same as the best-case scenario. In short, the early October reopening is not just our most optimistic view–it’s now what we expect to happen.
To differentiate the two, I’ll also allow for a middle ground possibility of a bifurcated decision with the individual tourist reopening a few weeks after the entry cap elimination. Let’s say that happens in early November.
This is would allow a bit of wiggle room for Japan’s 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, it’s that inaction is Japan’s baseline, and anything that does happen occurs gradually and in stages.
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. It’s possible the country views this as sufficient for tourism businesses to stave off bankruptcy or other financial hardship for another few months.
If/when there’s another winter resurgence in cases, the reopening can would effectively be kicked down the road for a few more months. That would mean individual tourists would not be welcomed back to Japan until sometime in the first half of 2023. I’m inclined to say Spring 2023, but it’s easy to envision a worst-case that isn’t until summer.
Our view is that the worst-case scenario is now highly unlikely. Japan relaxed its border measures earlier in September while still being #1 in the world for new cases. This indicates that Japan is finally ready to move forward and sets the precedent for future changes during waves. Who knows–it still may take until early 2023 to fully downgrade the legal status of COVID. But whatever winter wave occurs (and one will happen), that’s unlikely to be an obstacle to reopening progress, as was the case last year.
With all of that in mind, we remain cautiously optimistic that individual tourists will be allowed to enter Japan sooner rather than later. The political and economic appetite for fully relaxation now clearly exists, and there’s a vocal chorus of politicians in Japan–including those who were previously in favor of closed borders–championing reopening. It’s now the popular position being advanced publicly by politicians, not just being advocated by Keidanren or Japan’s business lobby.
Japan fully reopening in full is all but inevitable at this point. It will happen soon. The end is near.
It’s thus our view that Japan reopening in some capacity to individual tourists in October is a very realistic scenario. As improbable as it might’ve seemed even a week ago, Japan welcoming back international visitors who are not part of tours (guided or unguided) sometime before November is likely. It’s pretty clear the government is focused on moving forward. As frustrating as this whole process has been, Japan is not still (completely) stuck in March 2020.
As always, Japan is cautious and conservative, with a slow and belabored decision-making process that often embodies “analysis paralysis” and usually defies logic. That’s a wild card that could further extend any timeline. However, Japan is now joining the rest of the world as people are ready to move on with life.
We’ll 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. Again, if you’d like to be notified as soon as more details are released or rumored, subscribe to our free email newsletter for ongoing updates and alerts:
If you’re planning a visit to Japan, our recommendation at this point is to target sometime in November at the earliest. In our view, koyo (autumn leaves) season is a good bet, and that takes place from mid-November through December. That’s simply a good time to visit Japan and, hopefully, the country will be open to individual tourists by then.
Speaking of which, check out our Japan Fall Colors Forecast & Autumn Foliage Viewing Guide to get started on planning your trip to visit Japan’s popular fall foliage cities, including Kyoto, Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Himeji, and Nara. That also offers tips for avoiding crowds and strategy for visiting the best temples, shrines, and evening illuminations.
If you’re planning a trip to the Japan, check out our other posts about Japan for ideas on other things to do! We also recommend consulting our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto and Ultimate Guide to Tokyo to plan.
Your Thoughts
Would you consider visiting Japan later this year, or is international travel out of the question for you anytime soon? How do you view the news about guided tours? Think those will stick around for several months, or are simply theater to shift public opinion? Think the need to adapt and live with the endemic virus will outweigh fear when it comes to Japan’s reopening plans? Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? If you’re planning your trip to Japan, what do you think about these itineraries? Any questions? Hearing your feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts or questions below in the comments!
When the Japanese boarder reopens, the new fiscal year is underway and elections approach, I look forward to hearing the nationalist, xenophobic, decission paralysis retoric evaporating and the goverment and all involved in promoting Japan.
In the wise words of Montgomery Scott StarTreck Enterprise Chief Engineer “I cannae change the laws of physics!” &
“Before they went into warp I transported the whole kit ‘n’ kaboodle into their engine room”
GLTA and Beam me Up Scottie 🙂
Living in Latam we already have to deal with inflation, low salaries, visas (Even transit visas), learning English to get by abroad, and probably by the end of 2022, a document called ETIAS in case we have to transit Europe. The world does not want us to travel 🙁
Personally I recommend ignoring all the targets set by diff ministries for tourism. Just like all targets for the Tokyo Olympics on diversity and inclusivity were completely missed (not due to the pandemic) so will this. Those numbers are just wishful thinking and are not in any way related to the process of decision making. From what I’ve seen the Prime Minister couldn’t care less what different ministries have in the works. Recently both MEXT and the Ministry of health have advised on easing the border measures with the prime minister ignoring them completely. I recommend giving up on Japan as a travel destination for tourism purposes. It will not happen in the next few years (that is if we are optimistic). Maybe make a plan for the next decade, if you’d stil be interested. I know it sounds extremely harsh but this wait is in vain. The jp gov is extremely corrupt with no plan in mind besides saving face. All the policies adopted are strictly populist.
1,600 or so people attending/supporting rallies outside Japanese embassies worldwide calling for Japan to open to tourists: https://twitter.com/stop_japans_ban
Yes Japan travel as we knew it is over for years. They will jerk us around for far longer than many here are willing to admit. I’ve been visiting Japan for over 20 years and know how they operate. There will be many starts/stops and screw ups with tourism restart potentially starting this year or next but it’ll be massive hassle and mental/physical toll. Unfortunately this pandemic revealed the idiotc side of Japan to us in the West. A dark side that was pretty mixed hidden since 1945.
That some people really think like that is so funny lol as soon as every country handles corona like the UK, Denmark, Spain, Brazil etc. Japan will open. So probably by summer 2022.
Why should japan abandon one of their only growing economic fields? Tourism was booming.
Diversity and inclusivity should never be part of decision making. It doesn’t benefit anybody. Even the people you think you’re helping will likely experience “imposter syndrome” for having something handed to them that they didn’t earn.
Diversity and inclusivity are by far the most important values of the human race.
Well… Here we are again. Lamenting over the border closures and another lost Sakura Season. And there is nothing we can do. It’s impossible not to feel anger and disgust about this situation, after realizing we are mere political pawns, trump cards in all the previous elections, and about to be used again as leverage in the next one. We, the dangerous and unclean, virus-ridden Gaijin, hated and feared by most Japanese citizens, still want to visit such a country? Not anymore. For my mental well-being, there will be no more planning, booking, dreaming. Let it go. In 2023 I will look at this project again, but I fear I have seen too much xenophobia to enjoy any future visit to Japan. Good Luck, everybody.
We’re military stationed here. I’m missing Sakura season also. Because of restrictions. It’s frustrating.
Back in November, when the full closure was announced, Kishida had a dream of a Japan free of omicron. A dream where his popularity and approval rate would skyrocket and kept high by a measure as simple and effortless from as closing the borders.
But thanks to (maybe) US military bases and the lack of consistency in the measures, allowing JP people to come and go, Omicron entered the sunrise land anyway and made Kishida upset af. The victory over Omicron, which indeed happened for some weeks, went to shambles.
Now with cases soaring to the skies I’m really curious what are the japanese thinking about the border closure and what will be Japan’s decision once the end of February arrives.
Huh true what you said.
I am curious too. High omicron numbers, late boosters and loss of money due to loss of foreigners 😂
Don’t get their approval ratings though. They are apparently positive but whenever I search for japanese tweets about kishida it is negative 😏
The sample used for those polls were ridiculously small (less than 1000 people by phone calls) so they really don’t speak for “vast majority” as they made it seem to look like.
There has been some indirect signs of a bright future ahead. Kishida himself said to Biden that he wants to meet him in person by late spring. Another thing that went out today is the revision in prices of EMS and SAL shipment from Japan Post starting on June 1st, also late spring. (there are many countries around the world where these services have stopped due to the pandemic)
While those things have nothing to do with border announcements they might indicate that even the government expects a return to normality by then.
I think after what is happening, when they eventually announce a border reopen, most japanese people will go like “eh, whatever”.
I have been waiting and hoping to visit Japan as soon as they decide to open up their borders.
My son, daughter in law (who is Japanese) and two of my grandchildren live there. I have not been able to see them for over 3 years.
I live in hope that I may get over by May. If not may the autumn when it seems more likely perhaps.
Janice, we are in the same position. Our son ,his Japanese wife and 2 children live in Hokkaido. I haven’t even met the youngest who will be 2 at the end of January. We have tickets for May but like you, I’m not holding my breath.
I’m happy to see that public sentiment in Japan is ramping up towards going back to normal, i.e. going about their business and living life. But I also think that Tom’s assessment of “analysis paralysis” as far their governmental decisions go is spot on. I don’t doubt that there are enough people who are sufficiently anti-foreigner in those ranks to want to keep that up forever. It seems to me that the Japanese themselves are ready to get back to it, as many of us are here in the US, but their government agencies are the ones dragging their feet for who knows what reason–just like here, really. If I’m bothered by anything, it’s by that situation. Though it heartened me a bit to see that there are elements in Japan’s government and companies who are waking up to how detrimental this situation is to the country by and large.
Poking the elephant here: Some of you are disgruntled with the state of affairs in Japan regarding tourism. I get it. But coming here to constantly bash Japan because you’re mad? I’m about done with that. I’m frustrated about this as well. But I’m taking a positive attitude and maintaining a “This too shall pass,” attitude instead of being negative and hateful about this situation. If you wish to no longer give Japan your tourist dollars in favor of SE Asia? Fine, go ahead, it’s your money and time. Just please credit us with the intelligence to make up our own minds. How hard is that? Asking politely, here.
I’ll ask you this politely: what has anyone here done other than express their opinion or take away your ability to “make up [your] own mind”?
Food for thought: not everyone just wants to go to Japan for sightseeing. Many of us here have lost up to two years of contact with friends and family, lost business opportunities, and in the case of students, had to choose between sacrificing lots of money by cancelling their registration or taking online classes.
You obviously don’t have that much personally invested in Japan. That’s fine. but the least you can do is respect those of us that have, without throwing around silly accusations about being “hateful”. And guess what: we also still haven’t gotten any solid answers about reopening, so taking an optimistic “this too shall pass” when we never know when the government can slam the door in our face again is a lot to ask.
Please, think before you type these things.
Agreed…..
Those of us who have families in Japan are thrown to the sidelines in favor of ineffective fear-mongering.
I appreciate the continued updates. Japan has been particularly interesting to watch, and I agree with the WHO’s latest statements about travel bans – we have a lot of data at this point that this is a “global” pandemic and that the bans just don’t work. some of the statements about the other restrictions ring true as well – closing restaurants at 8/9? Coronavirus isn’t nocturnal – it will happily spread at 6PM just as well.
IMO, we spent 2 years trying to stop the virus… and proved that unfortunately we cannot (much of my remaining faith in humanity has waned as a result).
I wonder about the vaccine. I got Janssen vaccine and found that it is not a one of government authorized vaccine! As we finding out more about vaccine, all the promises were no longer true. I hope Japan will drop vaccine requirement soon!
I refuse 100% to take any of the so-called vaccines. I wasn’t going to take one in the first place, but then I recently caught and got over covid, so now I have even less reason to take one.
I will not visit any country that implements vaccine passport requirements. It’s completely unscientific and unethical.
The shots don’t prevent transmission, and the virus has been spread around the world for over two years now. no document is going to help that.
The absolute most I’m willing to do is show a negative test before travel.
Wow cool, another anti-vaxxer who needs to spout their misinformation everywhere. No one cares.
The part about not preventing transmission is one hundred percent true. The rest is merely his opinion. No misinformation anywhere.
Triggered, you are.
but here you are… 😂😂😂
“Unscientific” and “unethical” only defines the anti-vaxx movement.
Really? We are not the ones refusing to admit that natural immunity exist.
We are not the ones trying to hide data from being released for 75 years.
We are the ones pushing experimental injections into children despite the fact the ALL data says they don’t need it.
We are not the ones fudging data and trying to scare people into compliance.
And most telling, we are not the ones making money and seizing power from this…
*Missed the “not” in that 3rd sentence about kids.
I’ll do (almost) anything to get into Japan.
I’m so frustrated about the situation their restrictions are so strict I’m suppost to go to Japan in the beginning of May but I’m fearing that I’ll get a flight credit. I dont get it no one has those strict restrictions bcz the pandemic is worldwide and we can’t continue to live like this fearing the virus it’s everywhere. Other countries accepted the fact that we can’t do anything about it why can’t they???
I am waiting to book. The moment they say they reopen, I am going to book a flight. I can’t go months wondering if my flight will be canceled, and with some airline policies, outright not credited or refunded.
So much of the ongoing frustration and confusion can be explained if you guys understand that in Japan you are guilty until proven otherwise (this is the basis of their judicial system). Foreigners are dirty and dangerous until proven otherwise. For your own sake stop obsessing over facts and reason as Japan operates differently to the rest of the world.
Even after all this, Japan STILL possesses the world’s most powerful passport (tied with Singapore).
At this point, the only people I’m more disgusted with than the Japanese government are all the other world governments who are letting Japan get away with this “all take, no give” arrangement. Not just tourism, but business and travel, too. Unacceptable.
Reciprocity should be the key to ending this overly cautious nonsense.
World governments who are letting Japan get away with this.?
Japan is a independent country – they get to do whatever they want – just like the rest of world is. If you are so disgusted, don’t go there.
In your desperation to be defended, you misunderstood – which could have been easily avoided by reading to the end of my comment. It’s okay, we can’t all be competent readers.
As for not going there, well, they’ve kind of got that covered, havent’ they?
I’ve been to Japan many times, mostly skiing in Hokkaido in the Sapporo area. To me, it seems as though the Japanese are relishing this isolationist policy/attitude. They’re having a very good ski season, in terms of snowfall, and they’re more than happy to keep their trails and slopes quietly to themselves.
If/when this covid nightmare ever ends, and Japan allows foreign visitors, I think many will reconsider plans to go there, knowing they’re most likely not welcome.
I’ve had a fiancée who is Japanese since fall 2019. Tried booking tickets to visit her in 2020 for spring and then fall, which turned into flight credit that’s currently set to expire at the end of March. It took us this long to reach the final step of her K-1 visa process, but after 2 years waiting we hoped it would be possible to hold a small ceremony in Japan for her parents who can’t come to a wedding in America.
We decided to wait no later than May, in the case a Japan ceremony becomes possible but also getting ready for her to come here if not. Japanese people around her think there’s a chance of reopening by then after the booster is available in March. I’m going to hold out hope and tentatively plan since it’s important to both of us, but I get why others are frustrated and are considering fall a more realistic goal.
I’m in the same exact situation with my fiancé. Since you were unable to see each other due to COVID these past two years, what kind of proof did you provide in your K-1 application if you don’t mind me asking.
Ashley, in my case because she came to visit me in the U.S. in late 2019, I had photos to use as evidence by the time I finally reached that step of the application in summer 2021. Now that it’s been longer, for her interview she will bring a handwritten letter I sent her. I believe written or digital messages can count as evidence, and though being together two years prior is normally important I expect they realized a need to relax that post-COVID.
I guess summer is still possible for tourism. The virologist think in summer the cases will be low and other nations and Japan is likely to be boostered by late spring. In summer we also will have the omicron vaccine available, so it should be fine to open. It will show some sort of recovery so that’s a good sign regarding the elections in July. No idea what would happen if some new variant is showing up though. I guess all other nations will react calm and not like last time but for Japan …who knows we will see.
sorry for another comment but I like exposing my opinions here since I won’t do it on Nikkei or Japan Times lmao
Turns out full closure announced until end of February. At this point idk anymore.
There seems to be indeed people inside Kishida’s government that really want that isolated Japan back, so they will use the pandemic as an excuse for as long as they can, under the logo of being “extremely cautious” and the infamous “worst-case-scenario”.
My 2022 vacations will be elsewhere, in a country who uses science and not stupidity as guide for their decisions. Now I’ve officially gave up in being optimistic. lol
Looks like the Japanese are making gut decissions too, about Covid ; )
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4404502
Hahaha. Well we knew with Omicron that Japan wasn’t going to REOPEN in February. I think this is good news. Like Tom, I am cautiously optimistic for a late spring or summer reopening.
It was obvious that they won’t open on February for some students. They don’t care for students at all since students are most of the time rather poor. Omicron is peaking in america and europe in early February and going down in late February. Yeah this decision was really obvious.
Good luck finding a single country not using stupidity (read: money and control for the corrupt) as a guide for their decisions!
Let me know if you find one, lol.
Yes, but it’s too easy to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Some countries (such as the one that is the topic of our comments…) are behaving much worse than others.
Countries like Germany, France, Spain, and many many others where you currently can travel normally as a tourist because they don’t see you as a treat and recognize the community transmission of the virus instead of what most of Asia insists on doing.
Let me tell you an example, Ireland started asking for negative tests for everyone when Omicron started rampaging Europe.
Once Omicron completely took over Ireland itself , they dropped the need of testing.
That’s the kind of science decision I’m talking about, whether it’s moved by tourist money or not, it’s a science decision that makes sense.
Ahh!!!!! this is so frustrating!!!!!
Japan international boarders to remain closed until at least late Feb 2022.
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/01/fd653475de35-japan-to-keep-strict-border-rules-till-feb-amid-omicron-spread.html
The acute phase of the pandemic is over. This is supported by various studies in UK, South Africa and even the good old US of A. Covid is has begun its transition to a simple seasonal cold and most of the world has recognized it except china (because of their garbage vaccines) and Japan. Japan’s barring of foreigners was never about public health; it was political and tribal pure and simple. Now watch them drag their feet in “reopening” and marvel at their dumbfounded insistence of wearing masks outdoors for YEARS to come. To heck with them!
Basically no country has recognized that it’s over. All countries are still making up more and more lame excuses to maintain and further their control over citizens. It’s disgusting.
This week’s government decision will be very important.
When the full closure was announced in November, Kishida let it clear that it was a decision to “buy time” and because “the virus was unknown”
Now that Omicron is already spread through the country and there really isn’t more “time to buy”, he technically has no real reason to keep such strict border controls.
Sadly tho, in an interview this sunday he once again said “(…)there are things we don’t fully understand. We need to confirm those things properly and until then, I want to be extremely cautious”.
As always, the japanese might spread as much as they want but the gaijins are always of the “highest risk” even if talking about the same exact virus variant.
I was hopeful before but after this last declaration I feel like the gaijin fear will once again speak louder and even students and workers will still not be able to enter the country. (someone said Japan and China are the only 2 countries in the world closed for those categories but not sure, New Zealand is too right?)
Everyone should boycott Japanese products until this racist discriminatory border nonsense stops. Only if the Japanese economy is struggling, those nazi politicians and their blind followers will understand that isolationalism is not an option.
Agree but tide is slow to turn in Japan. Will take years.
100%
Essentially, Japan is envy of foreigners’ money and assets, but they don’t want foreigners to come. Japan is treating foreigners as source of money, but not as people.
I gave up visiting Japan last December, and went to Thailand instead. Not just in Thailand, but a lot of places in South East Asia resembles Japan, yet having a lot less border restrictions. I was able to shop in Don Quixote, Daiso, eating Yoshinoya, Matsunoya and Kaiseki.
If Japan does not reopen soon, then I think Japanese government will lose the majority of us forever, because we can find good alternatives.