The prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said on Thursday that the pandemic had interrupted the free flow of people, goods and capital that had helped the nation flourish. Is Japan open to travelers? It's where Singaporeans want to travel Japan is FINALLY planning to open its borders to tourists from next month ( June 2022 ). But many Japanese are wary of further easing border measures because the country has been struggling with a seventh wave of infections. But as of October 10th 2022, Japan finally unlocked the gates and threw open the doors Well, kind of. Oct 9, 2022. Travelers should contact their local health provider to determine the location of testing facilities within Japan. The number of entrants has dwindled under those restrictions. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination. With the near-monthly changes to Japans border restrictions and entry policies, it can be confusing to understand who is and isnt allowed into the country as of now. What can we do? One could ask why Japan was so slow to start inoculating citizens with proven vaccines, especially given that the government has been doggedly focused on hosting the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Japan eases foreign tourism ban, allows guided package tours Only about 1,500 foreign leisure tourists have visited Japan since the country reopened in June 2022. . That may soon change. The Japanese PM has hinted that European tourists could return soon, but Covid testing and vaxx rules are likely to be tight. Japan's COVID border ban alienates friends and allies We strive to keep Japan Guide up-to-date and accurate, and we're always looking for ways to improve. For detailed information regarding Covid-19 vaccine requirements for travel to the United States, please visit our travel requirements page. Can I Travel To Japan Now? May 2023 - Inside Kyoto "Our fight against the virus is not easy, but we should not be too afraid and instead take into consideration the characteristics of the omicron variant," Kishida said. read more, The United States has agreed to impose stricter COVID-19 measures at its military bases after fears among Japanese people that infections were spilling out into communities. Japan travel sector calls for Covid-19 entry curbs to end as economy Before the pandemic, there were 68 countries that were exempt from short-stay visas. Liz Ortiguera, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said demand from Europe might still be subdued due to the increase in the cost of living in Europe caused by the Russian-Ukraine crisis plus the rising fuel costs driving up air travel costs. Japan was the top choice among survey respondents by a good margin, with the second choice, Taiwan, garnering interest from 39% of those surveyed. A non-comprehensive list of some COVID-19 testing facilities can be found here on the Embassy website. The test must be in either Japanese or English. The certificate must show that you have received three doses of a vaccine that is currently recognised by Japan: Pfizer/BioNTech/Fosun Pharma COMIRNATY intramuscular injection OR COMIRNATY RTU intramuscular injection, Moderna Spikevax intramuscular injection, AstraZeneca Vaxsevria intramuscular injection, Janssen JCOVDEN intramuscular injection, Novavax Nuvaxovid intramuscular injection, Sinopharm/Beijing Institute of Biological Products Covilo OR BBIBP-CorV OR Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Sinovac CoronaVac OR COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated. Yes. If this does not resolve the issue or you are unable to add the domains to your allowlist, please see this FAQ. Japan adopted some of the strictest border controls in the world when the Omicron variant emerged late last year, banning all new entry by non-Japanese people, including students and foreign family members of Japanese or permanent residents, except in exceptional circumstances. People look at the Tokyo skyline from a government building in the city. Another little detail that needs to be considered, is that anyone over the age of 13 entering Japan MUST be in possession of a smartphone. Copyright(C) 2020 JAPAN CITY TOUR All Right Reserved. Experience all the best of Japan on this small group tour package! Japan's borders continue to remain closed to most visitors Japan doesn't want tourists Some . Slow Vaccine Approval Process. Japan has maintained some of the strictest Below are answers to the most pressing questions would-be tourists and other arrivals should be asking as they dust off their suitcases, open up those phrase books and get ready once again for a journey to Japan. All rights reserved. . In June, the country first reopened to leisure travelers from 98 countries including the U.S., but officials required a visa . Japan Lifts Covid Restrictions for Travelers - Boutique Japan Japan Ends Covid Requirements for Tourists Japan's borders reopened to independent travelers in the fall of 2022, and since then visiting Japan has been virtually as easy as it was before the pandemic. Kishida says Japan will ease COVID border controls from Oct 11 Uzbekistan has passed a package of constitutional amendments in a referendum, preliminary data showed on Monday, which will allow President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to run for two more seven-year terms when his current one ends in 2026. Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division. This includes the removal of the cap on tourist numbers , resumption of visa-free travel, and allowing free individual travellers to return. "Thanks to the toughest border rules in the G7 nations, we've been able to keep the spread of Omicron to a minimal level, giving us time to prepare to deal with domestic infection," Kishida told reporters. There is also no test or quarantine upon arrival if you are triple vaccinated. With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. The announcement leaves mainland China as the only major economy still requiring a lengthy quarantine for international arrivals. That goal may be too ambitious for a sector that has withered during the pandemic. Kishida: Border remains closed to foreign travelers in February. "We will speed up our responses while balancing the infection measures and social and economic activities as much as possible.". On Tuesday, the country reinstated visa-free travel to dozens of countries, ending some of worlds strictest Covid-19 border controls. We humbly apologize for the inconvenience. Students, business . Countries across region are reopening borders to tourists, but Japan continues to turn them away. Please provide these upon booking. Kishida, after holding virtual meetings with government ministers and medical advisors earlier Wednesday, told reporters in an online news conference that entrants who have received at least one booster vaccine can waive the pre-entry test beginning Sept. 7. The government will also launch a nationwide travel discount program, which had been shelved due to the spread of COVID-19 infections. AP The relaxation of borders from October 2022 onwards finally brings international travel to Japan almost the way it was before pandemic times, so hopefully, it's a matter of time until the situation becomes fully normalized. The U.S. Embassy does not issue a certificate for vaccinations nor are we aware of an entity in Japan that will issue a vaccine certificate for those who received the vaccine overseas. 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. Here are the steps to take for an ERFS-friendly tour. The country eased border controls imposed to counter the pandemic since March 2020. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name After almost three years, Japan will fully open its borders again to foreign independent tourists and other arrivals on Tuesday a move that many hope will galvanize the economy and kickstart the countrys post-pandemic recovery.