Prime Minister Kishida just made a big announcement this past week that the required pre-departure 72-hour PCR test will no longer be required when arriving in Japan from September 7, 2022 (3 vaccine doses or more required). Also, he will raise the number of overseas arrivals into Japan from 20,000 to probably 50,000. But although this is a major step forward, this still does not address the issue of allowing independent tourists and travelers into Japan. Moreover, all of these new changes are just addressing the symptoms of the deep-rooted problem in Japan. The major issue is not being addressed presently in Japan and thus, the story continues to repeat itself over and over again. When will Japan open up to independent tourists and travelers?
Sources: NHK evening news, Ohaiyo Japan morning show, Japan Times, Japan Today, Nikkei Asia, Mainichi Shimbun.
Other videos of interest:
100,000 Foreign Visitors to Japan in July??? (WTF!)
https://studio.youtube.com/video/F3YLhdNSh48/edit
Where are the group package tours in Japan?
What happened to the Foreign Group Tourists’ entry into Japan? (started June 10, 2022)
Best Rice in the World: https://youtu.be/QFyfOB6vyMs
Japan Bath: https://youtu.be/tPyJliDAm4Q
Japanese curry: https://youtu.be/FFseCI802R4
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17 Comments
This how I understand the Japan Entry.
Currently a foreign visitor for the purpose of tourism will need to do the following steps.
Apply for tourist visa from Japanese consulate. Basically you have to visit or contact the US Japanese consulate on for a visa to enter Japan. They will need to know when and where you will be traveling and for how long. Once you have visa squared away. Time to make a travel plan via tour package.
JTB USA and Japan Experience are just two of many tour package companies. Purchase a package tour that includes the locations you would like to travel. Tour Guide is optional. I believe it was alway optional but that point was lost in translation. Also old fogey Japanese officials assumed tourists prefer tour guides as they probably use them.
Final step would be the 72 hour PCR test which will no longer be necessary for triple vaccinated travelers.
Basically how I understand it. It’s hasn’t really changed much. And Tourists will still not go to Japan.
South Korea is open.
Really? As an older American, I personally don't care if Japan remains closed forever. I am not visiting any country that handled the last three years, badly. But good luck
Hi..i want to ask if i need to submit pcr test fo i have a 7hrs layover in haneda…from manila to japan, then japan to chicago..thank you
After seeing this i wish that Japan wins WW2, the world would be a better place today had Japan won the war.
Why 3 doses Mike? Why are 3 doses taken a long time ago better than 2 doses recently? What's the evidence? Why discriminate?
Thanks Mike, what are your thoughts on the that say the PCR testing was removed for the benefit of the returning Japanese travellers vs anyone else?
Thanks for telling it like it is and informing us about the bed situation, adds a whole new dimension to the discussion. I've given up on going to Japan this year, going to revenge travel to South Korea. Perhaps Japan next year.
japan is full throttle NWO. Sell out prime minister.
3 jabs or more of the useless vaccine.Lets face it weather you have 4 0r 5 jabs you can still catch covid mulitple times .take a leaf out of Australia's book .vaccinated or not it doesn't matter,if your'e going to catch the virus ,
I want to go to Hokkaido! Best regards from Kyushu.
I think November or December announcement of Visa Waiver is not out of question. It'll probably be in-effect the following month of the announcement. But I think it'll happen somewhat later. The resumption of fair number of international flights at end of October might be in anticipation (or the airlines already knew) of the dropping of the pre-departure PCR test in 9/7/2022. They may have already known the announcement will happen late August but with most tourists, it takes a few months before they are out on a plane because of need to get time off from work, plan the trip, and to try to get the best deal on the ticket. So knowing that, the airlines may have chosen late October to resume some flights. Another batch of expansion/resumption of flights happens end of March. Working that backwards, maybe the announcement will happen end of January with the actual change to ease travel happening in early February. This one might be the Visa Waiver at least from certain countries which people are waiting for.
I’m a foreigner living in Japan and I love your informative videos regarding travel in and out the country
Thank you for keeping us updated!!!!
I think I can tolerate getting a visa to go to Japan, buying medical insurance is fine with me, even if they want me to do a PCR I'm fine, but booking my trip through a travel agency and let them tell me where I can go is something I will not accept and will not do, so until Japan fully embraces individual tourists like pre covid, I will not be going to Japan anytime soon.
But those fully vaccinated with sinovac even with a pfizer booster, are still not exempt from covid tests.. I dont mind being tested, but please remove all travel agency conditions for group and single tourists and lift the suspension for all valid visas
The next crucial question is, what is the standard operating procedure if tourists get mild / severe Covid? Will hotels allow covid patients to stay and recover? If the covid-positive tourist's hotel is fully booked, what happens next? Will other hotels accept covid patients? If no, then what do you expect covid-positive patients to do – take the shinkansen and travel? Get dumped out on the street because no hotel or any care facility will accept the patient (tourist)?
What is the possibility of Japan open up for DiY/Free& Ez (that doesnt need to go thru any Travel agency) by this year-end? (Do note that winter has higher possibility of contracting cold and virus, will Jp govt risk it?)
No talk from them about those with natural immunity from previously recovering from covid?
Still very silly anti-science standards if this isn't even part of the conversation.