The country's strict border restrictions are impacting Japanese businesses . U.S. citizens are urged to follow all national and prefectural COVID-related guidance to protect their health, bearing in mind that transmission rates can accelerate and hospital capacity can quickly become strained in many areas. Since June, Japan has allowed tourists to visit in groups accompanied by guides, a requirement that was further relaxed to include self-guided package tours. Please visit Information for U.S. Citizens Traveling to Japan for more information. If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: visit to New York for the U.N. General Assembly. The chief executive of Hong Kong, John Lee, said the current three days of hotel quarantine would be reduced to zero for those arriving into Hong Kong from overseas and Taiwan. The ban on tourists due to the outbreak of COVID-19 has been in effect since April 2020, and for a long time, there has been no clear timeline on when the borders of Japan would be reopening again for tourism. [emailprotected]. From Tuesday, Japan will reinstate visa-free travel to dozens of countries, ending some of world's strictest border controls to slow the spread of COVID-19. visit again in 2022 when they heard borders were reopening, but were frustrated by the . The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. The U.S.government does not provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Yes. From March 1, 2022, the Japanese government did, however, resume the issue of student . No. Part-Time; Performance English Teachers! In this article we'll clarify the rules as of October, 2022. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also disclosed at a regular press conference that the number of people newly entering Japan from Nov. 29 to Feb . 2023 Cable News Network. 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 . One force that may buoy the return of visitors is the drop of the yen: the yen has weakened sharply against the dollar, giving some visitors much heftier buying power and making Japan attractive to bargain hunters targeting Japans electronics, luxury goods and retail districts. Until then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continually . If you want to pass through immigration in the smoothest fashion, presenting a vaccination certificate might be the best option for you. Experience all the best of Japan on this small group tour package! "We'll maintain the current framework of measures until the end of February while taking necessary measures from the perspective of humanitarian and national interests.". For information on Japans latest travel restrictions, please see these websites: Phased Measures for Resuming Cross-Border Travel, Application for Visa for Foreign Nationals Eligible for Phase Measures toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel, Border Enforcement Measures to Prevent the Spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Information Related to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) from Immigration Service Agency, For questions regarding the government of Japans travel restrictions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides contact information in, Travelers entering Japan may use the Electronic Customs Declaration Gates (e-Gates) for customs clearance, which reduces human-to-human contact. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. May 18 - Japan is Reopening for Tourism to 4 Countries on May-end On Tuesday, May 17, government officials announced that Japan will accept some tourists from the U.S., Australia, Thailand, and Singapore on a trial basis starting at the end of this month. The test must be in either Japanese or English. (Your local government, a medical institution, or somewhere deemed equivalent to either of those- whatever that means.). These stays range from 14 90 days depending on your nationality (heres the complete list). Visa-exempt travelers can travel to Japan from October 2022. The Japan Times LTD. All rights reserved. in the Profile section of your subscriber account page. But currently, Chinese citizens face their own travel restrictions at home and wont be travelling to Japan in large numbers, Brady said. 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. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name Kishida made the long-awaited announcement during his visit to New York for the U.N. General Assembly. Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in Japan? As you probably know, Japan is one of the most strict countries when it comes to traveling during the pandemic. Those who received their vaccine in Japan and wish to apply for a vaccine certificate should contact their Ward Office for additional information. There are only a few rules to keep in mind. The prime. Clinics have been flooded with patients with mild symptoms such as fever, sore throat and coughs, amid a lack of testing and test kits at pharmacies and online. The Definitive Guide to Moving House in Japan, Step by step guide on how to apply for graduate school in Japan, Serious Business / Academic / Test Teachers Required, 1-to-1 English Instructor Chubu Region (For Overseas Applicants) New, English Teacher Full time Child Care Staff VISA Support Available, 1-to-1 English Instructor Kanto Region (For Overseas Applicants) New. It looks like you're using an ad blocker. Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Discovery Company. Japan dropped all remaining COVID-related entry requirements on April 29, 2023, nine days earlier than originally announced. We will then proceed to register passengers information into the system, after which we can get the ERFS certificate that is necessary for your VISA application. Japan will allow visa-free, independent tourism and abolish its daily arrival cap as of Oct. 11, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday, marking a major policy shift after nearly . Just over half a million visitors have come to Japan so far in 2022, compared with a record 31.8 million in 2019. We humbly apologize for the inconvenience. To enjoy our content, please include The Japan Times on your ad-blocker's list of approved sites. Since October 11th, 2022, people who travel from countries with a former visa-waiver agreement with Japan have been able to travel to Japan freely again! Japan, one of the worlds last major holdouts during the pandemic, is dissolving its Covid-19 restrictions and opening the door back up to mass tourism. Travelers to the United States who have recently been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 should review the CDC guidance before traveling. imposed some of the toughest border measures, Japan eases foreign tourism ban and allows guided package tours. Some Akihabara shops have closed down since then, but he bided his time. Back in May 2022, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida suggested that Japan would further ease border controls as of June 2022, intended to put the country more in line with other G7 countries. So, Im not so sure we can be overjoyed.. Enjoy world-class winter sports, delicious seasonal foods, hot spring relaxation, and less crowded tourist spots during Japans tourist low season. We will share documents with you that outline good mask-wearing etiquette. Japan grants long-term visa to U.S. man in same-sex marriage with Japanese national, Squaring the circle of same-sex marriage in Japan, Japan clarifies SDF and coast guard roles in event of armed attack, Kishida may visit South Korea early next month to further mend ties, Japan to drop COVID border measures from Saturday. Prime minister Fumio Kishida is counting on tourism to help invigorate the economy and reap some benefits from the yens slide to a 24-year low but hopes for a tourism boom face tough headwinds: a shortage of hospitality workers, lingering pandemic concerns, and predictions from economists that tourist returns would be gradual. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. Top image: A view of Mount Fuji and Chureito Pagoda at sunset. Kishida said his government also plans to increase the daily cap for incoming travelers, currently set at 20,000, "as soon as possible." Has the government of Japan approved a COVID-19 vaccine for use? Those restrictions have included caps on the daily number of arrivals allowed, tight testing rules for the coronavirus and requirements to join tour groups to visit. There is pent-up demand for travel to the country, however, according to Olivier Ponti, vice-president of insights for travel analytics firm ForwardKeys. In this case, you will have to present proof of a negative test. The U.S. Embassy strongly urges any U.S. citizens considering travel to Japan to carefully review the information available from the Government of Japan. With this, over three years of COVID-related border measures have come to an end. Method of delivery of test results will vary between clinics, please consult with your provider prior to undergoing testing. Military travelers arriving in Japan under the Status of Forces Agreement should consult with their chain of command to ensure they understand any applicable requirements prior to beginning travel. A tour guide waits to meet her group near a shopping street in Tokyo. For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers, Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. Business organizations in and outside Japan have called for the country to ease its border controls to support the economy, especially the tourism industry, which has been badly hurt by the pandemic.