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Japan Opening Up? From April 8, 2022 | Now October 11, 2022 - Normal Tourism.

Keihan said:
It's your fault I actually bothered reading the comments then. Couldn't resist. Interesting mix of angry American snowflake types and then angry anti-vaxxers, howling in protest that they're not allowed back in yet.

If the Japanese government is going to standardize the vaccination requirement, it should really considering increasing the number to 4 shots. I mean, by the time general international tourism is allowed again, restrictions or none, it's probably going to be well into 2023. I had my third/booster shot last September, almost exactly 11 months ago. I took the liberty of lying to the nearby pharmacy and getting another "booster" shot about five months ago, which is probably why I had a largely asymptomatic experience when I caught COVID two months later. And now the U.S. government is saying that the modified Omicron-targeting booster shots will be rolling out in late September or early October, so I'll be lining up for that one, too. By and large, most experts agree that the immune protection provided by vaccines only lasts between three and six months. If the Japanese government is going to resume international tourism sometime in early 2023 and wants Western foreigners to have any semblance of vaccine protection and ensure they don't burden the healthcare system if they get sick in Japan, the government should raise the requirement to 4 shots (or at least require the Omicron booster).

Plus I would very much enjoy hearing the enraged anti-vaxxers throwing fits and vowing to never visit Japan again. It's a win-win.
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No! Fuck everybody is the only win-win
 
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"Japan will raise its daily entry cap on arrivals to 50,000 from the current 20,000 from Sept 7 in a further easing of strict COVID-19 border controls, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday. With the country lagging behind other major economies in opening its doors to inbound tourism, foreign tourists will no longer need to travel on tours with a guide, Kishida said."

*Read elsewhere that you still need to travel on a package tour, so not completely open yet.

https://japantoday.com/category/nat...-entry-cap-on-arrivals-to-50-000-from-sept.-7
 
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Frenchy said:
too bad. I liked the North-Korea style of it . Also pretty sure many tourists loved all the rules and “please stay together” reminders and such
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They all pretend they want to experience "genuine Japanese culture"
 
forced to go for tourist trap?
no thanks... the fake sense of freedom is a real turn off
 
So is anyone here recalibrating his/her expectations/predictions for when Japan fully reopens to tourism? As we speak, the JPY-USD is inching upward and a mousefart away from 140. I'll have my flu, monkeypox and updated omicron Pfizer vaccinations all completed within two months, and then...2-CHOME, OPEN SESAME!!
 
Keihan said:
So is anyone here recalibrating his/her expectations/predictions for when Japan fully reopens to tourism? As we speak, the JPY-USD is inching upward and a mousefart away from 140. I'll have my flu, monkeypox and updated omicron Pfizer vaccinations all completed within two months, and then...2-CHOME, OPEN SESAME!!
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I still don't think we'll see full tourism resume until sometime in 2023.

I would be highly surprised if Japan was fully open before the new-year holiday period. The entry limits, I expect them to be elevated but the visa/tour package requirements, probably will stay in place for awhile longer.
 
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TAG Manager said:
I would be highly surprised if Japan was fully open before the new-year holiday period. The entry limits, I expect them to be elevated but the visa/tour package requirements, probably will stay in place for awhile longer.
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Concur.
 
TAG Manager said:
I still don't think we'll see full tourism resume until sometime in 2023.

I would be highly surprised if Japan was fully open before the new-year holiday period. The entry limits, I expect them to be elevated but the visa/tour package requirements, probably will stay in place for awhile longer.
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Having to work like a dog to cope with all the enquiries looking for "self-guided" tours.
Forgot how difficult some people can be to deal with.

You send out a template response to most enquiries, and you wouldn't believe the number of people who don't read the details and come back with a question that has already been answered.

Still just happy to have some coin flowing in.!!
 
Rusty Trombone said:
you wouldn't believe the number of people who don't read the details and come back with a question that has already been answered.
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No, I would, you have no idea... I've gotten to the point of replying with the same material and bolding shit or making it bigger.

Rusty Trombone said:
Still just happy to have some coin flowing in.!!
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Good!
 
TAG Manager said:
I still don't think we'll see full tourism resume until sometime in 2023.

I would be highly surprised if Japan was fully open before the new-year holiday period. The entry limits, I expect them to be elevated but the visa/tour package requirements, probably will stay in place for awhile longer.
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they are slow, i agreed with you.
impressed the world how they quickly control the covid spread in the beginning, but disappointing where they still keeping the border close(tight) now.
the SEA regions is opening up freely now, and expecting to hit 10millions visitors.
though the covid is still among us, people already start to coexist with covid, is it still necessary to set rules for traveling, isn't it not welcoming customers, isn't it extreme?
 
ah toh said:
though the covid is still among us, people already start to coexist with covid, is it still necessary to set rules for traveling, isn't it not welcoming customers, isn't it extreme?
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Yeah, it's about time to treat covid just like the flu. The problem with Japan is that the Japanese are their own worst enemy. It's their culture to circle the wagons and think they are protecting themselves somehow.
 
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ah toh said:
they are slow, i agreed with you.
impressed the world how they quickly control the covid spread in the beginning, but disappointing where they still keeping the border close(tight) now.
the SEA regions is opening up freely now, and expecting to hit 10millions visitors.
though the covid is still among us, people already start to coexist with covid, is it still necessary to set rules for traveling, isn't it not welcoming customers, isn't it extreme?
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Well ,that said, the rules now is still have fully vacinnated will travel. Yet japan constitution still remain ppl has their right, and they can only be encouraged but cnt b force, that make it spreadly faster among their own ppl.
 
TAG Manager said:
I still don't think we'll see full tourism resume until sometime in 2023.

I would be highly surprised if Japan was fully open before the new-year holiday period. The entry limits, I expect them to be elevated but the visa/tour package requirements, probably will stay in place for awhile longer.
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I'm a bit more optimistic. They are talking about the new 50,000 passengers per day daily entry quota, which is about a half of the pre-pandemic level. The number of trans-Pacific flights by JAL and ANA will be increased to 90% of the pre-pandemic level from November. There will be more relaxation soon, but the stumbling block is their designation of SARS-Cov-2 as Type 2 in the Infectious Disease Law. Still on paper, all patients of C19 have to be hospitalized, which now becomes the exception than the norm. Unless the current designation changes, the visa waiver programs remain suspended and all non-resident travelers are required to be sponsored by a "guarantor" who can arrange an isolation measure when a toursit tests positive with C19 while in Japan. That's why they stick with the idea of only allowing travelers through travel agents. I guess this requirement will be replaced by a mandatory insurance requirement soon, but I don't think many people would go to Japan from the states as long as the visa wavier program is suspended.
 
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there are still strings attached(visa, book through tour agent- submit itinerary, maintain contactable?), to be back to the olden days precovid still not so soon, especially they keep u-turn their travel subsidy program and many frequent minor changes which make so unclear on their map when they will fully open without any term and condition.(previously limit 20k but the tourist responses are still pathetic)
i reserved end of oct 10days for osaka, but only till i see hassle free like bangkok then i will make the trip.
to be back to tourism boom is still a long way where other regions are already boomed.
 
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Ken1988 said:
There will be more relaxation soon, but the stumbling block is their designation of SARS-Cov-2 as Type 2 in the Infectious Disease Law. Still on paper, all patients of C19 have to be hospitalized, which now becomes the exception than the norm. Unless the current designation changes, the visa waiver programs remain suspended and all non-resident travelers are required to be sponsored by a "guarantor" who can arrange an isolation measure when a toursit tests positive with C19 while in Japan. That's why they stick with the idea of only allowing travelers through travel agents. I guess this requirement will be replaced by a mandatory insurance requirement soon, but I don't think many people would go to Japan from the states as long as the visa wavier program is suspended.
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Yes, this the point that makes me think that we won't see normal tourism until sometime next year. (Especially when it comes to the visa waiver program suspension period being carried forward...)

MelissaAnne said:
"Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday that nonescorted visitors on package tours will be allowed in from Sept. 7. That would include more flexible tours that only include flights and hotels and can be booked by individuals, the official said, in contrast with the strict group tours that have been permitted since June."" (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/09/01/national/package-tours-restrictions-eased/)
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Right. Still requires a visa and purchasing a tour package from a service that makes you eligible for a visa to enter Japan. (using an approved package plan)
 
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they are trying to launch out vaccination fast and broadly cover(especially the vulnerable group) before they are confident to open up fully, this is how i see , if not once infection up, they make a step back.
 
Found quite afew tour agencies in JP promoting they can assist your entry to Japan by providing you ERFS
Prices range from 30k all the way to ridiculous amounts like 150k
Seems quite shady or just playing within the grey area of things

Anyone contacted or managed to get it?
 
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Doggyfong said:
Prices range from 30k all the way to ridiculous amounts like 150k
Seems quite shady or just playing within the grey area of things

Anyone contacted or managed to get it?
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People are desperate enough to get in, they'll pay it...
It's the price of admission at this stage. Can't get in as a tourist without it...
 
until now, there still no official date?


official, media is using words like expecting, planning.......by, in oct(31oct?)

And this, 'as soon as next month' so it can b later literally ,https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220916_03/

so it leave it to every one guess, and it just frying the news again and again,how soon we will know...?

base on their flow,https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/08/19/national/tokyo-resume-travel-subsidy/, it should follow after this, and should be near or as early oct.

Till the day they officially announce the date.

No reasons to keep delaying/waiting because there will never a best time to open,more rate hikes coming, economy is going to be bad.

anyone already make booking?
 
Doggyfong said:
Found quite afew tour agencies in JP promoting they can assist your entry to Japan by providing you ERFS
Prices range from 30k all the way to ridiculous amounts like 150k
Seems quite shady or just playing within the grey area of things

Anyone contacted or managed to get it?
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ah toh said:
anyone already make booking?
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I already made bookings for November and paid a tour agency for an ERFS before the more recent rumors started. I paid 30k yen for the ERFS and expecting to get the visa issued tomorrow or Monday.

I've seen a few reports of people already getting in on this method.

The good news for those not looking forward to the onslaught is not many people are willing to jump thru these hoops.

update: visa was issued today :sneaky:
 
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qcryp said:
I already made bookings for November and paid a tour agency for an ERFS before the more recent rumors started. I paid 30k yen for the ERFS and expecting to get the visa issued tomorrow or Monday.

I've seen a few reports of people already getting in on this method.

The good news for those not looking forward to the onslaught is not many people are willing to jump thru these hoops.
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hope no (more) cock up(crop up).
wish you a good trip.
 
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