Japan is about to lift COVID-related border restrictions, and despite everything, it’s rolling out the red carpet for independent travelers.
After more than two years of strict border controls, Japan will fully reopen its borders to “unrestricted” tourism from Oct. 11, after many failed attempts.
Therefore, flying to Japan can return to a status that resembles the previous norm and this new update will begin on October 11. What we know so far:
The daily access limit for newcomers, which was recently raised to 50,000, will be removed to make way for the pre-pandemic tourist visa waiver system, which was first open to 68 countries, local media reported.
As long as foreign visitors are triple-vaccinated, the Japanese government has abolished the COVID-19 requirement before the flight.
In addition, it eliminated the requirement for visitors to enter as part of a strictly supervised tour package with a qualified Japanese tour guide.
Under existing COVID-19 border laws, foreigners must download a short-term visa and make advance arrangements for their flights, itinerary, accommodation, and car rental through an accredited agency.
The Japanese government eliminated mandatory pre-flight COVID-19 testing as long as visitors are triple-vaccinated.
It also eliminated the requirement for hikers to enter through a conscientiously supervised tour package with a licensed Japanese tour guide.
While the existing situation is greater in terms of independents, Array experts have denounced ongoing restrictions on unplanned and loose activities as unnecessary to help the slow tourism sector return to pre-pandemic levels.
It may also deter travelers from opting for Japan as a travel destination; instead, they could move to Europe, where tourism is already encouraged.
Border restrictions have eased at an unprecedented rate in recent months. The admission threshold for new entrants was raised from 5,000 to 20,000 in June and then, on 7 September, more than doubled to 50,000.
Recently, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio declared his goal to harmonize Japan’s COVID-19 limitations with those of G-7 countries and ease them while monitoring COVID-19 infections.
At a press conference, Kishida said, “Our fight against the virus is not simple, but we deserve not to be afraid of the Omicron variant,” adding that he suggested tourists “take advantage of the weakness of the Japanese currency. “
Japan has been under intense pressure from the foreign network because it is the G-7 country that still imposes limits on immigration.
The Kishida government has been reluctant to publicly reveal its intentions to open the border to foreign tourists. Officials said they planned to allow pre-pandemic this year, without offering a timeline.
Border controls will continue to be relaxed “as soon as possible,” according to Kishida, who is nervous about local businesses in tourist spaces and is thinking about preparing for a backlog of tourist arrivals.
Tourists find it difficult to decide whether to travel now or wait until all restrictions are lifted due to lack of information.
The number of visitors visiting Japan has not increased despite the slow easing of border restrictions.
Less than three hundred foreign visitors entered Japan in June because of the questionable package rule. In July, fewer than 8,000 tourists arrived in Japan.
A local company that rents kimonos to tourists in the busy tourist destination of Asakusa reported a 50 percent drop in sales from last year.
Two months after the country’s borders were opened to tourists, it received some foreign visitors, but no reservations were made for the rest of the year. Experts warn that unless tourism is restored, there will be no recovery.
The federal government’s goal is to reduce coronavirus-related deaths rather than spread infections. Japan has focused on economic recovery and “living with COVID-19” while suffering a record seventh wave of COVID-19 infections this summer.
To lessen the administrative burden on number one care physicians and give them more time with patients, they are contemplating eliminating the mandatory reporting requirement for each and every COVID-19 infection in hospitals.
Under existing rules, doctors must notify public fitness facilities of any positive COVID-19 test. This is a handwritten procedure that required a fax until last year, but was later replaced through an online approach.
Now, the federal government is restricting the mandatory reporting requirement to only severe cases, and those who test positive in high-risk categories.
According to Kishida, “coverage of the maximum number of members of society, such as the elderly, would be a priority. “
In addition, the government plans to allow the city to avoid reporting all COVID-19 events.
The country will enter uncharted territory as a result of the policy change, as the national number of infections will no longer reflect as it should reflect the number of others who officially tested positive for COVID-19.
By downgrading COVID-19 to a point comparable to seasonal flu, the government hopes to replace the public’s perception of the coronavirus.
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