Japan reopens to tourists: New travel requirements, to-dos before arrival, and rules while in the country

Japan is set to lift its border restrictions on foreign tourists after more than two years of Covid restrictions.

The country’s prime minister Fumio Kishida said that the relaxation means that tourists will be able to visit the country without first obtaining a visa, and that they will no longer need to go through a travel agency, either.

A cap placed on daily arrivals will be lifted from October 11.

“Japan will relax border-control measures to be on par with the US,” said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

For two years, Japan had effectively blocked entry to visitors, until it began a gradual reopening in June, with some of the toughest entry rules among major world economies.

Mr Kishida’s announcement came as both Taiwan and Hong Kong also relaxed their rules for tourists’s entry.

But what are the new rules? Here’s everything you need to know.

What are the travel requirements in Japan?

Japan is set to open its doors again to foreign tourists, after more than two years of closed borders due to the Covid pandemic.

Tourists will now be able to visit the country without first obtaining a visa, and will also no longer need to go through a travel agency from October 11.

The daily cap on arrivals will also be lifted.

The anticipated influx of travellers will also be a welcome boost to the government and local businesses, and it comes as the Japanese yen slipped to its lowest point against the US dollar in six months.

What do you need to do before arriving in the country?

As part of travelling to Japan, you must:

• Complete information on the MySoS app or website, including signing a written pledge to abide by the Japanese rules on self-isolation and other COVID measures and generating a QR code.

• You will need to show this at check-in and on arrival in Japan.

• For arrivals after September 7, 2022, who are triple-vaccinated, there is no longer a requirement to have a COVID-19 test before you fly.

The country has allowed visitors since June, but they had to be part of tours.

President Kishida has announced a domestic-travel incentive scheme, giving discounts on travel, theme-park prices, and sporting events as well as concerts.

Japanese residents and citizens will be eligible for a 11,000 yen (£69 / $77) subsidy.

Similar incentive programmes have been seen elsewhere. Japan never mandated lockdowns or mask-wearing, but many locals readily adopted such precautions.

In 2019, Japan saw 32 million foreigners visit, and the restrictions on travellers in recent months precluded many foreigners from visiting, reports have shown.

Do I need to be vaccinated in order to enter Japan?

In order to visit Japan, travellers must be triple vaccinated with an approved brand, or have a PCR test showing a negative result taken no more than 72 hours before flight-departure times.

All visitors must also sign a pledge to abide by Japanese rules on Covid measures in place in the country.

Can travellers visit Japan from any country?

Japan is currently operating a red, yellow, and blue traffic-light system, and there’s been no update on whether this will be changed.

At present, travellers who are arriving from blue lists are able to visit without quarantining or taking tests on arrival.

Travellers from yellow lists only need to do tests on arrival if they do not have a vaccine certificate, while all arrivals from red-listed countries must test on arrival, reports The National.

What are the rules for travel in Japan while you’re there?

As part of the changes, Japan is planning to reinstate 19 pre-coronavirus exemptions for short-term visitors to enter the country without a visa from October 11.

The exemptions apply to travellers from more than 60 countries, who will soon be able to travel freely to Japan for tourism.

In terms of visiting, October is a recommended time to travel to the nation, as autumn foliage is in full glow, and the weather is cooling down after the heat of the summer months.

The re-opening coincides with the yen slipping in relation to the dollar, making Japan an affordable destination.

Under the new proposed rules, travellers don’t have to rely on a travel agent when they’re in the country, and they are free to make their own itinerary.

This is inclusive of booking accommodation, transport, and excursions. It also allows flexibility, as those who had previously visited had to pre-book a trip, and were not able to add any other activities or excursions to their agenda.