Resumption of tourism in Japan : What You Need to Know !

Resumption of inbound tourists in Japan 

Fans of Japan from all over the world have been waiting for this for more than two years. Since October 11, it is again possible to freely travel to Japan. Visa waivers has been reinstated and travelers are no longer required to book a guided or self-guided tour to Japan. 

What are the formalities to travel to Japan as a tourist? 

As of October 11, all travelers are now able to freely visit Japan, without any restrictions and subject to the same conditions as before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Before leaving, what steps to take?

• Visa waivers has been reinstated for trips of up to 90 days and for certain countries. If applicable to your situation, you will only need to present a valid passport.
• Apply for a health insurance that covers medical expenses and hospitalization for severe forms of Covid-19. Travel insurances included with credit cards normally cover these expenses, but check the conditions carefully. If yours doesn't, we strongly recommend you apply for a third party insurance.
• Travelers need to have a copy of their Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test less than 72 hours before arriving to Japan. 
• Fill in the information requested by the Japanese authorities on the Visit Japan Web in order to facilitate controls upon arrival in Japan.

What is the assistance on-site?

In Japan, wearing masks on a daily basis is a well-established habit, even before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. For the time being, you will find that most Japanese people continue to wear them in public places.

• As of May 16, masks are no longer mandatory outdoors, so long as social distancing is practiced and there is no physical contact.
• Masks are still strongly recommended on public transport, in hotels and in crowded places.

Demand for planning and organizing trips to Japan is now greatly increasing. Whether you want to travel independently or with a guide, Japan Experience is here to help you.
We offer a unique range of accommodations, activities and products to make your trip easier: Japan Rail Pass, public transportation cards, driving license translation, pocket WiFi, SIM card, etc.

Entry to Japan 

Tourists

• The restrictions on entry into Japan in response to the Covid-19 pandemic have all been lifted since October 11.
  For stays of less than 90 days, foreign tourists can travel freely in Japan without restrictions and under the same travel conditions as before the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Business travelers & Students 

• Business travelers and students can apply for entry into Japan for a short or long stay for professional reasons (work visa, student visa) provided that they can prove that they can prove that they are being hosted or supervised by an organization located on Japanese territory (company, university...).

Family of Japanese Nationals and Permanent Foreign Residents

• Family members of Japanese nationals and permanent foreign residents are allowed to apply for short-term visas.

Sanitary control measures and Quarantine 

As of September 7, pre-flight PCR tests is no longer be required for triple-vaccinated travelers. The health control measures (available on the Japanese authorities' website) are significantly relaxed for people entering Japan from Australia, UK & USA:

• Regardless of their vaccination status, travelers are exempt from quarantine and testing upon arrival in Japan.

• For travelers who have received less than 3 doses of vaccine: present the result of a negative PCR test performed less than 72 hours before the flight and certified by a physician according to a specific certificate model. Only the model certificate issued by the Japanese Ministry of Health should be used. 

• Presentation of the QR code generated on Visit Japan Web after entering the information required by the Japanese government for entry. 

• Mobile applications to monitor health status and the possible spread of the virus must be installed by travelers (read below in for more details).

• For more information:  Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan

We will be updating this page with any new developments and Japan Experience looks forward to helping you plan your trip when the situation improves.

What is the current situation in Japan?

Cases remain low in Japan compared to other countries. The quasi-emergency in all prefectures has been lifted as new cases dip and the burden on regional medical systems comes under control. 

Japan’s vaccination campaign has been successful: as of September 24, 2022, 83% of the total population has received at least one shot and 82% of the total population is now fully vaccinated.

Note that the quarantine requirements for eligible travelers have changed. There is no quarantine for those who are fully vaccinated and who has received their booster shot.

For more information about the new travel requirements, we recommend travelers to check the official website.

Wearing of mask 

In Japan, wearing a mask on a daily basis is a well-established habit, even before the start of the Covid-19 health crisis. For the time being, most Japanese people continue to wear them in public places.

• Since May 16, the wearing of masks is no longer compulsory both outdoors as long as social distancing is practiced and there is no physical contact. 
• Masks are still strongly recommended on public transport, in hotels and in crowded places.

Applications to download

For tracking the evolution of the coronavirus epidemic, the Japanese government recommends downloading several applications:

• MySOS, the health and location monitoring application (it will be used to confirm your location, health status and housing).
• COCOA, the COVID-19 contact confirmation application (it will be used to notify you of a possible contact with a COVID-19 positive person).

For more details, please read the document : Guideline for using the covid application in Japan 

Our guideline for using MySOS & Visit Japan Web

• Upload an electronic certificate of Testing for COVID-19 with negative test result conducted within 72 hours prior
• Input basic information for entering Japan
• Input information for immigration procedure
• Input information for customs procedure
• Show an electronic certificate
• Show a two dimensional code for immigration procedure
• Show a QR code for customs procedure 

What precautions should travelers take when traveling in Japan?

Japan visitor hotline

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) operates a traveler hotline all year round 24 hours a day. They can help with tourist information or assistance, including Covid-19.

This service is available in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.

• From Japan: 050-3816-2787
• From Overseas: +81-50-3816-2787

Japan Experience is at your disposal to answer your questions and needs by email and phone.

• Have you placed an order with Japan Experience? You have received a credit note for the postponement of your trip with Japan Experience? Read this article : How to cancel your trip to Japan? 

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