Travel to Japan Today

[kawika 123]

I was all excited when my country was graded as a blue country by the Japanese government.  No vaccinations, no testing, no quarantine.  But it ain't so simple.  You need a visa and can only travel in groups.  This article helped.  Can I Travel To Japan Now? June 2022 - Inside Kyoto

I want to hear from others here that might be planning a trip to Japan or just their thoughts in general.

[Seiyashi 4,097]

Yeah, the group restriction is a bummer for someone who exclusively travels free and easy. There was a coronavirus case on one of the test group tours, so I hope the Japanese see it as proof that their control efforts are working and gain confidence from that, rather than get scared off entirely the whole idea of opening up.

The exchange rate for my currency now is also ridiculously cheap - the highest it's been, and my family's thinking of exchanging in advance while the rate is still good.

There's every possibility that a trip by Aki or Kyūshū might be possible, but we'll see how it goes.

[Kishinoyama 595]

The Visa requirement sucks but that can be handled if done in advance. The traveling in groups is a no. The wife and I want to see her 93 year old mother. What group of people would be willing to travel with us to a very small town in Yamaguchi prefecture? 

Edit: Their is a kinship visa that would work for her. I don't know if it would work for me.

Edited June 7, 2022 by Kishinoyama

[SDM 9]

Just been talking to someone in JNTO in London.

They are just as frustrated by it as well as they wish to promote interest in Japan, especially as a tourism destination.

I wonder how it would be viewed if you started off as part of a group but then went off on your own to visit your relative?

[Inside Sport Japan 762]

On 13/06/2022 at 00:14, SDM said:

I wonder how it would be viewed if you started off as part of a group but then went off on your own to visit your relative?

Badly.

Hearing that in theory it could lead to deportation and almost certainly a flurry of news reports that would harden resistance to opening the border.

In practice it's hard to know but the initial groups at least are bound to be monitored more closely.

[Inside Sport Japan 762]

It's worth bearing in mind that masks are still almost universal here even among people walking alone outside. Vaccination rates are very high too.

Even in outdoor stadiums hosting soccer and rugby, masks are worn and cheering isn't allowed.

Footage from abroad showing no masks even during indoor gatherings, and life back to normal - despite the continued presence of the pandemic - is genuinely shocking when you are used to the Japanese approach. 

To many people here it seems like the much of the world has given up and is just letting the virus run rampant. Against that backdrop it's unsurprising that keeping the current restrictions or even tightening them further is the view held by most.

Plans to allow unvaccinated tourists in is only hardening that opinion from what we can see.

Edited June 16, 2022 by Inside Sport Japan

[Seiyashi 4,097]

52 minutes ago, Inside Sport Japan said:

On 12/06/2022 at 23:14, SDM said:

I wonder how it would be viewed if you started off as part of a group but then went off on your own to visit your relative?

Badly.

Hearing that in theory it could lead to deportation and almost certainly a flurry of news reports that would harden resistance to opening the border.

In practice it's hard to know but the initial groups at least are bound to be monitored more closely.

Please don't be that one guy that does a balls up like this and screws the chances for the rest of us?

[SDM 9]

don't misunderstand

I'm not proposing it but I know that someone will be thinking about it

So its better to have a discussion about that and highlight the concerns as has now been done.

By the way, I discussed the issue of people with family with a person inside the department and apparently it is possible for people with family there to visit.

Obviously with certain requirements.

ps - it is also apparently the case that your Japan-side guide would be essentially controlling your actions.

Apparently tour groups are also required to have someone based in Japan to take responsibility.

Edited June 21, 2022 by SDM

[SDM 9]

On 16/06/2022 at 04:55, Seiyashi said:

Please don't be that one guy that does a balls up like this and screws the chances for the rest of us? 

As per the above, so long as the person appliedf for the correct Visa, they wouldn't be screwing anything up.

[Benevolance 2,501]

Though I don't really have plans to travel yet, I keep an eye on the exchange rate and usually buy some yen when my dollar is higher "for eventually". I've heard from various other sources that the Japan borders might open up more come autumn. But as someone who works in risk management and follows pandemic data more than is probably healthy, I think I'm still two or three years away from flying to other places.