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Japan

Japan To Allow Visa-Free Travel After 2 1/2 Years of Mostly Closed Borders (japantimes.co.jp) 90

Posted by BeauHD from the major-policy-shifts dept.
Japan will allow visa-free, independent tourism and abolish a daily arrival cap as of Oct. 11, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday, marking a major policy shift after nearly 2 1/2 years of strict COVID-19 restrictions. The government will also launch a nationwide travel discount program, which had been shelved due to the spread of COVID-19 infections. The Japan Times reports: Kishida made the long-awaited announcement during his visit to New York for the U.N. General Assembly. "I hope many people will utilize it," Kishida said at a news conference. "I want to support the travel, entertainment and other industries that have been struggling during the coronavirus pandemic." Japan has been allowing tourists since June, starting with people on guided tours. On Sept. 7, the government allowed those on nonguided tours who had booked their flights and hotels through registered travel agencies. But those measures have been unpopular with many foreign tourists who want greater freedom during their trips.

Tourists will need to be vaccinated three times or submit a negative COVID-19 test result ahead of their trip, Kyodo News reported, citing government sources. A nationwide domestic travel program offering discounts for travel, entry to theme parks, and for sporting events and concerts is also set to start on Oct. 11. People who have been vaccinated three times or submit a negative test result will be eligible for the discounts, according to the report. The program offers financial assistance of up to $77 per person for a one-night stay. The moves will be welcomed by the nation's tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the pandemic. "In 2019, a record 31.88 million foreign travelers visited Japan, but the figure plummeted to about 250,000 in 2021 due to the closed borders," notes the report. "The daily arrival cap has been raised gradually over the past six months, first to 5,000 on March 1 and eventually to the current 50,000."
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Japan To Allow Visa-Free Travel After 2 1/2 Years of Mostly Closed Borders More

Japan To Allow Visa-Free Travel After 2 1/2 Years of Mostly Closed Borders

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  • And there's been plenty of time to make them.

    Life goes on, with or without ya

  • No thanks (Score:2, Interesting)

    by geekymachoman ( 1261484 )

    I been to Japan in January of 2020, so just before the covid thing started, and I loved it. Went to hokkaido / Sapporo for 7 days. It was awesome, and I want to go again. We went as a family and spent quite a bit of money.

    However, I will not be doing that this year, or any other year unless they stop with the bullshit. Enough is enough, jumping through "additional" hoops other than the usual airport security / immigration stuff is out of the question, especially with 2 kids and a wife. There are countries t

    • Re:No thanks (Score:5, Insightful)

      by phantomfive ( 622387 ) on Thursday September 22, 2022 @10:34PM (#62906611) Journal

      tbh you sound like a very unpleasant guest and I hope you stay out of Japan. All you can talk about is how much money you spend.

      Get a different hobby.

      • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

        by Arethan ( 223197 )

        tbh you sound like a shitty host and I hope you aren't in any position to rep Japan with that sort of attitude. Tourism is important, not just monetarily, but also to encourage cultural diversity within the world. It's far easier to back waging war on a people you are wholly unfamiliar with. Actually spending time in foreign countries, interacting with real people (not the shit politicians on tv), and first-hand witnessing the similarities we all share, it breaks down mental walls and promotes peace and coo

        • Re: (Score:1, Insightful)

          by phantomfive ( 622387 )

          Not everyone cares about your money.

          If that makes you upset, and it seems to have made you upset, don't visit Japan please. You are welcome to visit Las Vegas.

          Be kind to your hosts.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by Arethan ( 223197 )

            Cool as a cucumber here my dude. Just call it like I see it.

            • Re: (Score:2)

              by Arethan ( 223197 )

              Also, you clearly didn't actually read my post, as I spent a lot of time talking about the non-money aspects. Good to know. I'll be sure to take you less seriously in the future.

        • Re: (Score:3)

          by mjwx ( 966435 )

          tbh you sound like a shitty host and I hope you aren't in any position to rep Japan with that sort of attitude. Tourism is important, not just monetarily, but also to encourage cultural diversity within the world. It's far easier to back waging war on a people you are wholly unfamiliar with. Actually spending time in foreign countries, interacting with real people (not the shit politicians on tv), and first-hand witnessing the similarities we all share, it breaks down mental walls and promotes peace and cooperation. If you cannot see that, I pity you as a fellow human, and I hope you one day learn.

          You may not be aware of this, but you sound like the rude, arrogant guy on a plane who keeps shouting at the flight attendant like they are their own personal servant because they _PAID_ for their seat (like every other MFer on the plane). The one everyone else just wants to shut up so they can have a flight in relative peace

          You think that money talks... It's clear you don't have much of it otherwise you'd understand that whilst money talks, wealth whispers. I guarantee you there are people out there spe

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by Arethan ( 223197 )

            Sure, I launched rude right back at the guy that imho was being rude first - I'll happily own that - but I really don't understand how you're picking up a money-centric angle to my post. Did you actually read it?

            Tourism is important, not just monetarily, but also to encourage cultural diversity within the world

            It literally goes on from there pointing out how tourism bridges cultural gaps and makes the world an overall better place.
            People need to spend time outside of their echo chambers, or we just end up with tribalism.

      • All you can talk about is how much money you spend.

        You literally described the tourism industry as a whole just then. People spend money going on holidays, and the industry thrives on precisely that source of money.

        It has nothing to do with being a shitty guest and is a fundamental corner stone to the hobby itself.

        Also funny you mention that he only talks about money. Ironically for your argument his decision of whether to go to Japan or not had zero to do with money.

        Your post literally makes no sense however it is interpreted. You sound like a really shitt

        • You sound like a really shitty person passing judgement the way you do.

          Oh believe me, that's not my worst quality at all.

          But I'm a good guest, I treat my hosts with respect, and don't expect them to serve me just because I gave them money.

    • However, I will not be doing that this year, or any other year unless they stop with the bullshit. Enough is enough, jumping through "additional" hoops other than the usual airport security / immigration stuff is out of the question, especially with 2 kids and a wife.>

      Sorry Japan. Maybe in few years.

      What did Japan make you do? Spread your cheeks and lift your sack?

    • So either you prove you were vaccinated three times, or you prove you don't have Covid by taking a Covid test.

      If this what you're whining about? Really? Those are pretty tame requirements if you ask me, even with "2 kids and a wife".

      • So either you prove you were vaccinated three times, or you prove you don't have Covid by taking a Covid test.

        If this what you're whining about? Really? Those are pretty tame requirements if you ask me, even with "2 kids and a wife".

        You make it sound so simple. Have you actually travelled recently?
        Sure, taking a test is no big deal... unless you're away from home and surrounded by people and otherwise symptomless/asymptomatic yet the positive result adds 10 days to your trip because your home country doesn't permit it for inane reasoning. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by mjwx ( 966435 )

          So either you prove you were vaccinated three times, or you prove you don't have Covid by taking a Covid test.

          If this what you're whining about? Really? Those are pretty tame requirements if you ask me, even with "2 kids and a wife".

          You make it sound so simple. Have you actually travelled recently?

          Yeah, Dec 2020, Nov/Dec 2021, Apr 2022, July 2022, will be again next month and Nov.

          You fill out your form, fully vaxxed so no need for a test, job jobbed and had fun. The biggest problem are the people who cant follow basic instructions that the airline emailed them multiple times that you should really fill out this simple online form before getting to the airport (I.E. not when you're at the check-in desk, holding everyone up like a dumbass).

          The biggest issue was that my home country (UK) kept cha

    • Well, it isnâ(TM)t bullshit to people in Japan. I think most would probably like the ban to extend even. Everyone wears masks in Japan still except foreign visitors. Young people are not vaccinated. There is a bigger elderly population some of whom just got their third shot. Also there was not a giant die-off due to covid like in the U.S. where there still is a large number of covid deaths daily in comparison to Japan I believe. So there are a lot of still living people who would be susceptible to pne

  • I am strongly considering a trip to Japan next year now that they have opened up, the main reason would be that the Yen has dropped A LOT in relation to the US dollar.

    Japan in the past was a somewhat expensive place to visit, but you could do so now and spend way less than you used to.

    Japan has a lot of cool stuff for tech loving people, and also a lot of cool stuff for nature lovers if you get outside the main cities. Well worth a visit, and it was fairly easy to get around using mass transit (though I wi

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Arethan ( 223197 )

      https://screenrant.com/gundam-... [screenrant.com]
      Honestly, I want to see it...

      • If it actually walked, so would I, but it doesn't. It's on a gantry, and even the parts that move don't move very fast. Weak sauce.

    • I am strongly considering a trip to Japan next year now that they have opened up, the main reason would be that the Yen has dropped A LOT in relation to the US dollar.

      Japan in the past was a somewhat expensive place to visit, but you could do so now and spend way less than you used to.

      Japan has a lot of cool stuff for tech loving people, and also a lot of cool stuff for nature lovers if you get outside the main cities. Well worth a visit, and it was fairly easy to get around using mass transit (though I

      • I could really get lost over there in Camera stores over there...

        Yeah, you and me both!

        Also if you do go check out the Digital Art Museum [teamlab.art], the height of projected light art.

        Just a bit outside Tokyo, easy to reach via metro as it's right around a stop.

      • Do tech loving people love camera stores? You'll take better pictures with a cell phone. DSLRs are an affectation like vinyl or mechanical watches.

        • Do tech loving people love camera stores? You'll take better pictures with a cell phone. DSLRs are an affectation like vinyl or mechanical watches.

          Err...most everything I'm buying new is mirrorless, no more DSLR mirror slappers. Although I do still have a great canon 5D3 that I shoot fast action with, like concerts.

          But right now, I'm mostly shooting with mirrorless, like the Fuji GF100 digital medium format and the Leica M10 Monochrome cameras....for higher fidelity.

          I would posit a cell phone isn't gonna

  • need to be vaccinated three times (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    Tourists will need to be vaccinated three times

    Why 3? why not 2 or 5?

    FYI, according to the CDC data, COVID ended at the end of last year, when the IFR dropped to nearly zero. Omicron did what no vaccine could.

    In Post-omicron, 3 vaccines or 2 or 1 made very little difference.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Arethan ( 223197 )

      Sometimes you just need to put a stake in the ground. By far, most people have at least 1, and a very significant number have 3. It's their country, so they get to set the rules; that's how that works. I'm sure they have thought about it at least a little.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by q_e_t ( 5104099 )

      COVID ended at the end of last year, when the IFR dropped to nearly zero

      Your risk of dying is risk of infection x IFR, though. Risk of infection is fairly high.

  • Na, I'd rather not deal with the airports right now . . .

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by torkus ( 1133985 )

      To be honest, this is the much greater PITA vs. covid.

      This past sunday at DEN the security line stretched through all the barricades, through the extra ones they put up, and wrapped around to nearly to the far end of baggage claim. Luckily I was arriving and just headed to the train, but that had to be a 3-4+ hour wait.

      Oh, and despite all that I (accidentally) wound up flying with a knife in my backpack that security missed. Twice.

  • Comment removed based on user account deletion

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