Not sure what Japan is playing at but my trip next week sure looks like a cancel unless they suddenly admit individual tourists. Anybody have any good inside info?
I haven't seen/heard any new rumors about Japans border since they started the package tour thing.
Everyone has been expecting that nothing will be considered with the election, which was this past weekend.
They've delayed a domestic travel campaign with the local case loads starting to increase again (as they have been in Australia with the BA.5 subvariant).
In any case, the Japanese government tends to announce changes around 2 weeks ahead. It is extremely unlikely that anything will change in time for a trip next week.
Not sure what Japan is playing at but my trip next week sure looks like a cancel unless they suddenly admit individual tourists. Anybody have any good inside info?
I’m personally treating Japan like HKG for now and not expecting easy access for some time. I currently have fully refundable bookings for January which I’m putting at a 50/50 likelihood of me taking. I would rather be wrong but culturally they are still very worried about Covid and as mentioned already they are pre occupied with Abe and other issues. The new variants won’t ease the minds of the Japanese decision makers and their conservative response to these matters. .
Even when they do open I expect the entry requirements, apps needed , testing etc to be quite cumbersome. Time will tell
Japan hit 10 million total cases yesterday. Their daily cases have been raising each day for the past 2 weeks. The newest daily figures are about the same as the peak of the last wave in Feb (~100k/day).
The government is considering adding new measures but have thus far ruled out new restrictions.
They are at 76.3% 2 dose, 62.1% 3 dose and have expanded the scope of 4th dose availability.
At this stage, it seems unlikely that the border conditions will change until the new BA.4/5 driven wave has peaked.
Not sure what Japan is playing at but my trip next week sure looks like a cancel unless they suddenly admit individual tourists. Anybody have any good inside info?
I’m personally treating Japan like HKG for now and not expecting easy access for some time. I currently have fully refundable bookings for January which I’m putting at a 50/50 likelihood of me taking. I would rather be wrong but culturally they are still very worried about Covid and as mentioned already they are pre occupied with Abe and other issues. The new variants won’t ease the minds of the Japanese decision makers and their conservative response to these matters. .
Even when they do open I expect the entry requirements, apps needed , testing etc to be quite cumbersome. Time will tell
The current Japan entry requirements only require a pre departure PCR test provided you are traveling from a "blue" region or if you are from a "yellow" region and have had 3 doses of a Japan approved covid vaccine. They only require post arrival testing, isolation and related app based monitoring if you are from a "red" region or are unvaxxed (less then 3 doses) and from a yellow region.
Only people from blue regions can apply for the tour group thing.
Ricky
Ricky
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Dec 2012
Total posts 3
Not sure what Japan is playing at but my trip next week sure looks like a cancel unless they suddenly admit individual tourists. Anybody have any good inside info?
Himeno
Himeno
Member since 12 Dec 2012
Total posts 295
I haven't seen/heard any new rumors about Japans border since they started the package tour thing.
Everyone has been expecting that nothing will be considered with the election, which was this past weekend.
They've delayed a domestic travel campaign with the local case loads starting to increase again (as they have been in Australia with the BA.5 subvariant).
In any case, the Japanese government tends to announce changes around 2 weeks ahead. It is extremely unlikely that anything will change in time for a trip next week.
Michael Kao
Michael Kao
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 06 Nov 2014
Total posts 163
Plus with recent assassination of Abe, I think the government is fully occupied and opening up isn't on the top of their things to do.
PERflyer
PERflyer
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 15 Aug 2017
Total posts 47
Originally Posted by Ricky
Not sure what Japan is playing at but my trip next week sure looks like a cancel unless they suddenly admit individual tourists. Anybody have any good inside info?
Even when they do open I expect the entry requirements, apps needed , testing etc to be quite cumbersome. Time will tell
Himeno
Himeno
Member since 12 Dec 2012
Total posts 295
Japan hit 10 million total cases yesterday. Their daily cases have been raising each day for the past 2 weeks. The newest daily figures are about the same as the peak of the last wave in Feb (~100k/day).
The government is considering adding new measures but have thus far ruled out new restrictions.
They are at 76.3% 2 dose, 62.1% 3 dose and have expanded the scope of 4th dose availability.
At this stage, it seems unlikely that the border conditions will change until the new BA.4/5 driven wave has peaked.
Himeno
Himeno
Member since 12 Dec 2012
Total posts 295
Originally Posted by PERflyer
Originally Posted by Ricky
Not sure what Japan is playing at but my trip next week sure looks like a cancel unless they suddenly admit individual tourists. Anybody have any good inside info?
Even when they do open I expect the entry requirements, apps needed , testing etc to be quite cumbersome. Time will tell
The current Japan entry requirements only require a pre departure PCR test provided you are traveling from a "blue" region or if you are from a "yellow" region and have had 3 doses of a Japan approved covid vaccine. They only require post arrival testing, isolation and related app based monitoring if you are from a "red" region or are unvaxxed (less then 3 doses) and from a yellow region.
Only people from blue regions can apply for the tour group thing.