As of Tuesday, October 11, Japan is once again open to visa-free travel from dozens of nations around the world, eliminating its daily entry cap on tourist arrivals and making it simpler for travelers to book their own trips to the nation without a required reservation through an authorized travel agency or tour operator.
After more than two years of enforcing among the tightest border controls relating to COVID in the world, the well-known Asian resort is now accepting travelers and tourists without onerous quarantine or testing procedures.
Travelers should be aware of a few crucial details, such as the necessity to show documentation of a negative PCR test result obtained within 72 hours of departure or to be completely immunized against COVID-19, before they leave.
Remember that a (third) booster injection is necessary to demonstrate confirmation of complete immunity against the infection. The only people who will be tested and/or quarantined at entry are those who have COVID symptoms.
The visa exemption makes travel easy for citizens of 68 nations, including the United States, Canada, and several nations in Europe.
According to Reuters, the country's national airline, Japan Airlines, has seen inbound bookings triple since it was announced that entry restrictions would be loosened last month. However, the Japanese government is taking proactive steps to entice tourists back home by launching a domestic travel initiative that offers discounts on lodging and travel.
Travelers to Japan this autumn and in the months to follow should plan for personnel shortages in all areas of travel and tourism, from the airport to their hotel and beyond, as a result of the protracted period of few foreign visitors.
According to Reuters, over half of the 260 stores and eateries at Narita Airport, which is located outside of Tokyo, are still closed. As of August, nearly 73 percent of hotels nationwide reported having trouble finding regular employees.
The most recent travel advice from the State Department advises Americans to rethink visiting Japan owing to entrance restrictions connected to the epidemic, but that Level 3 notice is expected to alter in the aftermath of Tuesday's reopening.
However, Americans traveling to Japan may check out the embassy's and consulates' official websites for the most recent information. They should also be sure to arrange their trip through a reputable travel agent.
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