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Japan reopens to tourists with shuttered souvenir shops, hotel staff shortage

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Japan to reopen to tourists after more than two years of Covid border restrictions

PM says relaxation will take effect from 11 October as Hong Kong scraps hotel quarantine measures for visitors

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Japan has announced it will lift tough Covid restrictions on foreign tourists, reopening the borders after two and a half years.

The prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said on Thursday that the pandemic had interrupted the free flow of people, goods and capital that had helped the nation flourish.

“But from 11 October, Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the US, as well as resume visa-free travel and individual travel,” Kishida said at the New York Stock Exchange. He is in the city for the United Nations general assembly.

Japan, along with China, has continued to impose tough restrictions on visitors while much of the world has moved on from the pandemic. But unlike China, it never imposed a strict lockdown during the crisis.

Tourists who come to Japan will benefit from a weak yen, which has plummeted so low against the dollar that the finance ministry intervened in the currency market on Thursday for the first time since 1998.

The return of the visa-waiver program suspended in March 2020 will restore the ease of access that saw a record 31.9 million foreign visitors to the country in 2019.

Since June, Japan has allowed tourists to visit in groups accompanied by guides, a requirement that was further relaxed to include self-guided package tours.

The cautious approach to reopening had been deliberate, said James Brady, the Japan analysis lead at US-based consultancy Teneo.

Kishida “took office a year ago knowing that perceived mishandling of the pandemic had been a key factor in undermining public confidence” in his predecessor’s government, Brady said.

“He has been extremely careful not to repeat those mistakes.”

Japan has recorded about 42,600 coronavirus deaths in total – a vastly lower rate than many other countries – and 90% of residents aged 65 and over have had three vaccine shots.

There is no law requiring people to wear masks, but they are still near-ubiquitous in public places such as trains and shops, with many Japanese willing to sport masks when ill even before the pandemic.

While the return of mass tourism should give a “slight bump” to Japan’s economy, the benefits were likely to be limited by China’s zero-Covid policy, Brady said.

“Much of the economic benefit pre-pandemic came from high numbers of Chinese visitors coming and spending lots of money on tech products, cosmetics.”

But “currently, Chinese citizens face their own travel restrictions at home and won’t be travelling to Japan in large numbers”, Brady said.

There is pent-up demand for travel to the country, however, according to Olivier Ponti, vice-president of insights for travel analytics firm ForwardKeys.

“Searches for travel to Japan reached their highest point this year at the end of August,” he said. And while flight bookings were just 16% of 2019 levels in early September, “we’d expect bookings to jump” when the visa rules are scrapped.

Liz Ortiguera, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said demand from Europe might still be subdued “due to the increase in the cost of living in Europe caused by the Russian-Ukraine crisis plus the rising fuel costs driving up air travel costs”.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong announced on Friday it would end mandatory hotel quarantine, scrapping some of the world’s toughest travel restrictions that have battered the economy and kept the finance hub internationally isolated.

The long-awaited move will bring relief to residents and businesses who have been clamouring for the Asian business hub to rejoin the rest of the world in resuming unhindered travel and living alongside the coronavirus.

For the past two and a half years, Hong Kong has adhered to a version of China’s strict zero-Covid rules, deepening a brain drain as rival business hubs reopen.

The announcement leaves mainland China as the only major economy still requiring a lengthy quarantine for international arrivals.

The chief executive of Hong Kong, John Lee, said the current three days of hotel quarantine would be reduced to zero for those arriving into Hong Kong from overseas and Taiwan.

Travellers will be subject to PCR tests on arrival and will be unable to visit restaurants and bars for the first three days under a system authorities have dubbed “0+3”.

“Under this arrangement, the quarantine hotel system will be cancelled,” Lee told reporters.

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Japan Will Restart Visa-Free Tourism in October—Here's What to Know for Your Next Visit

By Melinda Joe

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The moment the world has been waiting for has finally arrived: Individual tourists can once again visit Japan freely, with no requirement to be part of an organized group tour or to have a special visa.

Starting October 11, Japan will lift the majority of its strict entry requirements for tourists, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced in a speech on Thursday. The country—a favorite destination among travelers around the world that saw a record number of visitors in 2019 —was one of the slower and more cautious countries to welcome back travelers.

For more than two years, Japan's borders remained closed to tourists. In June, the country first reopened to leisure travelers from 98 countries including the U.S., but officials required a visa for entry and capped daily visitors at 20,000 people (later elevating it to 50,000 daily visitors). Tourists were also required to be part of a tour-operator group and to purchase private insurance that would cover any medical expenses related to COVID-19.

But, as of October 11, all those requirements will fall by the wayside. "We will remove the cap on the number of people entering the country, and will resume accepting individual travel and visa-free travel," Kishida said on Thursday, according to Nikkei Asia . All visitors will need to be vaccinated three times or submit a negative COVID-19 test result before arrival, Japan Times reported. 

The lifting of restrictions is sure to bring a host of first-time visitors to the country. But even returning travelers will find much to discover in the Land of the Rising Sun. Here are the best new hotels, restaurants, and things to do in Japan following the reopening—from Tokyo , Kyoto , and Osaka , to the northern island of Hokkaido and the southern paradise of Okinawa .

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The pool at Four Seasons Otemachi

What's new in Tokyo

Prior to the pandemic, Olympic fever sparked a frenzy of development in Tokyo, adding a host of new hotels, restaurants, bars, and cafes. With more venues slated to open this summer and autumn, there’s never been a more exciting time to visit Japan’s capital.

The hottest hotel openings were Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo, the Four Seasons Otemachi , and The Tokyo Edition Toranomon . The buzzy vibe at the Kimpton channels Manhattan with design inspired by New York’s art world, and dog-friendly dining at District brasserie. With expansive views of the Imperial Palace, a tranquility pool in the lounge, and Zen-influenced accents in the guest rooms, the Four Seasons Otemachi is an oasis of calm in the financial district—with Michelin-starred French cuisine at Est and sophisticated cocktails at bar Virtus. Over at the Tokyo Edition, the glittering new Gold Bar offers prime people-watching and a drinks list that pays homage to the pre-Prohibition golden age of tipples—and it's worth a visit even if you’re not staying at the hotel.

Despite a tumultuous two years of pandemic-induced dining restrictions, the food scene is thriving with the arrival of a new wave of ambitious, young chefs bringing fresh perspective and international flair to the Japanese capital. British-born Daniel Calvert kicked off the trend with Sezanne , situated in an art-filled space inside the Four Seasons Marunouchi . In its first year, the venue has already racked up a string of accolades—including a Michelin star and the number 17 slot on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants—for impeccable signatures like a layered heirloom tomato tart with burrata cream and Calvert’s French riff on Shanghainese drunken chicken. 

At Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura , head chef Antonio Iacoviello interprets Japanese ingredients through the lens of Italian cuisine (think eggplant Parmigiana-meets-spaghetti aglio e olio, in a smoky dashi of fermented eggplant). Iacoviello’s dazzling presentations match the interior outfitted with antique mirrors and tables set with Gucci cups and plates. A few blocks away at Ginza Yuzan , Japanese-American chef Keiichiro Kurobe (of L.A.’s Hinoki and The Bird fame) offers a taste of California-style multiculturalism with dishes such as claypot-cooked arroz con pollo and egg-filled arancini with umami sauce. Virgilio Martinez’s brand-new Maz Tokyo , led by Santiago Fernandez, explores Peru’s diverse terrain and food culture in inventive combinations like iwana river fish topped with watermelon granita and coconut-herb sauce, and desserts that use every part of the cacao fruit—from the fermented and roasted rind to a sweet-and-tart jelly made from the pulp inside the pod.

Other notable additions include 3110NZ by LDH Kitchen , an art gallery-cum-sushi joint collaboration between gallery Nanzuka Underground and renowned Sushi Saito, set in a futuristic space with glowing recessed lighting cut into the white walls. At Nine by La Cime , chefs Yusuke Takada (of Osaka’s two-Michelin-starred La Cime ) and Toru Tokushima create provocative, seafood-centric tasting menus, and Ippei Hanten a hidden six-seat counter devoted to Cantonese fine dining. After 9:00 p.m., the restaurant transforms into the more casual Ye Hong Kong, serving epic family-style feasts in two private rooms.

Looking to indulge your sweet tooth? Head to Azuki to Kouri , a stylish shaved ice spot specializing in fresh-fruit kakigori, or pick up one of Jerome Quilbeuf’s signature burnt Basque cheesecakes at the chef’s eponymous shop in Ginza’s new Exit Melsa. This summer, Quilbeuf will also roll out a second branch of his popular Spanish gastrobar, Gracia , in a larger space with terrace seating in Ichigaya.

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Former World Barista Champion Hide Izaki creates “the ultimate coffee break” with rare specialty brews, bespoke Japanese ceramics, and seasonal sweets prepared by restaurant Narisawa at Cokuun, which launches in early autumn. The experience marries coffee culture with elements of traditional tea ceremony and takes place inside a pod-like tea room, shaped like an iron pot, with seats for four guests.

A room at the new Ace Hotel Kyoto

The past two years have seen expansion in Kyoto’s luxury hotel space, starting with Kengo Kuma’s lattice-covered Ace Hotel and the elegant Hotel the Mitsui , a 161-room property built on the grounds of the Mitsui family’s centuries-old former residence opposite Nijo Castle. The recently opened The Shinmonzen in the historic Gion district blends the amenities of a Western boutique hotel with the hospitality and aesthetics of a traditional Japanese ryokan . Designed by Tadao Ando with interiors by Remi Tessier, the luxe nine-suite hotel features spacious rooms appointed with hinoki wood bath tubs and boasts an astounding collection of contemporary art. A restaurant by Jean-Georges Vongerichten will launch in late autumn; in the meantime, staying guests can enjoy delightful dinners that make excellent use of organic produce from the mountains north of Kyoto, served in suite, and Provençal-inflected afternoon tea in the lounge overlooking the Shirakawa River.

Opening in August, Maana Kiyomizu offers a unique alternative to a conventional hotel. The handsome complex comprises three suites, a retail shop, and a café within a row of splendidly refurbished machiya townhouses. The light-filled suites come with tea sets, paper lanterns, and textiles from POJ Studio, a collective of artisans crafting modern pieces using traditional techniques.

On the food front, newcomers So Kawahagishi , which serves updated twists on izakaya classics like panko-crusted venison katsu (cutlets) with housemade marmalade, and Suba , a stylish standing soba bar where they make the noodles upstairs, stand out for excellent casual eats and a chilled-out vibe. While Kyoto is best known for traditional fare, creative cuisine is on the rise. Hidden inside the Ritz Carlton’s Italian restaurant Locanda, the six-seat Chef’s Table reflects Katsuhiko Inoue’s experiences working in Spain, South America, and at Tokyo’s Bulgari Il Ristorante Luca Fantin . Inoue prepares genre-blurring dishes beside a table covered with an elaborately constructed miniature moss garden.

A 90-minute drive from Kyoto on the shores of Lake Biwa, Benu alum Coleman Griffin takes inspiration from the landscape to craft innovative terroir-driven tasting menus at Sower , in a minimalist space designed by Teruhiro Yanagihara.

The Living Room bar at W Osaka

Osaka, which captured more than 46 percent of the 4.8 trillion yen spent by visitors to Japan in 2019, was hit hard by the lack of tourists. Although sluggish during the pandemic, development has picked up, meaning there is plenty for taking advantage of Japan reopening. Last year, the city welcomed the W Osaka , a dark monolith designed by Tadao Ando that opens onto an exuberant world of colorful design accented with modern Japanese detailing. The hotel’s six dining outlets—including trendy sushi restaurant Ukiyo; teppanyaki Mydo; and neobistro Oh.lala, overseen by La Cime’s Yusuke Takada—add to the allure.

The arts got a boost with the Nakanoshima Museum of Art , which opened in early February after nearly 30 years of planning. Housed in a boxy, five-story structure with a jet-black exterior (a popular look for new buildings in Osaka), the museum boasts one of Japan’s largest collections—more than 6,000 art pieces by modern masters such as Magritte, Dali, and Japanese artists like painter Jiro Yoshihara.

Osaka will always be the street-food capital of Japan, but new establishments are adding a touch of sophistication to the restaurant scene. Innovative chef Hiroyuki Kosuda worked at famed fusion temple Kahala for 20 years before breaking out on his own this year; with only five seats, his eponymous restaurant has become one of the city’s hardest to book. The brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Noguchi Taro, the specialty at Noguchi Taro Ramen is a steaming bowl of housemade noodles floating in an umami-dense shellfish broth, topped with sliced char siu and a truffle-scented fishcake. Wine enthusiasts will find much to love at Rilo Wine Lounge , a sleek and moody speakeasy-style spot (DM them on Instagram for the pass code) with an eye-watering collection of vintage champagne.

Hot pot at the new Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono

Japan’s ski haven and northernmost island, Hokkaido has been trending as an off-the-beaten-track destination for the past five years. But recent developments are turning it into a hub for luxury travel: Most of the ski resorts are concentrated around Niseko, which encompasses six areas surrounding towering Mount Yotei. In 2020, Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono unveiled a sprawling 100-room property with 11 restaurants, a soothing hot spring spa, and its own four-seat ski lifts. Nestled between Mount Yotei and Mount Annapurni on the Shiribetsu River, Raku Suisan ’s 18 ample rooms are equipped with baths filled with alkaline-rich water sourced directly from a natural hot spring. Anchored by a traditional Japanese irori fireplace, the resort’s inviting lounge features a cozy piano bar. Shiguchi is a new complex of five beautifully renovated Japanese farmhouses, each adorned with ceramics, paintings, and sculptures from the private collection of founder Shouya Grigg. Grigg’s photography is also on display, along with an ongoing exhibition of art and artifacts spanning the region’s history, including pottery from the Jomon period and work created by the indigenous Ainu, in the Somoza gallery nearby.

Farther afield in the Tokachi region, on the island’s southeastern side, Memu Earth Hotel ’s five villas are stunning examples of eco-friendly contemporary architecture set amid a wide-open pasture. Each house has a distinctive character; the white-clad Meme House reflects the light and blends into the scenery, while the Horizon House offers 360-degree panoramic views. The resort’s restaurant serves simple but elegant cuisine made with seasonal, local products in a former warehouse designed by architect Toya Ito.

A sandbar in Kerama Islands National Park, Okinawa

Looking for something warmer? With fewer new openings during the pandemic, the pace of life on Okinawa remains leisurely—but changes are afoot in Japan’s tropical paradise. Last summer, luxury group One Suite launched The Grand resort on secluded Kouri Island, accessible by car from the main island. The Grand’s trump card is its 114-meter Ocean View Panorama Suite, equipped with a jacuzzi on the 30-meter terrace and offering sweeping views of the East China Sea. Playful French fine dining is on the menu at the property’s La Bombance, an outpost of the Michelin-starred restaurant in Tokyo. Among the latest of star bartender Shingo Gokan’s ever-growing empire of watering holes, El Lequio exudes an island vibe with its kitschy-cool Tiki-bar décor and line-up of cocktails based on rum, tequila, and mezcal.

Located in Onna village, between the main island’s forested mountains and sea, the restaurant inside the brand-new Yumiha resort incorporates unique local ingredients—kokuto black sugar, shimadofu tofu, and Okinawan honey—into modern French preparations like perfectly roasted Agu pork with a sauce made from awamori, the island’s fiery distilled spirit: Staying guests can sample around 30 kinds (included in the price of accommodation) in the resort’s roomy suites.

This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

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Japan details October's full tourism reopening: 6 things to know

All 68 visa exemptions restored; vaccines on WHO emergency list will be accepted

TOKYO -- Japan on Monday provided details of its full-scale tourism reopening, following Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's announcement last week.

The country will allow visa-free entry for visitors from 68 countries and regions, as it did before the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, there will be some coronavirus-related hoops to jump through, such as providing proof of vaccination.

Japan's travel and retail sectors buoyed by border reopening plan

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What to expect as Japan opens back up to the world

After almost three years, Japan will fully open its borders again to foreign independent tourists and other arrivals on Tuesday — a move that many hope will galvanize the economy and kickstart the country’s post-pandemic recovery.

Below are answers to the most pressing questions would-be tourists and other arrivals should be asking as they dust off their suitcases, open up those phrase books and get ready once again for a journey to Japan.

Just how open will the country become?

Since Japan’s border first slammed shut to arrivals from countries most affected during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic in April 2020 — extending to a ban on arrivals from some 159 countries and regions by late August that year — Japan’s reopening has been a long and winding road of false dawns and U-turns.

After a previous attempt to relax border restrictions late last year failed with the emergence of the highly contagious omicron variant , the door to overseas arrivals gradually started to creep open this year, first in March to business travelers, students and those arriving on compassionate grounds — such as to attend a wedding or funeral – and then, from June, tourists on guided tours.

From Tuesday, Japan will completely lift its daily cap of 50,000 arrivals and recommence visa-free independent travel for those arriving from any of the 68 countries previously on its short-term visa-exemption list . Travelers from countries not on the visa exemption list remain subject to the same pre-pandemic entry restrictions.

Will I need to book a guided tour?

The short answer — no!

From June, those wishing to enter Japan had to do so as part of a guided tour . With many travelers balking at the restrictions this placed on their freedom of movement — some social media users compared the measures to those of North Korea , which operates a similar system for overseas visitors — uptake was low.

From early September, the government relaxed the regulations slightly, allowing travelers on so-called self-guided tours that required arrivals to book their flights and accommodation with registered travel agencies.

Agencies could then act as a sponsor, keeping tabs on the whereabouts of individual travelers, encouraging them to conform to local antivirus rules — such as frequent hand-washing and mask wearing — and offering assistance in the case of coronavirus infection while in Japan.

The need to take part in tours, guided or otherwise, will be a thing of the past from Tuesday, with the government hoping an influx of independent tourists — looking to take advantage of the weakened yen as they travel around the country — will help local tourism industries struggling from the effects of a prolonged period of near total isolation.

However, there is some concern that the benefits of tourism-related economic recovery will be limited by a lack of Chinese tourists , who typically make up a large proportion of visitors to Japan, but who are currently restricted from traveling abroad amid the Chinese government’s continued adherence to its “COVID zero” policy.

Will I need to be vaccinated to enter?

An on-arrival COVID-19 test is no longer required once you get to Japan. However, to enter, you must still fulfill one of the two following requirements:

• Obtain a certificate confirming you have received at least three shots of a vaccine recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The document should be issued by an official body, such as a government agency, and should have an attached Japanese or English translation if originally written in another language.
• Obtain a certificate confirming the negative status of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure for Japan from your country of origin.

In both instances, travelers must fill out a pre-arrival COVID-19 questionnaire, which the government recommends they complete online in advance using their “Fast Track” service — which is available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Indonesian — and an associated app called MySOS, which you can install on your smartphone via QR code or a link.

Do I need to quarantine? What should I do if I get sick?

In principle, visitors will no longer be required to isolate upon arrival, meaning they can move freely other than in cases where they have been diagnosed with the coronavirus after arrival in Japan.

In the event a traveler to Japan suspects they may have caught COVID-19 following their arrival, the government recommends that they contact the Japan Visitor Hotline at 050-3816-2787 for an over-the-phone consultation with a health professional who will determine the severity of the case and offer advice on the next steps to take. The service is offered in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.

Do I need to wear a mask?

As a general rule — yes.

The situation is complicated as, despite the government’s repeated calls for the public to remove their face masks while outdoors , the majority of Japanese people still continue to wear masks while outside the house, even in situations where overseas travelers might consider it unnecessary.

The government is expected to revise legislation to allow hotel operators the right to refuse entry to anyone not wearing a mask.

Until a surge in cases over the summer temporarily made Japan the nation with the highest number of daily cases in the world, the country’s infection rate has remained low in comparison to other countries. Many in Japan attribute this, at least in part, to the ubiquitous use of masks throughout the pandemic.

While overseas visitors may see Japanese individuals not wearing a face mask in public, a variety of cultural reasons — including for some, admittedly, attitudes toward foreign nationals — make it advisable for visitors to wear a mask in public situations, such as when riding crowded trains and buses and when entering hotels or restaurants, if only to avoid causing discomfort for those around you.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

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Here's what to know about heading to Japan as the country reopens

By Peter Greenberg

October 11, 2022 / 4:42 PM EDT / CBS News

Travelers to Japan, from and through Japan are getting some big news today: Anyone can now travel to Japan , without a visa. And that's effective today.

It's been slow going — or no going — to Japan for quite some time. The country was effectively shut down and closed off during the pandemic — until about four months ago, when the government announced that as of  June 10, a limited number of international travelers would be allowed to enter Japan, if they booked a relatively restricted package tour with a guide. Then, on Sept. 7, the government eased the rules somewhat, allowing non-guided package tours from all countries.

And as of Oct. 11, anyone can travel to Japan, without a visa, on an individual basis.

Travelers headed to Japan — and for that matter, to Asia — are also aided by the power of the U.S. dollar against a weakening Japanese yen, which is at a 25-year low against the dollar.

In addition, it opens up dozens of countries to travelers and airlines looking at Japan as a hub. Many airlines, such as Delta, use Tokyo as a main hub for Asia, concentrating their flight schedules first to Japan and then connecting to Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries.

What this also means is that Japanese travelers, eager to fly out of the country, can now do so, to such favorite vacation destinations as Korea and Hawaii. Both destinations are now preparing for a wave of tourists. Japan is already seeing increases in airfares to popular destinations like Korea and Hawaii. And that, in turn, is beginning to translate into higher airfares and hotel rates throughout the 50th state.

The economic impact of Japan's reopening is huge. In 2022, only a small number of people have traveled to Japan — about 500,000. In 2019, nearly 32 million people visited. Bookings on airlines like JAL have tripled in just the past few days, and the country's economists are predicting about 34.5 billion in travel spending by visitors within the next six to nine months.

If you want to go to or through Japan now, you won't need a visa, but be aware that masks are still required to be worn in all public places. A number of Asian airlines will still require masks to be worn during your flight. And either proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test will be required to enter the country — or even to change flights at a Japanese airport.

Ticket prices and hotel rates have already gone up an average of 20% in the last 24 hours as news about the Japan opening has spread.

And lately, the end of quarantine rules for arriving travelers in Hong Kong means that, for the first time in more than two years, visitors can travel freely to and within Hong Kong. This is great news for hotels that were struggling with few guests and averaging about a 25% occupancy rate as Hong Kong once again becomes an aviation hub for flights worldwide.

For both Hong Kong and Japan, though, opening some of the world's most restrictive border controls doesn't mean that visitors will find these destinations operating at full blast: 73% of hotels report staff shortages and more than 4,000 stores that closed during the pandemic have yet to reopen.

Peter Greenberg, CBS News' travel editor, reports regularly on a broad range of travel-related news for "CBS Mornings," "CBS Sunday Morning" and the "CBS Evening News."

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Japan reopens to individual foreign tourists, lifts arrival cap

By SACHIKO MIWA/ Staff Writer

October 11, 2022 at 14:29 JST

Individual foreign tourists could finally enter Japan with few restrictions on Oct. 11, when the government lifted most of its remaining COVID-19 border controls.

Gone is the unpopular requirement that tourists must travel on package tours to be allowed into Japan. The government also removed its cap on daily arrivals and resumed visa-free entry for short-term travelers from visa-exempt countries or regions.

Testing for COVID-19 upon entry has been scrapped, in principle. But visitors must provide proof of either three vaccine shots or a negative result from a PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure.

The government on Oct. 11 also started a national travel discount program that will subsidize 40 percent of a trip’s cost. The plan is intended to promote domestic tourism that has taken a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, discounts of up to 8,000 yen ($55) per person per night will be available for package tours involving public transportation, while discounts of up to 5,000 yen will be available for trips in which travelers drive to destinations or arrange for train or airline tickets on their own.

Eligible travelers must either be vaccinated with three doses or present negative test results. The discounts will also be applied to reservations that have already been made.

The program, expected to run until late December, effectively extends and expands the “kenmin wari” travel subsidy program, which ended on Oct. 10.

The earlier program was limited to residents’ trips within a prefecture or to neighboring prefectures.

The new discount program is currently valid for travel to 46 prefectures, except for Tokyo. It will take effect in the capital from Oct. 20 to cover the entire country.

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Japan reopening details: What you need to know now

On Sept. 26, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which governs entry requirements, officially announced that as of midnight local time on Oct. 11, "foreign nationals enter[ing] into Japan for a short-term stay for tourism will be no longer limited under package tours." On the same date, according to the website, a visa will no longer be required for visitors from 68 countries, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Current Japan visa requirements and tour restrictions will remain in place until Oct. 11.

Japan is one of the last remaining nations with strict COVID-19-related bans and restrictions on general tourism.

While supervised group tours to Japan have been available for the past few months, the restrictions on travel discouraged many people from booking trips. If the plan to reopen more fully moves forward, Japan will welcome back individual tourists and resume visa waivers, among other changes.

Travelers should be mindful that the Japanese government has not yet supplied complete details for the reopening, including COVID-19-related entry requirements. Given prior announcements of plans to reopen for tourism that proved quite limited, TPG recommends travelers await full details from the Japanese Consulate before booking a trip.

Read on to find out the available details of the announcement and what it might mean in terms of planning your long-awaited trip to Japan.

Japan reopening details

In his Sept. 22 press conference in New York, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said individual tourists will soon be welcomed to Japan without the requirement of visas or group tours, as reported by the Japan Times .

Following the Prime Minister's announcement of reopening, the visa website for the Embassy of Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website have each added brief notes confirming the Oct. 11 reopening plan.

U.S. travelers planning a trip should consult these websites for the latest information prior to making any travel arrangements.

According to these government websites, Japanese entry requirements will return to pre-COVID-19 policies, with tourists from the U.S. and 67 other countries permitted to visit Japan for up to 90 days without a visa.

However, travelers still must provide proof of vaccination (including a booster shot) or a negative COVID-19 PCR test to enter the country without quarantine, according to the Embassy of Japan's website. Visitors will still be "required to upload either a pre-departure COVID-19 testing result or a valid vaccine certificate through Fast Track/My SOS ."

Consult the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare visitor webpage for the latest COVID-19-related entry requirements.

The cap on daily visitors to Japan, which had recently risen from 20,000 to 50,000, will also be lifted as of Oct. 11 to allow an unrestricted number of foreign entries, according to the latest information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

And while the Japanese government has not mandated mask-wearing, expect it to still be strongly encouraged and privately enforced at hotels and shops around the country. "About 98% of Japanese are still wearing masks," Kenny Onishi, general manager for tour operator Intrepid Travel in Japan told TPG in an interview. Mask-wearing "may be required to enter some stores and restaurants, and some may check your temperature," according to Onishi.

Related: Japan reopens for tour groups

How to plan a Japan trip now

Assuming unrestricted visa-free tourism returns to Japan in October as scheduled, expect there to be a huge uptick in flight, lodging and tour reservations.

"We're absolutely delighted to hear this," Julie McCormack, program director for Asia for the MT Sobek tour operator, told TPG on a call to discuss Kishida's announcement. "We've been hoping for this for a long time. Japan had been such a good destination for us before [COVID-19]."

Even though signing up for a group tour may no longer be required for entry to Japan, many visitors typically combine a group tour with a few days on either end of the visit for individual travel. Plus, Japan's eased travel restrictions will mean that tours will have increased access to people, places and activities that might have been curtailed during the pandemic.

So, if you're interested in having a guide for at least part of your trip, try to confirm those plans as soon as possible.

Tour operator Intrepid Travel is hustling to meet pent-up demand in Japan with a flurry of additional trip offerings. It currently has tour groups on the ground there now. These trips have regular schedules allowing guests free time to explore independently as they were able to do before the pandemic, according to Intrepid's Onishi. The company already has 241 Japan tour departures planned for 2023, exceeding its total of 230 Japan trips completed in 2019.

With a crowded market for tour companies, expect some to offer enticing "return to Japan" deals to help relaunch tours. But be aware many people who have had tours canceled in the past due to visa restrictions will have priority for obtaining tour space with some operators during prime periods, like next spring's cherry blossom season.

A strong dollar versus the yen will also make travel within Japan more affordable for Americans. The recent exchange rate of 142 yen to $1 set a 24-year low for the currency.

Kishida also announced the launch of a travel discount program within Japan to help promote tourism, but these benefits will only be available for residents of Japan, according to a Kyodo News report .

Consult the Japan National Tourism Organization website for the latest details on any potential discount programs and other details for foreign tourists.

Related: Using points and miles for a trip to Japan

Bottom line

If Japan does finally reopen to tourists without strict group travel or visa requirements, expect to see a surge of demand for travel to the country. Book as soon as possible, and keep your eyes open for attractive package deals from tour operators eager to rebuild their businesses.

But, given prior false alarms on Japan's reopening, be sure to confirm the latest visa details with the Japanese Embassy or Consulate websites prior to making any nonrefundable reservations.

FOCUS: Travel firms thrown in confusion as Japan reopens to foreign tourists

As Japan resumed visa procedures to accept foreign tourists last week, travel companies have been thrown into confusion over the lack of communication regarding entry procedures and last-minute COVID-19 guidelines.

The government's sudden moves have generated discontent among many in the travel industry, with some domestic companies pulling out of operating tours for inbound tourists amid the prolonged coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on May 26 that Japan would reopen to foreign tourists from last Friday, initially limiting eligible tourism arrivals to guided tours from 98 countries and regions deemed to have the lowest risk of infection.

The announcement triggered a flurry of inquiries from both domestic and overseas travel agencies.

"Overseas agencies had been looking for tour participants on a spur-of-the-moment basis, so they were confused after discovering visas would be required," said the manager of a Japanese company supporting inbound tourism.

Before the pandemic, Japan offered visa-free travel for tourists from 68 countries and regions including the United States, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia.

But border restrictions due to COVID-19 mean that currently "everyone needs a visa," according to the Foreign Ministry.

Many overseas travel agencies were also unaware that, in order to apply for a visa, they first needed to input the traveler's details into Japan's health ministry system, which did not begin operating until midnight Thursday.

A South Korean travel agency said its hopes of organizing tours to Japan this month were dashed due to the procedure, with July now the earliest it can run a tour. Contacting the Japanese Embassy in Seoul also proved fruitless, it said.

Under guidelines released by the Japan Tourism Agency last Tuesday, foreign tourists are asked to wear face masks and take out insurance to cover medical expenses in the event they contract COVID-19.

Upon sales or reservation of tours, travel agencies will need to gain the consent of tour participants to comply with the measures by explaining that they otherwise may not be able to take part.

During the tour itself, the agencies will also keep records of the participants' movements, including places they visited and where they sat on public transportation.

"We have to explain the guidelines to (visitors of Japan) to prevent problems from occurring," said a representative of major Japanese travel agency JTB Corp.

TAS Co., a Tokyo-based company that predominantly organizes tours to Japan for Southeast Asians, said it was translating the tourism agency guidelines into local languages to promptly communicate them to prospective travelers.

"Although what we can do at present is limited, we have received many inquiries, and interest in traveling to Japan is high," a staff of the company said.

But for small and medium-sized tour operators, the slump in business has proven tough, and many have decided to pull out of running tours for foreign tourists to Japan or suspend operations.

Among these are a western Japan agency that had organized many tours for Muslims and a Tokyo-based operator that helped Chinese tourists visit Japan.

Kishida has stated that Japan is aiming to gradually accept the same number of visitors as pre-pandemic times, but easing border restrictions while rebuilding the country's hospitality industry will prove to be a challenging task.

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Travel Alerts and Disaster Updates

2024 noto peninsula earthquake.

In the afternoon of January 1, 2024, a strong earthquake caused widespread damage and the loss of many lives on the Noto Peninsula and surroundings.

The northern part of the Noto Peninsula was most affected. Particularly badly hit were the city of Suzu and the city of Wajima , where the earthquake did not only topple many buildings, but also caused a large fire, which destroyed a considerable part of the city center, including the site of the famous local morning market.

The intensity of the earthquake in the nearby cities of Kanazawa , Takaoka , Toyama and Niigata was also strong, but it caused no widespread damage.

Transportation

Service along many train lines in the region resumed within a couple of days of the earthquake, except on the peninsula itself, where the disruptions lasted longer. The last affected railway, the Noto Railway, resumed service along its entire length on April 6.

It will take several months for the Noto Peninsula to open to tourism again, especially the northern part. But also in Wakura Onsen further down the peninsula, all lodgings remain closed until further notice.

Outside the Noto Peninsula, tourism is much less affected. In Kanazawa , most tourist attractions reopened within four days of the quake. An exception was the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art , which suffered some damage, but reopened partially on February 6. The full reopening is scheduled for June 22. Read our report from Kanazawa from early February .

Coronavirus Outbreak

Japan dropped all remaining COVID-related entry requirements (including the need of COVID testing/vaccination certificates) on April 29, 2023. With this, over three years of COVID-related border measures have came to an end.

Volcano Closures

No-entry zones are currently maintained at the following prominent volcanoes :

• Sakurajima (Level 3 - do not approach the volcano) Do not climb the mountain. Does not affect transportation and tourism.
• Aso (Level 2 - do not approach the crater) No-entry zone 1 km from crater. Closure of road and hiking trails.
• Shinmoedake (Kirishima) (Level 1 - potential for increased activity) Closure of hiking trails.
• Kusatsu-Shirane (Level 1 - potential for increased activity) Closure of hiking trails.

Weak Yen Drives Japan’s Record-Breaking Tourist Arrivals

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

April 17th, 2024 at 10:11 AM EDT

The depreciation of the Japanese yen against major currencies, particularly the U.S. dollar, has played a pivotal role in driving unprecedented levels of tourist arrivals to Japan.

Peden Doma Bhutia

Japan’s tourist arrivals soared to a record-breaking high last month, with over 3 million visitors exploring the country, as reported by the Japan National Tourism Organization on Wednesday.

Contributing to this milestone were a weak yen, currently trading at a 34-year low against the dollar, along with the influx of travelers eager to see Japan’s famed cherry blossoms.

This is  the first time Japan has surpassed the 3 million-visitor mark in a single month, surpassing the previous high of 2.99 million in July 2019.

Compared to the same period last year, March arrivals increased by almost 70%, and were up approximately 12% compared to March 2019.

Top Source Markets

South Korea emerged as the leading source market for Japan’s tourism, contributing over 663,000 arrivals, followed by Taiwan and China.

Despite Chinese arrivals remaining 35% below 2019 levels, tourist numbers from 17 markets, including Europe, the U.S., Australia, Vietnam, and India, hit an all-time high. Tourism arrivals from Australia went up 87%, while the U.S. experienced a surge of over 64%.

For the first quarter of this year (January-March), Japan welcomed over 8.5 million tourists. During this period, international travelers collectively spent JPY1.8 trillion ($12 billion), averaging approximately JPY210,000 ($1,358) per person per stay — a record-breaking figure.

As Japan aims to attract 60 million foreign visitors annually by 2030, the country looks to surpass its pre-pandemic high of 32 million arrivals by 2025 .

In 2023, Japan hosted around 25 million visitors, who collectively spent a record JPY5.3 trillion ($34 billion), with an average tourist spending approximately JPY210,000 ($1,360) per stay.

The China Focus

As Chinese arrivals are still below pre-Covid levels, Japan has been wanting to increase tourism numbers from China.

On Monday, China’s biggest online travel company Trip.com Group announced that it will be working with Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) to support the recovery and growth of Japan’s tourism industry.

As a leading global travel service provider, https://t.co/QnNAnxosSn Group has been working closely with the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and various Japanese prefectures to support the recovery and growth of Japan's tourism industry. With a focus on attracting… pic.twitter.com/odRfr4ai2b — Trip.com Group (@tripcomgroup) April 15, 2024

“With a focus on attracting affluent Chinese travelers aged 20-40, our collaborative efforts aim to showcase Japan’s natural beauty, rich culture, and diverse experiences,” the company said in a release.

In 2023, Trip.com Group noted encouraging signs of recovery, with passenger numbers reaching 58% of 2019 levels.

Japan Digital Nomad Visa

This month, Japan also introduced the digital nomad visa tailored for remote workers, requiring a minimum annual income of JPY 10 million ($68,300) to qualify.

Citizens from 49 countries and territories with either a tax treaty or reciprocal visa-exemption with Japan, including all EU nations, U.S., UK, Turkey, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore, can apply.

Holders of the digital nomad visa can stay in Japan for up to six months.

Applicants must be tourists working remotely for overseas companies or freelancing for international clients. They must possess private health insurance. Accompanying spouses and children are permitted to stay for the duration of the visa.

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Tags: asia monthly , asia newsletter , china , coronavirus recovery , currency , japan , japan national tourism organization , tourism , trip.com group

Photo credit: Japan's famed cherry blossoms. Yu Kato / Unsplash

Noto tourist hotspots prepare to reopen

Popular tourist spots in quake-hit Suzu City and Shika Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, are gearing up to welcome tourists for the spring holiday week.

Observatory in Suzu City

An observatory in Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is preparing to open for the first time since the Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year's Day. Though the observatory survived the quake undamaged, the city was devastated and the observatory manager, Tone Shuichi, decided to keep the facility closed.

But Tone says that construction workers and volunteers have recently been stopping by the observatory to take a break and enjoy the view of the Sea of Japan from the Cape Suzu.

So Tone and his team have been cleaning the observatory and restocking the gift shop to prepare for its reopening on April 27, the start of the spring holiday.

Tone says he wants people to see the beauty of Noto and not just think of the earthquake and the damage it did.

Sightseeing boats in Shika Town

Elsewhere on the peninsula, preparations are underway for the return of sightseeing boats at Noto Kongo in time for the spring holidays. The boats have been out of action since the earthquake.

Noto Kongo is a scenic coastal spot with a series of steep rocky cliffs. The sightseeing boats usually start operating in March each year, but a tsunami triggered by the quake damaged two of the three boats and forced the owners to delay the start of the season.

The operators say the third, undamaged boat will begin making trips in time for the spring holiday, and workers are now repainting the boats to prepare for the first guests.

Kidani Shigeyuki, the Noto Kongo Pleasure Boat operator, says the seabed in the area is estimated to have risen 20 centimeters due to the earthquake, but it is deep enough for the boats to operate.

Kidani says, "We would be happy if the people who return to their hometowns for the spring holiday also board the boat and find peace of mind."

But a popular cave, Ganmon, in Noto Kongo has been closed due to falling rocks caused by the earthquake, and the prefectural government said there is no prospect of reopening it.