You can’t run before you walk. This was announced as beginning in April 2021, but that date has almost certainly been pushed back at least one month. Japan is planning to finally take a step in reopening its borders to all countries as it starts allowing foreign residents and students to return in October after its borders closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic back in March. Additionally, everyone entering Japan must undergo a mandatory quarantine at a designated location and may not use public transportation for 14 days upon arrival. This comes as new cases are declining, but officials are stressing the necessity of vigilance as the medical system continues to be strained. Now, inbound tourism could reportedly resume in spring 2021. No timeline has been revealed for the general public. If you’re aiming for sakura season (late March to early April 2021 in most popular spots), that’s definitely overzealous. It will just take Japan’s case numbers declining, vaccines starting to be rolled out, and trepidations easing. 01 Min Read . In order for that to happen, Japan needs at least a couple months of a “soft opening” to test and adjust the new system. Despite the cautious, slow-moving approach elsewhere, Japan will do everything possible not to cancel or postpone the Olympics again. When will Japan lift its travel ban and reopen for international tourists? In so doing, the central government has urged people to stay at home as much as possible, and requested bars and restaurants to close early. Our recommendation at this point is the beginning of May 2021 at the absolute earliest. Moreover, we are certain–based upon our extensive experiences in the country–that Japan has the resources, ingenuity, and dedication necessary to successfully bring such a system to fruition. It seems like a good route for minimizing the risk but still allowing in tourists and their money. Prime Minister Scott Morrison will discuss international borders at National Cabinet this week, and even hinted at the countries Australia could open … At present, it should be noted that all foreign nationalities are barred from visiting Japan for tourism purposes. Approximately 1.35 trillion yen was earmarked for the “Go To Travel” campaign to jumpstart domestic travel among Japanese residents. It does seem like the scales have tipped away from that in the last month, though. Japan has already entered a recession, with the outlook for the next year-plus only looking optimistic if reopening can proceed. Given the latest updates and extended restrictions through March 7, 2021, we are skeptical about the timing of this plan. A small price to pay for sports fans keen finally see some IRL action next year. The travel bans are currently in effect indefinitely. As noted above, so much right now is riding on the Olympics. Elderly people will likely start getting inoculated in late March 2021, to be followed by people with underlying health conditions in April 2021. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan has stated that the reopening of Bali could be delayed until the end of 2020. AAP news.com.au June 2, 2020 10:23am If the Summer Games are cancelled, all bets are off. This has further fanned the flames on a debate about whether the Olympics should be held at all. The Virus in Japan is so far under control, but to open the borders will make the things worse. International borders open for tourism purposes since August 12; While 14-day self-quarantine is mandatory for all incoming international passengers, you can take a COVID test during the stay to cut short your quarantine. (Avoid Golden Week, which is April 29 to May 5, 2021.). Prior to Japan declaring its first state of emergency, we planned on traveling to Japan for sakura season, staying for a couple of months for research and additions to our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto. To make sure things are working for its own population and that numbers remain low as places start to slowly open. What we do know is that throughout the last year, Japan has frequently denied and delayed action (or cancellation) until the absolute last possible minute. Reopening Japan’s borders to foreign residents was step one of their phased process. But the turnout was disappointingly-low. Try another? Once resumed, foreign residents are allowed to reenter Japan, albeit with quarantine and testing requirements. To get into the country right now, you must either be a foreign resident of Japan or meet ‘special-circumstance’ requirements. The number of travelers to Japan has plunged in recent months, with visitors down 99.9% year over year in the last several months. Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga promised “to deliver hope and courage to the world” by hosting the Olympic Games. Japan might open its borders in early 2021, weeks, or months before the Tokyo Olympics. And since October 1, anyone with permission to stay for three months or longer has also been able to travel to the country. Your email address will not be published. Instead, they’ll be required to report their health status through the health management app for 14 days after entering Japan. For the last year, we’ve been closely watching the improvements in Japan, hoping for some clarity as to when the country will fully reopen and Japan will begin allowing international tourists to enter once again. Any questions? Once these safety measures are in place, the government plans to lift Japan’s travel ban on foreign tourists on a trial basis. COVID-19 It’s also possible that Japan further accelerates these plans and moves forward the trial entry date for arrivals from select countries. However, the Tokyo Olympics are a very big deal to Japan and the country’s economic prospects. Now Japan has started to welcome back at least some international travellers too. The STV was launched in late October 2020, and Thai authorities had hoped that the influx of foreign tourists would help boost local tourism. Required fields are marked *, https://www.travelcaffeine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chureito-pagoda-mount-fuji-fall-colors-autumn-foliage-japan-bricker.jpg, https://www.travelcaffeine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/logo.jpg. However, the officials concede that there are still many issues to be resolved before this system is deployed and the ban on foreign tourists is lifted–even on a trial basis. Where can you travel right now? While now set to last until March 7, 2021, the state of emergency will be lifted in prefectures that see new cases and hospitalizations improve dramatically will be taken off the list early. For example, it is totally okay to quarantine at a friend’s place? The idea is that entry bans will be lifted before the scheduled Tokyo Olympic Games next summer. While Japan’s reopening has occurred in fits and starts thus far, we remain optimistic that a further acceleration will occur. In 7 years, that number more than quadrupled. I hope Japan keep its borders closed. We also recommend consulting our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto and Ultimate Guide to Tokyo to plan. Latest Japan Coronavirus News. Rules for travel in the country have relaxed for some, while all international visitors could be allowed in by April 2021. Many of Japan’s decisions–or lack thereof–the last several months have been driven by fear of cultural outsiders and indecisiveness. However, even that’s an “if.” So many unknowns remain, a lot is still in flux, and things change on a weekly basis. Originally, the Governor of Bali announced that the island will be reopening its borders for international tourism on … Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? Once I hear they’ll allow that, finding a vaccination provider will be the next item on my to-do list. The Health Center will likely be established in Tokyo, which makes sense as both the capital and the host city for the Summer Olympics. Last year, Japan’s tourism numbers were up to a record 31.9 million visitors. To that end, Japanese leaders have expressed a desire to balance being diligent against spread with considering how to resume international travel.