Japan to end COVID-19 border controls on May 8

Arrival queue to enter Japan just will be longer after May since Japan just not prepared to the influx of people after pandemic being lifted, even when Japan really eager to get benefit from Tourism.

https://loyaltylobby.com/2022/12/27/chaos-at-tokyo-haneda-airport-strands-arriving-passengers-overnight-as-all-public-transport-stops-at-midnight/

Even as a pro-vaccine person I always thought the vaccine requirement was a bit odd given that they don’t stop transmission but help alleviate symptoms.

Finally

"Two weeks to flatten the curve" was the clarion call of the authoritarian power-grabbers. People easily gave up basic freedoms for the illusion of "safety".

It's about time to fully return to normal living, and to prevent the state from repeating such a power grab.

Really should have an eye on the Chinese. They are leaving in the million to Canada and Ecuador and crossing into the USA as illegals immigrants. Escaping from the Marxist regime.

Better late than never!

Back to pre-covid days... ish. Nice!

Lines at immigration and customs are as long as 4 hours now, Narita has become crowded with people who were delayed so long that they miss the last trains and buses leaving the airport, and have to spend the night sleeping on the floor.

The entire regime of restrictions were always pointless, the vaccines neither protect one from catching COVID, nor do they prevent one from passing it to others, and even the negative test requirement is pointless as the virus has around a 2 week incubation period.

Those countries which enacted the strictest measures have fared no better than countries which enacted few or no restrictions. But political “reality” is not based on information or facts, but hype and poll numbers.

It's about time; even my Japanese wife said so. Now, if we can have these expensive airfares lowered too, due to Japan's strict COVID restrictions.

Rest of the world stopped fussing about it a year ago

Well, not the "rest of the world". A few people continued to fuss about it even up to now.

Finally

Now, if we can have these expensive airfares lowered too

I agree, my mum is dying with terminal cancer, I want to see her, but the flight cost is a big roadblock. Luckily I have PR status, so the entry process was only an hour or less. I later spoke to some tourists, it took them 2-3 hours. When the borders open properly, the airports will be overwhelmed.

when I returned in January, the officials didn’t care about my expensive Covid test. Just the QR code on my keitai. I didn’t have it as my battery was flat, so I had to fill in some paper forms. Then OK.

Arrival queue to enter Japan just will be longer after May since Japan just not prepared to the influx of people... 

Narita seemed very well “prepared” when I returned in January. Horribly well prepared. Dozens of staffers whose only job was to wave us along the concourse. But the immigration counter was massively understaffed. Re-entry took over half an hour of waiting with only 2 windows. The visitor line was massive and not moving. The Japanese citizens counter was massively staffed by officers who had nothing to do. What a mess!

Rather than unprepared, Japan’s officials are massively disorganized and inefficient.

Yeah...no....if one takes a trip out of Japan it's easy to see that indeed the "rest of the world" is not fussing about it, 

Like I said; A few people continued to fuss about it even up to now.,.

I would be livid if I got myself or my children 'vaccinated' just because I believed I would be allowed so-called easier access to travel with some lind of pass, or easier inbound restrictions to save a little money. Especially now with the WHO changing their recommendations for children and young people or otherwise healthy people against having themb9t just to consider. I wonder why they changed them?

Of course for very elderly or immunocomprimised people, I would understand.

Hope this bring down costly air tickets. A real benefit and boost for tourists.

Having made trips in and out during the whole pandemic

I would propose thatit is far easier to travel now.

Came back Feb and even though I hadn’t a QR code and hadn’t 3 doses, it still was fast.

The Customs form took the most time of all….

I don't know about all the other countries, but all in all, Japan has done far better than others.

Why people keep trotting this line out?

Far better in what way?

@Roy Soph.

 Half an hour waiting time was quite regular 

Not for re-entry (or Japanese citizens), it certainly wasn't.

Up to 40% of the security staff quit during the pandemic. 

So what. I was talking about the immigration inspection officials. Japanese civil servants dont get laid off as a rule, in case you didnt know. The private security security staff were in full force, Narita was crawling with them.

It would be nice if you read posts before criticizing them.

 you have to look at countries with subpar health care and reporting to get to significantly lower deaths than Japan.

Yes, interesting to find Japan among the "subpar reporting" bracket. Why, oh why could that be?

Good news! I feel a bit silly my wife made my son take on more vaccine...

In February there were still many people (non Japanese) wearing masks at international airports I passed.

The passport control was a bit slow as they were checking several things - vaccination record/app, re-entry permit, finger prints scan, etc. But it's always crowded at certain times with 2-3 flights arriving around same time.

Don't hold your breath for cheaper flights. Right now you can't find Economy seats till the end of the year - all are sold and the semi-flex cost about 200'000 and up to Europe. With more demand I don't see how it will become cheaper...

Hervé L'EisaToday  

"Two weeks to flatten the curve" was the clarion call of the authoritarian power-grabbers. People easily gave up basic freedoms for the illusion of "safety". 

It's about time to fully return to normal living, and to prevent the state from repeating such a power grab.

i’m sorry to say this but that was just the beginning. The above was just chum

Roll on May 8, mate. I was never jabbed, caught the Rona which was no worse than a cold.

"Currently, all entrants are required to present certification of three COVID-19 doses or a negative coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of departure."

Not accurate.

I was never jabbed, caught the Rona which was no worse than a cold.

There are 6.9 million or so souls who think you were very lucky.

This is good news but personally frustrating. I arrive on May 2nd so have to have a completely unnecessary 3rd vaccination before I leave. I could get a negative certificate but that is now hard with Covid testing consigned to the distant past.

And after posting that I discover that I am not eligible for a 3rd booster dose of vaccination.

Get the Covid test then-easy!

Get the Covid test then-easy!

I agree, it's a better option, especially with all of the new recommendations being released about the risks posed by boosters over not having them for some cohorts. However, unfortunately many countries are no longer doing the PCR test, or at least, if they are, they are expensive or really hard or out of the way to find and organize.

I would actually think about postponing the trip back but understand that Gareth may not have that luxury.

@Gareth Myles

You don't need any proof of vaccination to enter Japan depending on which country you're coming from.

Accurate. My wife (Japanese national) just flew back to Japan a week ago. Before she was handed her ticket at the JAL counter she had to show proof of vaccination using the Visit Japan website.

Not accurate.

Let's get one thing straight: there is no legitimate reason it should have taken this long. The Japanese government took too long to eliminate quarantine on arrival, took too long to allow tourism again, and took too long to remove the "vaccine-or-negative test" requirement. As a foreign resident living in Japan, I have personally dealt with the ramifications of said policies for three and a half years. I was separated from my family in the United States for two and a half. There is absolutely no excuse for such horrendous, irresponsible, and chaotic policy. I wanted to believe in Japan and support this country, but my faith in them and respect for their decision-making has bottomed out. I am also thoroughly disgusted by everyone who engaged in mental gymnastics to justify these policies or downplay the harm they have produced. They have truly lost all credibility.

But it is finally over. I'm ready to move on, and I hope others can do the same. I want to finally experience the side of the Japan not dominated by excessive Covid-19 paranoia.