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Japan's summer holidays in full swing with lack of COVID restrictions

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Nice to see people travelling again.

30 ( +42 / -12 )

When will pre departure PCR tests be dropped for fully vaccinated people coming from blue list countries?

3 ( +22 / -19 )

You exclude foreigners, but let Japanese people leave the country to get the virus back in.

-5 ( +19 / -24 )

When will pre departure PCR tests be dropped for fully vaccinated people coming from blue list countries?

Tests should be dropped for everybody.

31 ( +41 / -10 )

factcheckerToday  05:19 pm JST

When will pre departure PCR tests be dropped for fully vaccinated people coming from blue list countries?

Vacccination status is not relevant to the test. The test restrictions have already been loosened, e.g. You can print the result yourself. So hopefully before the end of the year it will be forgotten…

10 ( +16 / -6 )

Natsuki Kato, who was heading to the western prefecture of Hiroshima, said, "I want to avoid crowds"

So I'm taking my family to the packed Tokyo station at the same time as everyone else in the most densely populated city in the world.

None of that thinking for myself nonsense. The swarm decides.

-6 ( +16 / -22 )

the full swing holiday rush station platform is less crowded than the everyday rushhour platforms (and trains) of the last year and a half....

beach and environs was packed today (all crammed together within the cordoned "safety" area..... cheek by jowl, and many jowls unmasked.... good to see people enjoying!

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

I hope everyone enjoys themselves, though it's really irritating from a completely selfish point of view, to see people traveling abroad without restrictions, yet no reciprocation from the Japanese government for non Japanese wanting to enter Japan, really.

-5 ( +26 / -31 )

Is there any truth to the fact that Japanese can travel abroad freely while the rest of us tourist wanting to travel to Japan is not allowed? If so, thats crazy!

14 ( +28 / -14 )

Good.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Natsuki Kato, who was heading to the western prefecture of Hiroshima, said, "I want to avoid crowds"

So I'm taking my family to the packed Tokyo station at the same time as everyone else in the most densely populated city in the world.

None of that thinking for myself nonsense. The swarm decides.

And of course, People in the west dont travel during Thanksgiving or Summer, Christmas hoildays?

None of that thinking before posting nonsense. Just bashing.

-20 ( +5 / -25 )

though it's really irritating from a completely selfish point of view, to see people traveling abroad without restrictions, yet no reciprocation from the Japanese government for non Japanese wanting to enter Japan, really.

Japans borders Japans choice.

-33 ( +6 / -39 )

Is there any truth to the fact that Japanese can travel abroad freely while the rest of us tourist wanting to travel to Japan is not allowed? If so, thats crazy!

Yes, unless you can get yourself a business visa and pass a stupid PCR test. All when covid is already here and being spread by the very same Japanese to who you refer.

1 ( +28 / -27 )

Lol, the Japanese freely travel overseas as they are so special it seems, meanwhile the borders to their homeland are closed and do they give a monkeys, not on your life. Makes me want to spew, but hey happy obon

-2 ( +26 / -28 )

Look at the picture. See how everyone is wearing masks?

-25 ( +5 / -30 )

Remember everyone according to the cdc 1/5 get long Covid and some of those people go on to get disability. Japan like the United States is going starkly against the public health guidelines.

-12 ( +5 / -17 )

Good to see folk are opening their eyes and the mass covid fear is clearly over. Japan has been well behind the curve but is slowly getting it. Hundreds of thousands of cases a day and folk are out in force and ready to holiday. There goes the fear ;)

Sadly the mask wearing is still widespread despite the fact record global cases for weeks now show they are not working. Again reality is slowly sinking in on that front as you can't deny the reality forever.

On the positive side, all those travelling overseas will be able to lose the mask without feeling the social pressure of having to wear it, especially outside. I'm sure they will appreciate that sense of freedom and going to places where not only are masks not worn, but there are far fewer covid cases. Good times!

-3 ( +14 / -17 )

Statistically nationally deaths due to Covid outnumber hospitalizations….. seems our statistics follow the narrative too that people are being turned away from hospitals. I’ve had it happen to me twice when calling the ambulance.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Reservations for domestic flights, operated by All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, are at about 80 percent of passenger levels in 2019.

Flying is much more reasonable. People keep their masks on, unlike on the shinkansen.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

What worries me here is in the 21st Century , if those in the general populace neither strive to question the direction / policies of 鎖国 (sakoku) in all but name, or laud the merits of restricting the entry to Japan of so many who had looked forward to rejoining family members, taking up Uni places, embarking on new work placements ,investing in the myriad of cultural exchange opportunities, then there are so many many more fundamental questions to be asked ........ But then again , if you take what you hear / read as gospel , then there perhaps lie the problems......... and here we are talking about those who are allies / fans of Japan and its amazing and beautiful nation ! Can 'objectivity' be crowdfunded btw ??

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

"Although I am worried about COVID-19, I'm scheduled to depart Japan hopefully without a hitch," said Hiroko Sakamoto, 34, from Kawasaki who was due to fly to France to attend a sporting event. "I want to enjoy my stay and avoid getting sick or hurt."

And you are right to be afraid of Covid, but what's more likely given Japan's rates is that you will spread it in France. In any case, imagine if your nation were as welcoming of people who desired to come here as France is, which is open to you, who are afraid of getting sick while there.

-9 ( +14 / -23 )

Japans borders Japans choice.

It's not North Korea, which does not have relations with the rest of the world. Japan belongs to the G7, G20, OECD yet thinks they're a cut above and not part of the global community, except when it suits them.

-4 ( +14 / -18 )

The continuing border restrictions are an absolute disgrace. Not only can my family still not come to visit (my mum would be coming with her 30+ year partner but he is not eligible), but because of the lack of flights, it also makes it prohibitively expensive for many of us in Japan to travel abroad. It just makes no sense whatsoever, unless of course, you are doing it to score points with your xenophobic voters.

Anyway, I'm surprised anybody actually took any notice of the recommendations not to travel domestically - again - a rule that didn't make much sense when the virus had already spread to every prefecture in the country. Stay in Tokyo and pack the shopping malls, trains and streets - sounds to me a worse idea for spreading the virus than getting out to the countryside. If you are unknowingly infected you might spread it to someone in a small village where further spread would be self limiting - stay in the city and spread it to dozens of people and on it goes in the densely packed area. Just another restriction that when you think about it, didn't make much sense.

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

factchecker.....

When will pre departure PCR tests be dropped for fully vaccinated people coming from blue list countries?

Its just a pantomime to put people off traveling. As others have said, the MOFA form no longer needs a doctor to sign. Just fill it out yourself and you are good to go.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

I guarantee you the numbers will go crazy sky high!! Here in the US people walk around with no mask on the numbers are going up. The sad part is those with the virus knowingly WILL NOT TELL YOU they have it so you are at your own mercy! My advice wear a mask and wash your hands frequently.

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

…and lack of tourists. Oh well.

Good luck to the people in those businesses, they’re going to need it, if there’s anyone LEFT

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

As I type this, I'm waiting for the spa/onsen to die down at the hotel I'm staying at in Kanazawa. Evertime I go into use, its jammed packed with fem boys blow drying their hair and just being absolute jerks, standing in my way. Might be midnight before its quiet enough. Last thing I want is to be in the sauna with these immature jerks yelling at each other.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

Everyone forgets that hospitals are overflowing with coronavirus cases and so everyone who travels is selfish. Only strong political leadership and bringing back the state of emergency will reverse this course. For a leadership example, Japanese government should look to what President Trump did by authorizing the research and deployment of vaccines in his brilliantly thought out Operation Warpspeed.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Covid belongs in the past but in Japan it is the present like many things here…

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

G&T I agree 100%

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

People want to pretend Covid does not exist but right now it’s literally the worst it’s ever been and I’ve been having complications ever since I got sick and I’m not the only one. Stay safe.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Such blatant racism. Japanese people can go in and out of the country while foreigners have to jump through all kinds of hoops and bureaucracy. Shame on the government.

0 ( +11 / -11 )

I should have been more specific, sorry, I meant FOREIGN Tourists.

Doesn’t matter, you can’t come in anyway

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

Lack of COVID restrictions? Hmm..Isn’t that kind of a strong opinion for an information source?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

lack of COVID restrictions

Except for:

・Cancelation of all visa-free travel into the country, and only giving travel visas to very specific groups after signing something that force them to "take Covid-19 prevention measures" which basically is an almost 24 hours mask mandate for foreigners.

・Mandatory PCR-test when entering the country, and some times even quarantine, because you are coming from a country that has less corona cases than Japan, because even at a point it was the No.1 country with active cases in the world in the last 2 weeks, and have left stranded many people that tested positive while asymptomatic.

・Border entrance quotas that have made international travel even more expensive than with just the obscene increase in the surcharges that when up like 500% this year.

・Visitations in hospitals not being allowed except for very "special circumstances", which basically means you won't probably will be able to stay with your family if you are about to die in the hospital.

・Schools that continue to close all the time because someone in the school got covid.

・Sport teams getting reprimanded because their fans violated "covid 19 measures" by being "too loud".

・Even if it is against the WHO recommendations, not being able to exercise in a Gym without having it become a mountain climbing training by forcing you to use a mask.

・People being discriminated and humiliated if they commit the horrible crime of not being able to wear a mask because of medical reasons.

・People with hearing disabilities feeling hopeless and completely disconnected from the rest of the world because they are not able to read anyone's lips.

・Kids having anxiety attacks if they don't have a mask, many hiding themselves for the second that they remove their mask to eat, and going to the point that they do not even listen to their superiors asking them to take off the masks in order to exercise.

But outside of that, no restrictions at all.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Such blatant racism. Japanese people can go in and out of the country while foreigners have to jump through all kinds of hoops and bureaucracy.

You've got a very clear misunderstanding of the situation. It's not a Japanese vs. foreigner thing, if you are a foreigner with residence in Japan, they treat you the same as the Japanese. You're pulling the racism card, when it's not an issue of race.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

It's like US... almost. At least they wear masks in Japan.

Traveling through the US this week and it's like Covid never existed.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Nobody is disputing that its Japan,s choice, kenny....but people are correctly pointing out the unfairness and hypocrisy of the policy which allows J-travellers go in and out freely.

Foreign residents are free to come and go under the same rules. So how is this a problem?

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Jeesh. Careless. I for one will be staying home until this nightmare is over.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

You're pulling the racism card, when it's not an issue of race.

It is one of Xenophobia. Residents are the ingroup, nonresidents are the outgroup.

The outgroup is discriminated without any good rationale. Xenophobia.

Not only that, currently in order to become a resident as a foreigner, your visa sponsor has to sign a paper saying that they will force you to follow the COVID-19 measures, something that residents before this do not have to endure.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Stay in town and go see a movie instead

https://youtu.be/R9cYJyxci7U

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

gintonicToday  11:08 am JST

Nobody is disputing that its Japan,s choice, kenny....but people are correctly pointing out the unfairness and hypocrisy of the policy which allows J-travellers go in and out freely.

Foreign residents are free to come and go under the same rules. So how is this a problem?"

Nobody is talking about foreign residents unable to go out... ( even ignoring Japan,s sky high summer infection numbers ) what is being called out is that J-govt rationale for keeping the border closed to individual foreign tourists is to supposedly stop the spread of covid. Yet, Japanese tourists can go to country XYZ for however long they want , mingle with the locals, attend large scale sports events, concerts..whatever and come back with no restrictions whatsoever. How are they in any way different level of risk from individual foreign tourists coming from the same countries J-tourists are returning from ? If stopping covid spread is the primary objective of the govt policy, how is this in any way fair or rational ?

Says a man of fairness, sounds different LOL

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

It is one of Xenophobia. Residents are the ingroup, nonresidents are the outgroup.

The outgroup is discriminated without any good rationale. Xenophobia.

You can't reject re-entry of residents.. plus estimated medical capacity... plus no obligation to treat residents in a sovereign nation equally with others.... and maybe slow motion... lol.

Nobody is talking about foreign residents unable to go out... ( even ignoring Japan,s sky high summer infection numbers ) what is being called out is that J-govt rationale for keeping the border closed to individual foreign tourists is to supposedly stop the spread of covid. Yet, Japanese tourists can go to country XYZ for however long they want , mingle with the locals, attend large scale sports events, concerts..whatever and come back with no restrictions whatsoever. How are they in any way different level of risk from individual foreign tourists coming from the same countries J-tourists are returning from ? If stopping covid spread is the primary objective of the govt policy, how is this in any way fair or rational ?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It is one of Xenophobia. Residents are the ingroup, nonresidents are the outgroup.

The outgroup is discriminated without any good rationale.

"Without any good rationale"? Someone isn't smart enough to realize we're going through a global pandemic.

That's entirely good rationale. It's one of the ways Japan kept an EXTREMELY low death rate from Covid.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

It is one of Xenophobia. Residents are the ingroup, nonresidents are the outgroup.

The outgroup is discriminated without any good rationale. Xenophobia.

> > Nobody is talking about foreign residents unable to go out... ( even ignoring Japan,s sky high summer infection numbers ) what is being called out is that J-govt rationale for keeping the border closed to individual foreign tourists is to supposedly stop the spread of covid. Yet, Japanese tourists can go to country XYZ for however long they want , mingle with the locals, attend large scale sports events, concerts..whatever and come back with no restrictions whatsoever. How are they in any way different level of risk from individual foreign tourists coming from the same countries J-tourists are returning from ? If stopping covid spread is the primary objective of the govt policy, how is this in any way fair or rational ?

You can't reject re-entry of residents.. plus estimated medical capacity... plus no obligation to treat residents in a sovereign nation equally with others.... and maybe slow motion... lol.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

People want to pretend Covid does not exist but right now it’s literally the worst it’s ever been and I’ve been having complications ever since I got sick and I’m not the only one. Stay safe

……

Nobody is pretending anything!

Hiwever, the risk of death is not high and the current variant is not going to be a problem for the majority of people.

I’ve had the virus a few times now and barely even notice…

>

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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