Kishida says Japan will ease COVID border controls from Oct 11

Japan's insistence that visitors obtain visas to enter the country and then adhere to planned, package tours has been a major sticking point.

All those people who bought packaged tours must be so angry right now lol.

"We are a nation that has flourished through the free flow of people, goods and capital," Kishida said on Thursday.

LOL

And how is it that Kishida is playing NYSE gavel thumper sans mask?

Maybe he knows that it is just a game?

Better news but still need to see the details. Certain countries?

I'll bet the vaccinated dose stays at 3 doses and mySOS is still required. Japan is a snail when it comes to change.

I just got back from the UK, arriving at Osaka. The procedure at the airport was a farce, teams of people waiting to usher only a few passengers to each stage to check we had used mySOS correctly and our health was good. The only consolation to this is that it took just 10 minutes from leaving the plane to reach the arrival lobby.

Japan should open up like the UK and have no restrictions. These current limitations are simply pandering to the elderly population here who tend to carry the votes.

"We are a nation that has flourished through the free flow of people, goods and capital," Kishida said on Thursday.

Satire?

Open borders, end all restrictions.

"We are a nation that has flourished through the free flow of people, goods and capital," Kishida said on Thursday.

Face palm

The main thing is that they are getting rid of the visa and tour requirements. The triple-vaccinated requirement is obviously not ideal, but my guess is that will also be removed a few months to a year from now. We won't quite get back to pre-pandemic levels of travel here - mainly due to the absence of Chinese tourists, partly because of vaccination requirements, partly because quite a few will have been put off of Japan over the last few years and also a small number who won't want to come and have to wear a mask everywhere.

Speaking of masks - well, it will be nice to see the back of them, but they are not going anywhere soon here in Japan. It has gone from being a sensible precaution early in the pandemic to become a kind of cult-like nationalistic obsession at this point. I think it will be at least a year before people start removing them to any great extent and it could even go on for many more years.

I'm all for international tourism, but don't say something like "Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the U.S". Over 1 million people died in the US due to Covid. The US is the antithesis of prudent pandemic handling. The name "US" sends shivers up my spine when it comes to Covid measures with all its internal dissonance and conflicts.

@The Avenger

Yeah all 38 of them, lol

Finally getting rid of the tour package requirement! Happy days!

Looking forward to being able to show my family members around Japan without all the restrictions that were in place.

Why is he not wearing a mask? Is that only necessary when he returns to his hotel.

What does mean certain countries ? Why not all countries ?

Each country is evaluated as to their covid levels. If one has more cases than they are comfortable with, they will cut off travel from that country.

Young people in Shibuya and Roppongi literally don't care.

Agreed - although I'm probably a bit old for going clubbing in Shibuya now! Aside from the border restrictions and the mask-wearing which has gone on for too long now, I think Japan wasn't generally a bad place to be over the pandemic - I've had some great times and domestic trips over the last couple of years!

You must be triple vaccinated with a vaccine that is approved by Japan to enter.

*Not exactly. I don't know if you've entered the country in the past few months (I actually have), but it is certainly nowhere near as effortless as pre-Covid. Sure, setting up the app and entering the information is reasonable enough. It's once you land and get off the plane that the problems start. Walking around Haneda Airport in a giant circle for thirty minutes, while lugging heavy bags, showing your blue screen to everyone, having extra sets of people check documents before you even get to immigration, is completely unnecessary and tiresome. They have entire gates of the airport unused by airline companies, just so they can check documents. In August, they had the A/C in the airport turned way down, so it was absurdly hot and I was covered in sweat by the end of it. I can applaud Japan for somewhat moving in the right direction for once; but do not try to pretend that this is sensible policy-making.*

What utter drivel. I am no fan of Japan’s ridiculous xenophobic Covid policies but this is just nonsense. Arrived in August, did not walk around Haneda in a circle, was not lugging heavy bags neither - you go through quarantine and immigration before luggage reclaim. Showed the blue screen to a worker before going to quarantine to check I was ready before entering, therefore avoiding delays at the desk, sounds sensible to me. And no, no extra document checks at immigration, just my landing card and the blue slip of paper handed to me at quarantine. Your experience was VERY different to mine. I wonder why?

My issue was the appalling experience of the airline I used, and their non existent customer service, but can’t blame that on the government.

From October 11, Japan will restore individual tourism and visa-waiver travel to people from certain countries as long as they are vaccinated.

What does that mean?

3,4,5 or 6 times dosed with some genetic program?

Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, second left, uses a gavel while ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.

Let me show them, Japanese and American, who really calls the shots in the system I have coined "New Capitalism".

From October 11, Japan will restore individual tourism and visa-waiver travel to people from certain countries as long as they are vaccinated.

As others have mentioned this is still a big no-go. My guess is that those not vaccinated will still have to undergo a pre-flight COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to flying to Japan. They still don't seem to get it.

Good news.

However, Prime Minister Kishida seems to love an event/a scenario where he can be the centre of attention.

Flying to NY for this event, but then using it as a platform for his own publicity. Really a show off. It's as if he thinks he should be congratulated on this decision, when for months and months, he's made it problematic for people from other counties to enter Japan in a normal, hassle free way.

It hasn't been a deadly period because of Covid, it's the vaccines (especially boosters) killing people. It is classified as a covid-related death though. Cannot blame the vaccines, never question the vaccines.

I am going to guess you have a Facebook account, a Twitter account, premium TikTok and saw bigfoot out and about yesterday. No proof = rubbish.

Japan will have to scrap proof of vaccination as the sheer number of arrivals won’t allow for checking.

Nope. You show your vaccination certificate when you check in with the airline before arriving in Japan. I have even showed mine at baggage drop-off counters (after doing check in at home online). The process was hardly any different or time consuming than in the pre-pandemic era.

Japan Violet

The airports will descend into chaos

I cleared Narita in about 20 minutes about a month ago when conditions were stricter. The longest wait was at the baggage carousal,

Only when Japan will not require PCR test and all…

Japan doesn't require a PCR test if you're vaccinated.

Great news! In time for the ski season too.

With a global recession, no Chinese, and high airfares, the country is not going to be "overrun" and overtourism won't be an issue for some time. The important thing is to get the country open again and some money coming in for all the people that used to serve the 3 million a month tourists Japan was getting right up to February 2020. That was lots of people's incomes, and lots of investment had gone into it. No visas also make it much easier for those with friends and family in Japan to visit. Don't let fears of overtourism or antivaxxers ruin what should be a moment of celebration.

Such toxic comments, there’s plenty of other places to visit if you don’t like the entry requirements. Problem solved .

Excellent news.

As for the requirements, they’re no more arduous that the requirements for non resident tourists in the states.

Get vaccinated, take a test or don’t come and we really don’t care which you choose.

At a certain point we simply need to ask ourselves: "Why are we still doing this? What are we gaining from this?"

I don't think anyone is arguing that Japan's immigration procedures have been outdated and redundant for quite some time.

You seem to have had a partcuarly bad experience, but was it because you didn't prepare for your return thoroughly?

Personally, I knew that if I didn't get through Narita quickly I'd probably have to spend the night in Tokyo, so I made sure I knew exactly what I had to do before I arrived. And after 20 hours in the air I really wanted my own bed!

Be assured, the vaccination requirement will remain. Non-vaccinated people are more likely to need expensive hospital care. Nobody checked for travel insurance when I visited in August which surprised me.

Why so many grumble bums here! Fantastic news, let’s join the rest of the world. I’m waitin’ to snag some cheap flights home and family can visit us. Hooray!!

Yea! I'm going to Tokyo Disneyland!!!

Reopening when Europeans can't pay their energy bills anymore, Chinese can't exit their country and famine about to occur worldwide in the next 3 months, and they hope for a recovery?

No need to shout about. The restriction is still there on the 3 Japan approved doses of vaccination. Follow WHO list of approved vaccine for entry. Accept any WHO vaccines as long as the 3 doses has been taken.

Japan VioletSep. 23  09:07 am JST

The airports will descend into chaos. The system they have in place at the airport to check all this vaccine or test nonsense will not hold up

No, using the MySOS ap, as clunky and user unfriendly as it is, enables you to enter your vaccine and PCR information before travelling. You just show the screen at quarantine. Took less than a minute.

No, using the MySOS ap, as clunky and user unfriendly as it is, enables you to enter your vaccine and PCR information before travelling. You just show the screen at quarantine. Took less than a minute.

I agree. Most of the requirements could be dealt with even before I got on the plane out of Japan. My negative PCR was blue screened within 2 hours. Narita customs was cleared in record time. Helpful staff were there at every turn.

Compared to the filthy zoo of leaving Manchester airport in England it was wonderful.

I do agree that the AC could be set a bit lower though.

I wouldn't stay at any hotel that requires me to wear a mask while on their premises.

Canada to abandon proof of vaccination, random testing and Arrive Cacan app at the borders, it will be announced officially on Monday septembre 23th.

September 23rd is Friday.

Though, my main concern is: will foreign residents and Japanese people be allowed back into the country without vaccination proof or a negative PCR test?

It makes sense that residents of Japan should be exempted

I think that they may not check you for health insurance, as hospitals don't have any obligation to admit someone without insurance or ability to pay in Japan. If they do, then and the patient cannot pay, it becomes the responsibility of the hospital to file civil litigation to recover any money.

Mixed reaction here. I've been enjoying my domestic trips without the tourist hordes. Being in onsen towns where I'm the only non-Japanese feels like its 1985 again.

Yeah, I know what you mean (except for the 1985 part) but the Covid restrictions had to end at some point.

We had a good run. On the bright side, we have 2 weeks left with two long weekends including this one.

Hopefully Japan will eventually sort out overtourism - I would imagine the locals in Kyoto will have something to say about it after 2 years of solace.

And the people talking about the collapse of the airport systems have either never been here or just don’t know the first thing about how it’s done here.

Slow? Maybe.

Collapse? Don’t make me laugh.

About time ! I've had to cancel one holiday in anticipation of Japan opening up it's borders,

Now looking forward to my 2 holidays to Tokyo next year !

I wrote this on Sep 16th: Just a recap for those who really don't seem to get it:

So - I stick by that. Previous countries who had visa waiver status and in 'blue' group of countries, FULL restoration of independent travel - BUT the SOS app retained with the same entry conditions. Pre Flight PCR OR Three times vaxxed.

Throw my hat in the ring and say 11th October start date,

No - I don't expect hordes of tourists, BUT the fact the airlines have already announced a very large rise in capacity from the Winter Schedules, shows the intent is there.

Frankly, anybody who really wants to visit here isn't going the find the prospect of a PCR test pre journey that daunting and demographics would indicate that they are more likely to be vaxxed in any case- as has been shown by income level/vax status worldwide. These are the people who are more likely to recognise how sensible it was to get jabbed in the first place.

Where Natural Rights of Individuals is concerned the State should have nothing to say about anything, they should be in the business of only protecting Individual Rights, but in today's World there is no country on the planet that's in that business.

@Bob That ship about "defeating covid with the vaccine" sailed a long time ago, but people still seem to hold on to that talking point for some reason. However, it DOES lessen the severity of the symptoms or the death toll would be much higher.

That being said, and like you are saying...people have a choice now. I chose the vax (have never had covid). And you can choose the test. Anyone that can't handle one or the other, at this point, should just stay home.

@Johnken6

Not sure what's with all the anti-vaxxer comments here.

Are people so frustrated that they just lash out at science and public health.

The scientific method includes "rigorous skepticism" not "trust the experts".

Whole of the World is open for Tourism except Japan, The Japanese Govt is quite slow in taking decisions That's why the Japan economy is suffering. I had to cancel my tickets to travel to Japan 3 times. Japan allowed the people from Countries which got free of cost Corona Vaccines from India & are so poor that its citizen hardly go for tourism but Indian Citizens were not allowed. It feels so disgusting.

@wolfshine - Pre Covid, Heathrow was contactless and had been for a long while. US airports have been contactless for a long time too if you have Global Entry.

Japan has always required a stop at immigration unless you were pre registered for the e-gate. You can now whiz through customs with a QR code. I really can't help but think you are making a mountain out of a molehill.

And since when has baggage been 'expensive' to check? I'm not aware of any LCC carriers bar Jet Star and Zip flying into Japan. Suggest you learn to travel with a little less. The airline I travel with internationally give me 2 x 23 KG - minimum. More once you go up a class. What are you traveling with???

I entered London Heathrow airport two months ago as a tourist, not as a resident or citizen. I didn't have to do a quarantine process. I didn't need to upload a PCR negative result, or proof of vaccination, or enter other additional info. I didn't need to walk around quarantine stations in empty airport gates to confirm my "cooperation" with the "stopping Covid cause". Not only that, but the immigration process only required me to scan my passport at an automated gate. Then I was free to go. I didn't even need to talk to anyone. I didn't even need to wear a mask.

Heathrow was like that before Covid. And those automatic passport E gates are only for a select few nationalities. But keep going, I’m sure you’ll come up with a genuine experience soon.

Visa free!

Yeah! Finally. Very nice!

How about the MySOS App?

Still necessary?

@tamanegi - I am assuming it means countries that normally have visa-waiver in place with Japan.

Mixed reaction here. I've been enjoying my domestic trips without the tourist hordes. Being in onsen towns where I'm the only non-Japanese feels like its 1985 again.

@Strangerland

I am no longer surprised at what Japan considers an appropriate response to the Corona virus.

All I know is that the current system with low numbers coming in at present could not be expanded to many times that number.

The question is can the Japanese return to normality or what is normal in most other advanced nations?

My guess is that they won’t be able to.

Be assured, the vaccination requirement will remain. Non-vaccinated people are more likely to need expensive hospital care. Nobody checked for travel insurance when I visited in August which surprised me.

For me, they've got it the wrong way around - they should ask travelers to show proof of travel insurance, not vaccination.

@JeffLee

Japan will have to scrap proof of vaccination as the sheer number of arrivals won’t allow for checking.

Nope. You show your vaccination certificate when you check in with the airline before arriving in Japan. I have even showed mine at baggage drop-off counters (after doing check in at home online). The process was hardly any different or time consuming than in the pre-pandemic era.

I have been back to Japan having been doubly vaccinated when most Japanese were still waiting for their first shot and the quarantine office here were not interested in that proof, only a negative PCR result.

At present, is only the thrice vaccinated that can enter without a PCR check.

You are assuming that a negative PCR test will preclude entry to Japan then?

Mixed reaction here. I've been enjoying my domestic trips without the tourist hordes. Being in onsen towns where I'm the only non-Japanese feels like its 1985 again.

Good for you.

As I've said before those who want to travel to Japan should have just applied for a visa and get it in days, and enjoy their stay practically by themselves, instead of whining here everyday all this time.

But I guess most prefer to come in with everyone else when the border restrictions are relaxed

Incompetent Kishida government increased domestic Covid19 deaths to 2.4 times during only less than 1 year since start of his regime.

People working in tourism, myself included, are delighted at this news. If a tiny percentage of people won't get vaccinated or take a PCR test, so be it. We don't need them. There are many hurdles in coming to Japan, no spare cash, no time to plan before this announcement (most working folks book time off months in advance), and high airfares/lack of good flights are the biggest ones. A PCR test before departure is a tiny hurdle in comparison.

@justhonest, down load the disney wait time app first, then go on a day it’s not busy or you can expect 2 hour waits for a ride

So does this mean that individuals can make their own arrangements (book flights and hotels separately on their own), and go where they want when they want? i.e. back to normal?

Too late...Japan just showing again they're behind the rest of the modern world

@theResident

@theunofficialone: I assume you are just asking a rhetorical vaccine. No - Certainly not. Sinopharm and Sputnik were both utterly useless at even keeping people out of hospital. Nice try though.

Love all the whiners on here who have been going on and on about Japan opening up. Well, now it is. If you really want to come, then pre flight PCR test or being three times vaxxed shouldn't be putting too much out of your way.

You ARE all aware that the US still requires to be non citizens/non residents to be be double vaccinated to enter as a tourist?

I had 2 shots of Sinopharm and 1 shot of Moderna. And I plan to get my 4th shot (Moderna) early next month. It was my mistake to get the Sinopharm in the first place.

As for the US, I'm not a US citizen nor have a plan to go there yet, so I am not aware hehe.

Thank you for the info btw.

But I guess it's just because their govts have no choice. So many idiots in the citizenry they have to have mandates to get them to vaccinate

@wolfshine. Plane to cab rank in 20 mins. Effortless. Lugging heavy bags everywhere? From luggage reclaim to customs….as before? Customs via QR code now also.

You must be American if you insist on traveling with so much carry on.

Sorry, I think you are just bring picky now. Its still better than arriving in the US ever as a foreigner if you don’t have Global Entry

I had no problems.

Oh…and if you dont you feel you owe ‘the courtesy’ of showing documents to immigration and pay , I quote ‘a LOT of tax’ then I suggest you look into private jet charter and the use of VIP terminals. You might it more to your satisfaction in the current world climate.

@theResident

You are totally incorrect.

There is never an opportunity to ‘whiz’ through customs in Japan.

Are the many other restrictions still in place?

Health insurance, Vaccine shot prior to arrival, quarantine, any phone apps to track you etc.?

Foreigner must accept sincerely Japan sentiment to follow rules. Mask in hotel, shakai distance - then you are welcome.

Some of the comments …I pay taxes so I don’t need to show my vaccination history or PCR?

Excellent news and ENTIRELY as I predicted condition wise and even the date last week and saw many down votes.

Too much negativity on this topic.

Vaccination requirement makes zero sense. Vaccines do not reduce spread. Some people on MSNBC used to say that but are rather quiet now.

If it is because of the potential for hospitalization then other countries may start to reciprocate toward Japanese tourists to their countries. Elderly Japanese people with chronic illness that wish for one last trip to Europe. Go-men. Nope. Can't do.

"From Oct 11, Japan will restore individual tourism and visa-waiver travel to people from certain countries as long as they are vaccinated"

But will they accept Sinopharm Vaccine? or only the following vaccines as stated in this pdf https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/mesure_en.pdf ?

@theunofficialone: I assume you are just asking a rhetorical vaccine. No - Certainly not. Sinopharm and Sputnik were both utterly useless at even keeping people out of hospital. Nice try though.

Love all the whiners on here who have been going on and on about Japan opening up. Well, now it is. If you really want to come, then pre flight PCR test or being three times vaxxed shouldn't be putting too much out of your way.

You ARE all aware that the US still requires to be non citizens/non residents to be be double vaccinated to enter as a tourist?

The scientific method includes "rigorous skepticism" not "trust the experts".

Hahahaha

You call your skepticism rigorous?

And of course you must trust the experts on their particular expertise of scientific inquiry.

If you reject the scientific findings you have to have rigorous basis

Kishida is living in cloud cuckoo land as per usual.

Drop the vaccination rules imbecile.

I must say, it will be great to mingle with foreigners again, instead of this sea of masked locals held in fear by the media and government.

The airports will descend into chaos. The system they have in place at the airport to check all this vaccine or test nonsense will not hold up.

Not sure what's with all the anti-vaxxer comments here.

Are people so frustrated that they just lash out at science and public health. People, get off facebook, seriously.

As for the visa issue, the country is well within its right to ban all foreigners forever if it so wishes. The prognostication of doom if Japan does not open up right away and forever from all the armchair critics is laughable.

Because October 11 is a magical time?

who came up with that date?

just change things, today!

And they saying winter is probably gonna produce an entirely new variant. Oh, Japan what are you gonna do now?

Allow me: they will stop testing people, pretend the vaccines solved the problem, and move on to dumber things. Like every other government in the world. Japan isn't all that different, it's just slower.

@johnken6

> Johnken6Sep. 23  09:22 am JST

Not sure what's with all the anti-vaxxer comments here.

Are people so frustrated that they just lash out at science and public health. People, get off facebook, seriously. 

As for the visa issue, the country is well within its right to ban all foreigners forever if it so wishes. The prognostication of doom if Japan does not open up right away and forever from all the armchair critics is laughable.

> > Johnken6Sep. 23  09:28 am JST

It hasn't been a deadly period because of Covid, it's the vaccines (especially boosters) killing people. It is classified as a covid-related death though. Cannot blame the vaccines, never question the vaccines.

I am going to guess you have a Facebook account, a Twitter account, premium TikTok and saw bigfoot out and about yesterday. No proof = rubbish.

holy crap are you projecting much . You are in no way following the science or statistics on this at all . Yale , Harvard , Oxford , john Hopkins , UCLA ect ect ect pretty much would highly disagree with you . You could pretty much at this point pick your favorite university or health institute outside of Japan that says your wrong . Just asking the question what is up with all these anti vaxes show your complete ignorance of the argument these people have and why people are suspicious. Even if these individuals and universities are wrong , there is such a large body of evidence from all over the world backing them up , that it should at the very least put these things / requirements on hold for now for more research to be done . Holy crap man almost 3 years into this and you are so wrong . Stop projecting , start thinking for yourself and start watching and reading more on why the other side thinks the way they do . You might just get red pilled.

> LudditeSep. 23  11:30 am JST

You must be triple vaccinated with a vaccine that is approved by Japan to enter.

New regulations?

Too late...Japan just showing again they're behind the rest of the modern world

Whatever it was you're thinking it's not so bad really.

Other countries are so backwards they have vaccine mandates.

Exactly Luddite. Play by the rules here and it's as effortless as entering pre Covid. As I've said countless times, none of these requirements should be a problem or are strenous in anyway if you want to enter Japan.

I'm afraid that there are still many from the anti vaxx camps who even though they CAN enter with a pre flight PCR still see this as some affront to their sensitivities.

Exactly Luddite. Play by the rules here and it's as effortless as entering pre Covid. As I've said countless times, none of these requirements should be a problem or are strenous in anyway if you want to enter Japan.

Not exactly. I don't know if you've entered the country in the past few months (I actually have), but it is certainly nowhere near as effortless as pre-Covid. Sure, setting up the app and entering the information is reasonable enough. It's once you land and get off the plane that the problems start. Walking around Haneda Airport in a giant circle for thirty minutes, while lugging heavy bags, showing your blue screen to everyone, having extra sets of people check documents before you even get to immigration, is completely unnecessary and tiresome. They have entire gates of the airport unused by airline companies, just so they can check documents. In August, they had the A/C in the airport turned way down, so it was absurdly hot and I was covered in sweat by the end of it. I can applaud Japan for somewhat moving in the right direction for once; but do not try to pretend that this is sensible policy-making.

For tourists, I accept that this is how they are going to handle things as the country begins to re-open. For foreign residents and Japanese people, remove the MySOS requirements and Covid checks at the airport entirely. Just let us go to immigration, grab our bags, do customs, and leave - any suggestion that it shouldn't be this way for any reason is purely ludicrous coping. Leave me alone and stop my burning my tax dollars on things that don't benefit the wellbeing of society.

Now they just have to remove the masks and the triple vax requirement and it will be back to normal….

Japan's currency weakened past the psychologically important level of 145 yen to the dollar on Thursday

Is this article even keeping up with the recent update? Yen has drop back to 140 after the currency intervention.

I would much rather just have to take a PCR test, than 3 vaccines, to save a tiny bit of money.

Well done, Kishi San!!..

GO JAPAN!!!..

Japan will be like before and much better !!..

right about time, well maybe half a year beyond reasonable timing, but I guess better than later.

But there's a new omicron variant and there are so many unknowns. And won't be long before it is the dominant strain.

New vaccines might not even be effective against it (or BA.1 either, for that matter).

And they saying winter is probably gonna produce an entirely new variant.

Oh, Japan what are you gonna do now?

Yatta Yatta!! Nihon is openingu finally!!

visa-waiver travel to people from certain countries as long as they are vaccinated.

What does mean certain countries ? Why not all countries ? And isn’t more related to the type of vaccine, ie recognized vaccine, rather than the country.

Anyway, PCR still needed if you are not three times vaxxed. Scrap that.

Speaking of masks - well, it will be nice to see the back of them, but they are not going anywhere soon here in Japan. It has gone from being a sensible precaution early in the pandemic to become a kind of cult-like nationalistic obsession at this point. I think it will be at least a year before people start removing them to any great extent and it could even go on for many more years.

It depends on where you go.

Young people in Shibuya and Roppongi literally don't care. I wear my mask at work, but that's it. Not on public transit, not in department stores, only if it is a requirement of my job. If someone asks me why I don't have one on, I ignore them. No one has ever tried anything crazy like taking a swing at me. All things considered, I try not to interact with Oyaajis or Obaas at all if possible. They can live in their own little fantasy world of endless masking and foreigner demonization if they so choose to, I just want to be left alone.

There is much fun to be had in Japan. It doesn't need to feel like a giant retirement home.

If the Japanese government didn’t change its mind every second week then there would be dancing in the streets!

If anyone comes to visit me I’m gonna make them self quarantine for 5 days

you go through quarantine and immigration before luggage reclaim.

I'm talking about carry on bags. Doesn't matter that they're not big suitcases. The quarantine process at Haneda required extra walking, was time consuming, and honestly, probably increased the risk of Covid spread more than reducing it, since so many people were clustered together.

I entered London Heathrow airport two months ago as a tourist, not as a resident or citizen. I didn't have to do a quarantine process. I didn't need to upload a PCR negative result, or proof of vaccination, or enter other additional info. I didn't need to walk around quarantine stations in empty airport gates to confirm my "cooperation" with the "stopping Covid cause". Not only that, but the immigration process only required me to scan my passport at an automated gate. Then I was free to go. I didn't even need to talk to anyone. I didn't even need to wear a mask.

At a certain point we simply need to ask ourselves: "Why are we still doing this? What are we gaining from this?"

u dont need to be vaccinated to go to japan just a negative pcr test about time

Finally! Tickets bought, Japan in November - here I come!

Hallelujah! Ready for November! :)

Japan will have to scrap proof of vaccination as the sheer number of arrivals won’t allow for checking.

Yeah, it's not like any other country has done that, right?

This is an actual noticeable step in the right direction. Finally foreigners will have the option to travel to Japan if they want to, without massive stipulations that restrict their movement or access to places. Hopefully they will be treated well by the locals.

Though, my main concern is: will foreign residents and Japanese people be allowed back into the country without vaccination proof or a negative PCR test? That's really what matters in my individual case. I pay taxes (a LOT) and at this point, I don't feel I owe border officials the courtesy of showing them either.

As for the visa issue, the country is well within its right to ban all foreigners forever if it so wishes. The prognostication of doom if Japan does not open up right away and forever from all the armchair critics is laughable.

This is a nonsensical comment, largely because you are framing your argument in the form of some kind of pragmatic reasoning in the face of unrelenting hysteria, when actually it is completely the opposite. It's called international agreements. Get a clue dude.

@wolfshine. Plane to cab rank in 20 mins.

I don't know what airport you arrived in but last August it did not take me twenty minutes.

You must be American if you insist on traveling with so much carry on.

Checking bags is expensive. I need to check everything I bring with me to make the walk of shame around Haneda less tiring?

Sorry, I think you are just bring picky now. Its still better than arriving in the US ever as a foreigner if you don’t have Global Entry

Don't care, that's completely irrelevant. I also arrived in London Heathrow two months ago as a tourist. Automated machines for checking passports. No need to provide Covid related information. Extremely efficient and fast. Why do you act like there aren't superior options out there, and insist we settle for total mediocrity?

Oh…and if you dont you feel you owe ‘the courtesy’ of showing documents to immigration and pay , I quote ‘a LOT of tax’ then I suggest you look into private jet charter and the use of VIP terminals. You might it more to your satisfaction in the current world climate.

It was obvious from my comment I was talking about MYSOS, PCR test results, and vaccine information; not passports or travel documents. There is still little to no evidence showing a blue app screen will actually reduce or mitigate Japan's Covid problem, but I guess the snobs can have one to dunk on the vaccine skeptics. So much bad faith nonsense all so you can provide cover for ineffective, tax dollar wasting policies.

@JeffLee

I'm sure you have. Thankfully you had over two years to feel special, and now the rest of us get to experience the magic of japan again. Sorry if us wanting to enjoy the place inconveniences you at all.

It hasn't been a deadly period because of Covid, it's the vaccines (especially boosters) killing people. It is classified as a covid-related death though. Cannot blame the vaccines, never question the vaccines.

This photo is the only time I've seen the old fella smile

Japan will have to scrap proof of vaccination as the sheer number of arrivals won’t allow for checking.

Economic pressures are superseded by personal safety these days. Japan is literally coming out of their most deadly time period with Covid and all they can do is pretend all is well, this is sad.

Be assured, the vaccination requirement will remain. Non-vaccinated people are more likely to need expensive hospital care.

Most of the people likely to travel to Japan are Gen Z'ers, millennials, and zoomers. These age demographics are basically never hospitalized with Covid-19.

PM Kishida's speech at the UN was impressive.

Can't wait to get over to Japan and spend up big and smash the slopes and far in the Osen while covered in arm sleeves!