##UPDATED - November 2021 - The ban on entry for Tourism will continue at this time - as of 12:00am November 30th, the borders are closed to entry due to the emergence of the Omicron variant in countries worldwide.
##Information pertaining to Tourism entry only will be added here - further concerns on Work, School, or Family entry should be posted in the relevant subreddits noted below. Questions that address topics not covered here will be removed.
##If you need to travel to Japan as a non-resident under special circumstances, please contact your local Japanese embassy or consulate for further information. All Questions regarding this topic will be removed, and should only be broached with the relevant Government Agencies prior to your trip. Our focus in this subreddit is tourism only - as such we have no answers for you here.
Please check here for previous Pandemic Megathreads on this topic, dating back to 2020.
##Frequently Asked Questions - November 2021
"Should I buy tickets for tourism in 2022?"
>- We do not know when International tourism will begin again. We strongly advise if you do purchase tickets that they are refundable or can be rebooked - bare minimum. If you cannot afford the cost of refundable tickets at this time, you should wait until the borders are officially reopened to International Tourism before you book ANY non-refundable fares.
"What if the borders don't open in time for my previously booked flight?"
>- If you have already booked a flight (early 2022 opening is unlikely as of this writing), we advise you to carefully look over the refund/rebooking policy with the airline you purchased your tickets with. If you have booked tickets that are non-refundable or cannot be moved, please contact your airline for further questions or concerns.
"Will Japan reopen for tourism to those who have already been fully vaccinated against the virus?"
>- Currently, the answer is no. [Vaccine status is likely to affect entry in the future - approved vaccines are currently listed as Moderna, Pfizer, and Astra-Zeneca with J&J being studied for approval in Japan.](http
... keep reading on reddit β‘That's what the channel consisted of, he talked a lot to the audience and was just a blast to listen to.
https://youtu.be/OnGO3IrlGuo
Hi from Japan, I am planning my trip to Melbourne to visit my friend next April. Today I read that Australia is in serious talks with the government of Japan and South Korea about a travel bubble, similar to the one Australia already has with Singapore. It appears it will be announced soon. Looking forward to my first visit to Australia. About 2 years ago I had no interest at all traveling to Australia. But during that time, I had bi-weekly, sometimes weekly video chats with my friend in Melbourne. I gave him mental support during those long lockdown months and we got close. Melbourne seems to be a great place to travel to.
I went home to Australia for a week-long vacation to see family, we all caught covid within the first 3 days (25th). I know thereβs a possibility to continue testing positive a few weeks after recovery, but I hear different things for different people. I would say my covid was relatively mild and only peaked for like 3 days. I feel much better now, with only fatigue and a faint sense of smell left.
I just did a PCR again on my 13th day and still tested positive (on rapid tests though Iβm continuously testing negative so Iβm definitely not contagious anymore, and Iβm also out of isolation). Iβve also been doing nasal saline rinses twice a day, lots of mouth wash and gurgling Difflam for my throat. Luckily PCR testing here is free but it means I have to line up at 4am just to get swabbed by 8am. There are lots of people trying to get tested.
I guess I just wanna hear about anyone else who is in the same boat as me because I canβt travel until I get a negative PCR. The waiting game is no fun, even though I already let my workplace know and theyβre just waiting until I can recover and come back. Just feeling unlucky and frustrated at the moment, since Iβm the only one needing a negative PCR to get back to Japan. My family can go back to work as usual.
I think the worst part is my gut was already telling me it was too dangerous to go home this Christmas, but I just wanted to see my family. My parents especially feel guilty that this has happened although itβs really no oneβs fault. We all managed to avoid covid for 2 years, but this strain definitely spreads like wildfire π
My apologies if this isn't allowed in this sub.
I'm going into my last semester of college and due to the pandemic was unable to travel abroad. Something I strongly desired and still do.
Once I graduate I'd like to travel for about a year. My top two choices are somewhere in either western or central Europe or Japan. As traveling for a year seems to be pretty expensive, especially for a fresh college grad, is my best bet at affordable travel teaching English through a TEFL program in the country I choose?
I'm not opposed to becoming certified through the program and teaching English but I'm curious to know what sort of other jobs I can have as a US citizen abroad in either Europe or Japan, or if TEFL is the only option.
Ultimately, I want to be able to travel for about a year, enjoy it, but also be able to afford it.
TIA
I'm looking for more videos of this vein that focus on different countries. Preferably European countries, but those are harder to come by. For reference, I'm also subscribed to: MJ Food Office, MOGU MOGU, Travel Thirsty, and all the Udon Soba channels.
##October 2021 - While we could have more information on entry to the country now that the votes have been confirmed, it it is not likely to be immediately afterwards. Information pertaining to Tourism entry only will be added here, and concerns on Work/School and Family entry should be posted in the relevant subreddits. Please be patient.
##The ban on all New Entries for tourism will continue at this time. We do not anticipate the borders reopening to International Tourism until 2022, and although there is now movement and plans being set in place for Business/Work Entry - nothing firm has been announced by the Japanese Government in regards to Tourism. We do not anticipate any news on this topic until after the Japanese General Election, scheduled to take place October 31st.
##At present, entry is only permitted for Japanese Nationals, Permanent Residents, Foreign Nationals with residency IN Japan, Spouses or Children of those groups. If you need to travel to Japan as a non-resident under special exceptional circumstances, please contact your Japanese embassy or consulate for further information. All Questions regarding this topic will be removed, and should only be broached with the relevant Government Agencies prior to your trip. Our focus in this subreddit is tourism only - as such we have no answers for you here.
Please check here for previous Pandemic Megathreads on this topic, dating back to 2020.
##Frequently Asked Questions - October 2021
>- "Should I buy tickets for tourism in 2022?"
>- We strongly advise if you do, that the tickets be refundable or rebookable - bare minimum. If the borders do not open on January 1st at 12am, but do reopen February 1st, March 1st, or June 1st (as examples), you will want to either have your money back, or have the freedom to book a later trip. If you cannot afford the cost of refundable tickets at this time (as an example - $8,104.56 for a fully refundable Economy fare on ANA flying out of YVR in June 2022), **we strongly advise waiting until the borders are officially reopened to International Tou
... keep reading on reddit β‘##January 2022 - With the emergence of the Omicron variant, Japan has again closed their borders to entry for the foreseeable future. Tourism entry will continue to be suspended until further notice - we do not anticipate tourism restarting within the next 3 - 6 months at minimum. Discussion is closed until a clear and official timetable to Tourism Reopening (specific dates/timelines) is announced by the Japanese Government through official channels.
##Frequently Asked Questions on Tourism Entry - January 2022
"Should I buy tickets for tourism later in 2022?"
>- There is no confirmation at this time on when the borders will reopen. We do not advise booking non-refundable tickets until a formal announcement has been made regarding the opening of borders to tourism worldwide.
"What if the borders don't open in time for my previously booked flight?"
>- If you have already booked a flight (March and April 2022 appear to be off the table as of this writing - May & June 2022 is very much up in the air as a result), we advise you to carefully look over the refund/rebooking policy with the airline you purchased your tickets with. If you have booked tickets that are non-refundable or cannot be moved, please contact your airline for further questions or concerns.
"Will Japan reopen for tourism to those who have already been fully vaccinated against the virus?"
>- Currently, the answer is no. Vaccine status is likely to affect entry in the future - approved vaccines are currently listed as Moderna, Pfizer, and Astra-Zeneca with J&J not yet approved for tourism entry. There is no word yet on any other vaccine types being accepted by the Government, and no specific framework has been detailed for Tourism Entry.
"What about entry procedures for tourism? Will quarantine still be in place when the borders re-open?"
>- **Steps for entry have yet to be determined, but quarantine for vaccinated individuals is not expected to be required. However, this will be decided completely at the sole discretion of the Japanese Government and we canno
... keep reading on reddit β‘JANUARY 24, 2022
"Entry and Exit Requirements:
Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Very limited.
The U.S. Embassy strongly urges any U.S. citizens considering travel to Japan to review carefully the information available from the Government of Japan. Military travelers arriving in Japan under the Status of Forces Agreement should consult with their chain of command to ensure they understand quarantine and restriction of movement requirements prior to beginning travel.
Travel for tourism and most other short-term purposes is still not permitted, and there is no indication that this will change in the short term. Visa-free travel is suspended. Travelers who believe they qualify for an exception to Japanβs strict entry controls should contact their nearest Japanese Embassy or consulate for information."
##September 2021 - The ban on all New Entries for tourism will continue at this time. We do not anticipate the borders reopening to International Tourism until 2022, and although there is now movement and plans being set in place for Business/Work Entry - nothing firm has been announced by the Japanese Government in regards to Tourism.
##At present, entry is only permitted for Japanese Nationals, Permanent Residents, Foreign Nationals with residency IN Japan, Spouses or Children of those groups. If you need to travel to Japan as a non-resident under special exceptional circumstances, please contact your Japanese embassy or consulate for further information. All Questions regarding this topic will be removed, and should only be broached with the relevant Government Agencies prior to your trip. Our focus in this subreddit is tourism only - as such we have no answers for you here.
Please check here for previous Pandemic Megathreads on this topic, dating back to 2020.
##Frequently Asked Questions - September 2021
>- "Will Japan reopen for tourism to those who have already been fully vaccinated against the virus?"
>- Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a news conference on March 19th, 2021 that Japan has no plans to ease travel restrictions for travelers with vaccine certificates issued overseas. While Entry requirements for Work/School/Special Exemptions/Family Reasons should not be taken as proof of entry requirements for Tourism, as of September 9th, the Japanese Government has advised that quarantine will be shortened for Business Entry to 10 days from 14 days for people with full doses of Moderna, Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines prior to entry.
>- "What about entry procedures for tourism? Will 14 day quarantine still be in place when the borders re-open? What about being vaccinated?"
>- Realistically, it's unlikely 14 day quarantine will be required for all tourists to enter Japan in the future. The process and procedures currently in place for entry by those with valid Visas or ot
... keep reading on reddit β‘