Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced in New York on September 22 that Japan will resume visa-free free travel from October 11, and at the same time lift restrictions on the number of people entering the country.
Passengers who would have been able to travel to Japan without a visa before the epidemic still need a visa to go to Japan due to the new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic prevention restrictions. They will no longer need to apply for a tourist visa from October 11, and Visiting Japan is easier without having to book a tour through a travel agency.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 21, 2022.
(AP)
When Fumio Kishida attended an event in New York, the United States on September 21, he had revealed that Japan intends to further relax entry measures in October.
At an event in New York to promote Japanese food, Fumio Kishida said: "The negative test certificate is no longer required from this month, and the entry measures will be further relaxed from next month."
Kishida did not further explain the specific relaxation situation at the meeting, but Japanese media reported earlier that the government is considering revoking the daily entry limit in October, while allowing individuals to travel freely and restarting visa-free measures.
It is said that Japanese companies are urging the government to further ease entry restrictions and use the depreciation of the yen to attract tourists to Japan.
Japan is accelerating the pace of "switching", hoping to attract overseas "independent travel" tourists to return to the local tourism.
The picture shows tourists visiting the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto, Japan, on August 20, 2021.
(Getty)
Japan's Jiji News Agency reported in mid-September that the government will begin to ease travel restrictions again this autumn and implement measures called "National Travel Support".
The report pointed out that the government is considering abolishing the daily entry cap, lifting restrictions on individual travel, and waiving visa requirements.
Japan has started to relax the entry of foreign tourists since June, but at present tourists still need to apply for a visa through a travel agency before they can enter.
Japan has been urging the government to further lift restrictions to lure travelers back.
The report quoted government sources as saying that the current target for easing restrictions is October, and that countries and regions that used to be visa-free will be exempted from visa requirements, including Hong Kong travelers.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hopes to make "human exchanges" more lively, and at the same time take advantage of the devaluation of the yen to stimulate economic recovery after the epidemic.
In addition to visiting Japan, the government is also planning to implement nationwide domestic tourism support measures.
Including the implementation of the same measures as Go To Travel in 2020, giving cross-county tourism transportation and accommodation discounts.
Covid-19 in Japan: The picture shows dancers performing in Yokocho, Asakusa, Tokyo, on June 29, 2022, as part of a celebration and promotion for the new opening of the venue.
The full name of this new attraction is Asakusa Yokocho, the temple of food and festivals.
(Getty)
Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Seiji appeared on a Fuji TV program on September 11. When talking about the countermeasures at border ports for the new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, he expressed the government's intention to cancel the "single-day entry limit" of 50,000 people.
Gongwang said on September 11 that in addition to this, he also mentioned the exemption of visa requirements for visitors to Japan and the lifting of the ban on personal travel.
"The relaxation will be practically discussed and implemented at the appropriate time. There will be overall adjustments. It must be implemented in the near future," he said.
Kihara said at the time that Japan cannot lag behind when global exchanges reopen.
Due to the depreciation of the yen, he expects that the demand from tourists will increase, saying, "Japan's autumn and winter are very attractive, and many foreign friends say they want to come to Japan."
Japan's new crown pneumonia epidemic: The picture shows on July 27, 2020, people wearing kimonos tour the Asakusa district of Tokyo, Japan.
(AP)
Not completely "freedom" as mentioned before
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on August 31 that the upper limit of the number of daily entries will be raised to 50,000 from September 7, and the entry restrictions will be further relaxed, and the entry of groups without tour guides will be relaxed.
He announced at a press conference on the 31st that from September 7th, the number of foreign tourists will be increased, and the daily entry limit will be raised from the current 20,000 to 50,000. Tourists travelling without a tour guide.
Therefore, one of the key points in the lifting of restrictions this time is to allow "unguided tour groups" to enter the country for sightseeing.
Previously, travel to Japan had to be accompanied by a Japanese accompanying person.
No more accompanying people will be required, which will mean that passengers are "virtually" free to move around.
However, this is still a long way from traveling freely in Japan in the past.
Japan's new crown pneumonia epidemic: The picture shows passengers at a train station in Tokyo, Japan, on March 18, 2022.
(Getty)
Passengers still need to sign up for designated tour groups through travel agencies, but the group may have more freedom.
Upon arrival, passengers must stay at the hotel arranged by the travel agency and return to Hong Kong on the scheduled day.
Travelers are also responsible for accidents in Japan.
At the same time, Japan has not relaxed visa restrictions, and all travelers, including Hong Kong residents, must apply for a visa when entering Japan.
In addition, in principle, free travel in Japan as an individual is still not allowed, and travelers still need to apply for a visa through a travel agency.
Moreover, it takes time to apply for a visa, and it is not possible to travel on an impromptu basis.
Japan has allowed tourists to enter since June, but due to too many restrictions, there were only a few thousand in July, far below the record of 30 million tourists before the epidemic in 2019.
The picture shows passengers carrying luggage at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, on the first day of the Golden Week holiday on April 27, 2019.
The Japanese Golden Week refers to a public holiday consisting of multiple festivals from the end of April to the beginning of May. It is the busiest week for the Japanese tourism industry and related industries.
(Getty)
Travel agencies must be able to contact tourists
On September 7, Japan began to increase the daily maximum number of visitors to 50,000, and allowed "unguided tour groups" to enter for sightseeing.
The Tourism Agency updated its guidelines for travel agencies on the 2nd, requiring travel agencies to contact these travelers who are actually free to move at any time.
Under the new guidelines, travel agencies are required to obtain the contact information of travelers so that they can be contacted at any time.
The Tourism Agency does not stipulate how travel agencies must contact passengers. Telephone, email, and SMS are all acceptable methods of contact.
Travel agencies are required to explain these details to travelers and obtain their consent before selling package tours to travelers.
After travelers arrive in Japan, travel agencies must contact them and ask them to comply with epidemic prevention measures, such as wearing masks.
Travel agencies are required to take action when a traveler is unwell or has a positive result on a COVID-19 test.
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Japan will resume allowing foreign tourists to enter and travel in the form of independent travel?
Yes.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced in New York on September 22 that Japan will resume visa-free free travel from October 11, and at the same time lift restrictions on the number of people entering the country.
How is this arrangement different from the previous one?
Passengers who would have been able to travel to Japan without a visa before the epidemic still need a visa to go to Japan due to the new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic prevention restrictions. They will no longer need to apply for a tourist visa from October 11, and Visiting Japan is easier without having to book a tour through a travel agency.