Japan is open for tourism and had more than 200,000 visitors in September

Travel to Japan became easier on October 11, but travelers are required to show proof of triple vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result.

Japan Opening Tourism – Latest Updates

November 2 – The number of international travelers to Japan in September exceeded 200,000

Slowly but surely, foreign visitors are arriving return to Japan. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 206,500 foreign tourists visited the country in September.

Since the start of the pandemic, the number has never exceeded 200,000. South Korea had the most visitors with 32,700, followed by Vietnam (30,900), the United States (18,000) and China (17,600).

Since March, the government has gradually relaxed border controls, resulting in a sharp increase in the number of foreign tourists compared to 2021, when Japan’s borders were virtually closed. Compared to September last year, the number of tourists has increased more than eleven times.

October 13 – Japan reopens its borders, but hotels are understaffed and shops are closed

Compared to a record 31.8 million tourists in 2019, only just over 500,000 people visited Japan so far in 2022.

The government’s goal, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, is to generate 5 trillion yen ($34.5 billion) in tourists annually. But for an industry that has shrunk due to the pandemic, that goal may be too lofty.

Maria Satherley, a 70-year-old New Zealander, describes the Terminal 1 departure area as “half a ghost town”

Most of the 260 shops and restaurants at Narita Airport, Japan’s largest international airport, located about 70 kilometers from Tokyo, are closed.

September 29 – Japan will allow international tourists on October 11

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that independent travelers will be welcome again in Japan on October 11. The daily limit on the number of tourists arriving will also be lifted on that day.

Travelers from around the world can enter Japan with proof of triple vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result. The country does not require a visa for short-term visitors from qualified countries, including the United States.

“I hope many people will take advantage of it,” Kishida said at a news conference. “I want to support the travel, entertainment and other industries that have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic.”

: US airlines are responding quickly to Japan’s reopening

How safe is Japan right now?

The CDC recently placed Japan at Level 3 risk (High level of COVID-19 in Japan).

Who can visit Japan?

Individual tourists from multiple countries.

COVID-19 situation in Japan

From October 13Japan has seen 21,656,190 cases of COVID-19, and 45,693 people have died from the virus.

What to do in Japan during a pandemic

Domestic travel is largely unhindered in the country, ensuring Japanese citizens continue to visit their own tourist sites.

This means that many attractions will reopen for guided tours.

This includes a wide range of Japan’s most popular sitesincluding Tokyo Tower, Imperial East Gardens, Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo National Museum and more.

Below is a list of the most popular tourist attractions open in Tokyo and their current status.