What to expect as Japan opens back up to the world

After almost three years, Japan will fully open its borders again to foreign independent tourists and other arrivals on Tuesday — a move that many hope will galvanize the economy and kickstart the country’s post-pandemic recovery.

But having arrived at this stage via staggered increments, it can still be a little confusing for those outside Japan — many of whom have lost work or school opportunities, struggled to maintain long-distance relationships, or simply found themselves unable to enjoy a culture that they love — to figure out just how open the country will become.

Below are answers to the most pressing questions would-be tourists and other arrivals should be asking as they dust off their suitcases, open up those phrase books and get ready once again for a journey to Japan.

Just how open will the country become?

Since Japan’s border first slammed shut to arrivals from countries most affected during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic in April 2020 — extending to a ban on arrivals from some 159 countries and regions by late August that year — Japan’s reopening has been a long and winding road of false dawns and U-turns.

After a previous attempt to relax border restrictions late last year failed with the emergence of the highly contagious omicron variant, the door to overseas arrivals gradually started to creep open this year, first in March to business travelers, students and those arriving on compassionate grounds — such as to attend a wedding or funeral – and then, from June, tourists on guided tours.

From Tuesday, Japan will completely lift its daily cap of 50,000 arrivals and recommence visa-free independent travel for those arriving from any of the 68 countries previously on its short-term visa-exemption list. Travelers from countries not on the visa exemption list remain subject to the same pre-pandemic entry restrictions.

Will I need to book a guided tour?

The short answer — no!

From June, those wishing to enter Japan had to do so as part of a guided tour. With many travelers balking at the restrictions this placed on their freedom of movement — some social media users compared the measures to those of North Korea, which operates a similar system for overseas visitors — uptake was low.

From early September, the government relaxed the regulations slightly, allowing travelers on so-called self-guided tours that required arrivals to book their flights and accommodation with registered travel agencies.

Agencies could then act as a sponsor, keeping tabs on the whereabouts of individual travelers, encouraging them to conform to local antivirus rules — such as frequent hand-washing and mask wearing — and offering assistance in the case of coronavirus infection while in Japan.

The need to take part in tours, guided or otherwise, will be a thing of the past from Tuesday, with the government hoping an influx of independent tourists — looking to take advantage of the weakened yen as they travel around the country — will help local tourism industries struggling from the effects of a prolonged period of near total isolation.

However, there is some concern that the benefits of tourism-related economic recovery will be limited by a lack of Chinese tourists, who typically make up a large proportion of visitors to Japan, but who are currently restricted from traveling abroad amid the Chinese government’s continued adherence to its “COVID zero” policy.

Will I need to be vaccinated to enter?

An on-arrival COVID-19 test is no longer required once you get to Japan. However, to enter, you must still fulfill one of the two following requirements:

• Obtain a certificate confirming you have received at least three shots of a vaccine recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The document should be issued by an official body, such as a government agency, and should have an attached Japanese or English translation if originally written in another language.

• Obtain a certificate confirming the negative status of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure for Japan from your country of origin.

In both instances, travelers must fill out a pre-arrival COVID-19 questionnaire, which the government recommends they complete online in advance using their “Fast Track” service — which is available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Indonesian — and an associated app called MySOS, which you can install on your smartphone via QR code or a link.

Do I need to quarantine? What should I do if I get sick?

In principle, visitors will no longer be required to isolate upon arrival, meaning they can move freely other than in cases where they have been diagnosed with the coronavirus after arrival in Japan.

In the event a traveler to Japan suspects they may have caught COVID-19 following their arrival, the government recommends that they contact the Japan Visitor Hotline at 050-3816-2787 for an over-the-phone consultation with a health professional who will determine the severity of the case and offer advice on the next steps to take. The service is offered in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.

Do I need to wear a mask?

As a general rule — yes.

The situation is complicated as, despite the government’s repeated calls for the public to remove their face masks while outdoors, the majority of Japanese people still continue to wear masks while outside the house, even in situations where overseas travelers might consider it unnecessary.

The government is expected to revise legislation to allow hotel operators the right to refuse entry to anyone not wearing a mask.

Until a surge in cases over the summer temporarily made Japan the nation with the highest number of daily cases in the world, the country’s infection rate has remained low in comparison to other countries. Many in Japan attribute this, at least in part, to the ubiquitous use of masks throughout the pandemic.

While overseas visitors may see Japanese individuals not wearing a face mask in public, a variety of cultural reasons — including for some, admittedly, attitudes toward foreign nationals — make it advisable for visitors to wear a mask in public situations, such as when riding crowded trains and buses and when entering hotels or restaurants, if only to avoid causing discomfort for those around you.