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I recently discussed how baffling it is that I haven’t been to Japan. I also pointed out that flights are currently very reasonable from Los Angeles to Tokyo. And as I build out this thought and turn it into a full-blown booking later this year, I am happy to report I won’t have to deal with pandemic restrictions.
Travelers entering Japan will no longer be required to present a Valid Vaccination Certificate or a COVID-19 Negative Test Certificate beginning May 8, 2023—making it one of the last countries to drop pandemic-era rules for visitors.
Currently, travelers heading to Japan are required to show proof of three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or a negative test conducted within 72 hours of departure, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
The move to end COVID-19 border controls is expected to help revive inbound tourism to Japan, as spending by foreign visitors in 2021 plunged to a fraction of the record ¥4.8 trillion ($36 billion) in 2019.
In addition to ending border controls, Japan also eliminated mandatory mask-wearing on March 13, 2023, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, advising that “the use of [a] mask will depend on personal choices.” However, the ministry still recommends wearing masks in certain situations, such as crowded settings like commuter trains and buses.
As part of the new framework, Japan will also start a genomic surveillance program on May 8, 2023, where entrants with symptoms such as fever will be voluntarily tested to detect new infectious diseases. This move marks a major shift towards normalizing social and economic activities in Japan.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
