After more than two years of covid closure Japan opened its gate to visitors from overseas on the 10th of June, but it was not a breakthrough for most of the tour operators since it was a conditional reopen. Tour operators in Japan have been in a long tunnel more than two years without seeing foreign visitors. The same thing can be said to long awaited foreign tourists. You must be one of keen visitors who are wondering when, where and how to spend in Japan. In this newsletter I will write about the current traveling situation and prospects of future condition visiting Japan.
I am not on the position to analyze the recent trend of foreign visitors to Japan, but I would like to write about the situation from my point of views. Some of my views may be wrong, but I really hope that the contents of this newsletter will be a bit of your help for planning of your future visit to Japan.
Latest situation for overseas visitors
On the 10th of June, Japan started to accept up to 20,000 foreign tourists daily. But at this stage only organized tours with tour conductors from green countries are allowed and individual travelers can’t come to Japan yet. Japanese government confirmed 300 tourists at first week and they confirmed that 1,000 tourists are applying for next month. What I meant by “applying” is application of organized tour comes along with application of visa due to the suspension of visa exemption. So literally nothing has changed for those who would like to travel freely. We have to wait another deregulation.
Even after applying the tour and getting a visa, there are lots of regulation such as infection prevention measures. If you are confirmed as positive of Covid during the tour, tour operator must isolate a positive person and verify who is the closest contact.
This link will explain the latest situation on Covid-19 in Japan.
Why so late in Japan?
I personally think that maintaining health care service came as a priority and Japanese government is too cautious about this point. The fact that Japan is island country may have brought the decision of all tight measures so far and this may be underlining of the delay. It may be difficult for foreign people to understand this mentality since Japan doesn’t have any borders by land with other countries. This can be easily understood by history, which Japan kept rejecting the diplomacy over 200 years during the Edo Period.
When is it going to be?
The question is how long this stage last. The Japanese government is going to make an assessment from the result of the first stage and decide when and how it is going to abate the regulation. So, being optimistic it may be sometimes in autumn when foreign visitors can come without sever restriction. If you are thinking about visiting Japan, you should think as early as September or later. In that case you still can enjoy autumn leaves. But for the worst case of scenario, you may have to wait until next year. It will take a while to move next step depending on the necessary measures. It'll take a month or so before Japan start receiving first big group of tourists. Japanese tourism has been hit severely by pandemic and travel industry personnel really can’t wait any longer until tourists to come back to the market.
Missing another season?
The season is going into high season in summer. After the 6th wave of pandemic declined, domestic market seems to be coming back. One of major travel company HIS revealed that domestic travel has recovered by 90% before the pandemic. I expect this summer is going to be very busy with Japanese tourists. Accommodations and transportation are booked heavily during summer holiday season. I presume even if the situation changes and you can come to Japan, you really can’t expect 100% pleasant trip to Japan. Infection control measures will be taken all over the places and that will cause long waiting time and restriction of activities. One thing sure is the situation on the street is relaxed, but the atmosphere is different from Europe and the States. Contrary to the situation in Europe and any other places, infection control measure is in many places and you basically are asked to wear face masks even though the Japanese government issued a new guideline of wearing face masks outside. It is a bit of contradiction existing two different rules for local people and tourists from outside the county.
Finally
There were over 30 million foreign tourists visiting Japan in 2018. Now that time goes so fast this figure may sound a long time ago. The question is when and how Japan is going to recover to that level. Currently, weak Japanese Yen will give a greater chance to host much more foreign tourists to Japan, but sadly Japan is wasting the chance to materialize. Foreign exchange rate, possibility of 7th wave of the pandemic in winter, we can name lots of negative factors towards the end of this year. Moreover, the longer promising tourists wait, more disappointment will change their mind and their destination. The Japanese government should realize the psychological aspects of tourists from overseas.
I really hope that both the psychological and substantial aspects will be focused and gate for all the tourists will be reopened as soon as possible.