With [tourism restrictions being eased](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/09/01/national/package-tours-restrictions-eased/) to allow unguided tours in Japan, the mods are opening a thread as a place to discuss upcoming travel plans and ask questions. This discussion thread is replaced with a new one every few days. Previous threads: [one](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/x3f3fv/japan_travel_and_tourism_discussion_thread/), [two](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/x7dnjc/weekly_japan_travel_and_tourism_discussion_thread/).
### Important Points About Tourism, ERFS Certificates, and Visas
* **[Japan began allowing tourists through pre-booked but *unguided* tours on September 7th, 2022.](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220903_11/)** The unguided tours will still need to be arranged by a tour agency for tracking purposes.
* Unguided tourism still needs to be sponsored by and arranged through a registered Japanese travel agency (or an agency in your own country that partners with a Japanese one), and it still requires an ERFS certificate and visa. **Independent travel without an ERFS or visa is not allowed at this date,** and the official guidelines state that your sponsoring travel agency needs to arrange all flights and accommodations.
* For more information about ERFS certificates and visa requirements, please [click here](https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_000921.html).
* For information about visas, please [click here](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html). Note that while residents of the US and Canada can apply for an [eVISA](https://www.evisa.mofa.go.jp/index) in some circumstances, visas often still need to be obtained through your local consulate.
* **A friendly note about eVISAs!** Make sure to submit your application once you’ve created it. Once you create it, it will be in the state “Application not made” (you can expand the “Status” box using the arrow to check this). You’ll want to select the checkbox at the left-hand side of the row in your application list and click the orange arrow saying “Application” on bottom right.
* [These are the latest guidelines](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/content/001510138.pdf) (in Japanese) that travelers and agencies have to go by when it comes to guided and unguided tours. [This Q&A](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/content/001510889.pdf) (in Japanese) was released on Sept. 6 to help clarify the guidelines. [Here is the English translation](https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/100321863.pdf) from MOFA. You will need to contact specific agencies to see what they are offering in order to comply with the guidelines.
### Current Tourism Entry Process
1. Anyone seeking entry into Japan for the purposes of tourism must first obtain an [ERFS certificate](https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_000921.html). This is an official document from a sponsoring agency (in the case of tourism, usually a travel agency) that is a prerequisite for submitting a visa application. It is a one-page document with information about the applicant, information about the sponsoring agency, and the name/address of the accommodation you’re staying at on your first night in Japan. You can view a sample ERFS [here](https://erfsjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/erfs-img-724×1024.jpg).
2. After obtaining an ERFS certificate, you can submit your visa application. **All entry into Japan for non-Japanese citizens/permanent residents requires [a visa](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html). There are no exceptions to this.** If you are from the USA or Canada, you can apply online for an [eVISA](https://www.evisa.mofa.go.jp/index), and the process should take about 5 days from submission to visa issuance. If you are from a country other than the USA or Canada, you will need to get a visa from your local consulate (which often requires making an appointment).
3. You do not need a COVID test prior to arrival in Japan if **you have been vaccinated with three doses of an approved vaccine** (see [here](https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html), section “3. Quarantine Measures (New)). If you have been vaccinated with three doses of an approved vaccine, you should install and utilize the MySOS app, which will allow you to register your vaccine information so that you can [fast track yourself](https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/fasttrack/en/) upon arrival.
4. From the recent tourism reports we’ve seen popping up online, it seems like you will only be asked to present your passport, visa, and MySOS app (or COVID test results, if required) upon arrival at Immigration. That said, paper documentation of your visa, ERFS, itinerary, accommodation confirmations, and proof of onward travel are never a bad thing to have on-hand in case you are asked for them.
*(This post has been set up by the moderators of r/JapanTravel. Please stay civil, abide by the rules, keep it PG-13 rated, and be helpful. Absolutely no self-promotion will be allowed. While this discussion thread is more casual, remember that standalone posts in /r/JapanTravel must still adhere to the rules. This includes no discussion of border policy or how to get visas outside of this thread.)*
8 comments
With the latest news I will hold off getting the ERFS. It seems quite likely that the visa waivers are back with beginning of November. Not sure if im brave enough the book plane tickets, probably gonna wait 1-2 weeks for further news. That one article said (if the translation is right) that they will decide until October.
My friend is planning to come visit me in Japan in November. She could:
A. Apply for the ERFS (through JGA) + Visa, wait for approval and then purchase the plane ticket.
B. Buy the plane ticket and hope that the ERFS/Visa requirements are removed in time for the trip (and if not, then apply for the ERFS + visa in late october-ish)
Which would be the better option? The requirements seem to be loosening but not sure how quickly.
How long is it taking to get evisas approved? I will have about a week from application until flight, wondering if it would be best to just drive to my local embassy.
Question about changing dates.
Lets say I want to arrive 2 days earlier than what I used for my ERFS and eVISA application. It’s my understanding the visa should be flexible with this to make it possible, but should I contact JGA to update my ERFS?
Hi, do still need use private transportation from the airport to your hotel? Or you can use bus or train?
Can you get the ERFS booking a one-day tour with JGA or do you always need to pay the 30k yen on top of it?
Hi all,
Hoping to do a trip at the start of Feb 2023. I don’t really want to have to book everything through a travel agent, wondering what everyone’s thoughts are on the probability that they drop this requirement by then?
Really want to book flights now before prices continue to increase. Has anyone here found a travel agency that will rubber stamp their pre-booked flights? Figure if I book flights now, and if they are still requiring flights to be booked through an agency by Feb next year, then I can bite the bullet and pay for a rubber stamp if needed.
Thanks!
Getting pretty tempted to hop on a plane to Japan next month.
Hotel prices at least in Tokyo are dirt cheap right now. Could easily offset the cost of ERFS through JGA. Flight prices don’t look like they’re dropping, but it doesn’t look like booking further ahead would save me any money either.
I’ll wait for some more hard information about the whole ERFS rubber stamp situation, but I’m pretty encouraged by what I’ve seen so far.