**Visa-free individual tourism for ordinary passport holders of 68 countries will resume from 00:00 JST (midnight) on October 11, 2022 ([official source](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html), [Nikkei Asia news article](https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Japan-details-October-s-full-tourism-reopening-6-things-to-know), [Japanese announcement](https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/covid19/pdf2/0926_34_1.pdf)), and the daily cap on arrivals into Japan will be lifted at the same time.** This means that entry into Japan is going back to how it was pre-pandemic. If you are from one of [those 68 countries](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html), you will **not require a tour package, ERFS, or visa starting on October 11, 2022**. Tourists will need to be vaccinated three times or submit a negative COVID-19 test result ahead of their trip. On October 11, 2022, Japan will also remove the last of its on-arrival testing and quarantine procedures.
The mods have started this new discussion thread and have updated the information contained here and in our [megathread](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/x3ejwh/japan_travel_covid19_and_you_tourism_information/). This discussion thread is replaced with a new one every few days. The information in the previous discussion 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/), [three](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/xbljop/weekly_japan_travel_and_tourism_discussion_thread/), [four](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/xfv45n/weekly_japan_travel_and_tourism_discussion_thread/), and [five](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/xlc5b1/weekly_japan_travel_and_tourism_discussion_thread/)) may now contain **out of date information**, so please be careful when reading through them.
### Tourism / Entry Updates
* Visa-free individual tourism will be reinstated on October 11, 2022 for [ordinary passport holders of 68 countries](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html). Tourists will need to be vaccinated three times with an [approved vaccine](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_vaccine.html) or submit a negative COVID-19 test result ahead of their trip (see below for details).
* If you are a passport holder of a country **not** on the visa exemption list, you will still need to apply for a visa after October 11, 2022. All requirements are listed [on the official website](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html).
* Until October 11, 2022, the current “unguided tour” system will still apply, which means you will need an ERFS and visa to enter Japan. If you are looking for information about how to enter Japan before October 11, 2022, please see the details about ERFS certificates and visas [in our megathread](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/x3ejwh/japan_travel_covid19_and_you_tourism_information/).
### Current COVID Procedures
* To enter Japan, you must have **three doses of an approved vaccine** or **a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of departure**.
* Approved vaccines are listed [here](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_vaccine.html). Starting on October 11, 2022, [vaccines on the Emergency Use List of World Health Organization (WHO) will be valid for entry into the country](https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html).
>- For the purposes of the initial dose/primary series, J&J/Janssen’s single shot is considered two doses. That means that if you have J&J/Janssen + something like a Pfizer/Moderna booster, you are considered to have three doses.
>- The vaccine certificate needs to be issued by a government entity or medical institution to be valid. The CDC card **is** valid proof of vaccination.
* Your country of origin determines exactly what your COVID entry procedures are.
>- If you are from a [BLUE country](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_category.html), there is [no on-arrival testing or quarantine](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/bordercontrol.html). You simply need to be triple vaccinated or have a negative pre-departure PCR test to be let into the country.
>- If you are from a [YELLOW country](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_category.html), there is no need for on-arrival testing or quarantine **if you have three doses of an approved vaccine**. If you do **not** have three doses of an approved vaccine, you must submit a negative PCR/NAAT test before departure, and you must **also** [take an on-arrival test and quarantine for three days at home/your hotel](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_category.html).
* Currently, proof of vaccine or pre-departure PCR/NAAT test can be submitted via the [MySOS app](https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/fasttrack/en/) and will allow you to be fast-tracked into the country.
* [This page](https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html) details complete COVID rules and procedures. In particular, you want to read Section 3 (“Quarantine measures (New)”).
* For travelers with minors/children, minors/children are considered to hold the same vaccination status as their parents. See [this FAQ](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/03112200QA_EN.pdf) (page 17, “Do children also need a COVID-19 vaccination certificate?”):
>- “For children under the age of 18 without a valid vaccination certificate, if they are accompanied by a guardian with a valid vaccination certificate and who will supervise the children, they will be treated as holders of valid vaccination certificates, and submission of the negative certificates is exempted the same as the guardian as an exception.”
*(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.)*
10 comments
I’m a little confused about the approved vaccines list, I have an Ontario vaccine passport and it only seems to list the brand ie Pfizer and Moderna. Doesn’t say COMIRNATY or Spikevax anywhere as far as I can tell. Is this potentially an issue?
Planning to visit December. Should I consider buying refundable tickets? What are the chances the border closes again?
Is it worth to do a day trip from Osaka to Fukuoka to watch some of the sumo tournament? We would look to get on the train first thing in the morning and would spend the day before going back to Osaka.
Super silly question, but it’s hard to find info lately with the news about tourism visas and Oct 11. Does this “return to visa-free” apply to travelling for business (not work, but visiting companies/trade shows) as well?
I booked my flight (Oct. 22) from Vancouver. I’m going to also book a booster soon so I don’t have to take the PCR test. I bought my tickets with ANA (price was reasonable).
Some points I thought I’d share.
ANA will accept changes to your **ticket** or **refunds** without any fees due to the expansion of COVID-19 If :
– The itinerary is affected by suspension or time changes
– It becomes difficult to board a reserved flight due to the reinforcement of immigration restrictions in each country
To reassure comfort, and safety to all passengers traveling with ANA during Covid-19 period,
customers can now change their itinerary with **NO CHANGE FEE until November 1st.**
[https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/topics/coronavirus-travel-information/refund/international/](https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/topics/coronavirus-travel-information/refund/international/)
[https://www.ana.co.jp/en/sg/offers-and-announcements/promotions/nochangefee/](https://www.ana.co.jp/en/sg/offers-and-announcements/promotions/nochangefee/)
Has anyone been to the annual Tokyo Ramen Fest? It’s usually held in late October/early November? [https://ra-fes.com/](https://ra-fes.com/)
I’m a huge ramen fan and planning to go to the event on my first trip to Japan and was curious to hear about others’ experience with going 🙂
US resident here- how exactly do I verify my vaccination status? Will a certificate from my medical provider be enough, or do I need to get some government form? Granted, I won’t be going until June so it may not be needed by then but I want to figure things out ahead of time. Thanks
A bit of a reach but I’ll be flying in December for new years and booked my flights a long time ago so I’m all set.
My question is I have friends who now want to join me as borders are opened up but the big problem is… The prices. They’re looking to be around $3000+ respectively from Australia and New Zealand which is a rough cost to swallow.
I’ve read that ANA and Qantas will be opening more routes around end of October. Should we start seeing those routes (and more sensible prices) in the coming weeks?
What airline is better to fly with! ANA it JAl?
So I am looking to buy tickets for Sacra Music Fes 2022 in Chiba in late Nov. I already asked for a quote from Tickets Galore Japan and they gave me a quote of 16,000 yen (face value ticket is 9,900).
* Does anyone have experience with Tickets Galore and is 6000 yen service fee for a 10000 yen ticket? They sent me a payment request pretty much instantly, without really telling me how the process of getting the ticket would work. Felt a bit sketchy tbh. All I know so far is that tickets are ONLY through the e+ app with no physical ticket options.
* Will I run into issues if they check my ID? I’d assume Tickets Galore would put the tickets in my name, but the only ID I have is Canadian, which would be a huge red flag that I’m a foreigner who didn’t buy the tickets through conventional means.