Japan has finally reopened its borders to independent foreign travelers and reintroduced visa-free entry from October 11, 2022. This was my sign to pack my bags and head to the country I have dreamed of for a long time. But how easy is it to actually get in? Quite easy I must say.
If you are from one of the dozens of countries who are able to visit Japan visa-free, you once again can.
Before coming, we filled out the Visit Japan Web page with out info. It asked for passport scan, personal information about us and our stay. It will take a few hours to get the confirmation back with approval. While you wait, fill out the customs and immigration questioners. They will also provide barcodes to scan for fast track entry.
Once successfully completed, you will be provided with QR codes for each step of the entry process (quarantine, immigration, and customs).
Once you have filled out the app or web page, be sure to screenshot your barcodes for easy access once you land. You will be asked for this at multiple locations after deplaning. It will feel like you are showing 20 people the same thing, and you are. Just bring it up on your phone and go though. It was fairly quick and painless.
The big requirements are that you either need to be fully vaccinated with WHO-approved vaccines, and by this in Japan you must have 2 vaccines PLUS a booster OR you will need to take a RT OCR test within 72 hrs of entering the country.
If you are fully vaccinated and traveling with children, they take your status automatically. If you are not fully vaccinated, you and the children will need to take the covid test. Since I only have 2 shots, the kids and I went in for covid test to satisfy the stipulations. Not, antigen test are not accepted.
For the test, only certain testing and sample collection methods are accepted. I found that all the requirements were pretty standard for most PCR test anyway so it shouldn't be a problem but of course, be sure to check it out.
Currently, mask is not mandated, only encouraged when in crowded places though most Japanese still wear their mask religiously. Inside and out.
