Stop believing Japan is reopening. Read this before planning a trip
On Tuesday Japanese officials made the first official announcement about the reopening of Japan to tourists, with a series of "test tours" planned for the coming month. News outlets and long-frustrated Japan travel enthusiasts reacted with excitement to the news that the nation will finally welcome foreign visitors again.
However, this announcement seems to be another false alarm about the full opening of Japan to tourists. The Points Guy has been tracking other recent announcements, and with input from some industry sources about when the "real" opening of Japan might take place, has developed some recommendations for what sort of Japan travel planning you might be able to do now.
Want more travel news and advice from TPG? Sign up for our daily newsletter.
[table-of-contents /]
Don't believe the hype
Over the past year, with semiregularity, Japan's travel-related official and unofficial announcements, rumors and hints have given people false hopes that the country is joining the rest of the world in allowing inbound tourism.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's speech in London this month implied Japan would reopen for travel in June, but he walked back and qualified his statements shortly thereafter. While Japan has begun to issue business and student visas for visitors, tourists are still left at home hoping to finally take that long-delayed trip.
Test tours
Here's what you need to know about Japan's announced test tours:
- According to the local Yomiuri News reporting of the Japan tourism minister's press conference, a grand total of 50 people will be allowed to visit on 10 to 15 tours over the next month.
- Visitors will be on strictly supervised group tours that will accept only triple-vaccinated tourists (who also have private medical insurance) from the U.S., Australia, Singapore and Thailand.
- The tours will only be operated by selected Japanese travel agencies that will "manage the behavior" of the visitors. JTB, one of the selected tour agencies, responded to a TPG inquiry by saying "the details about Japan's reopening and related procedures are not available at this moment."
- Once organized, these tours will only be allowed to visit prefectures (states) whose governments have approved visits, with some reports already saying Tokyo and Osaka have opted out of the tour program. Assuming the program goes as planned, this would imply a total of about one dozen tourists from the U.S. will be allowed to visit in the coming month on a carefully choreographed and restricted tour that would be the envy of North Korean guides.
Given Japan's methodical, bureaucratic and foreigner-adverse government planning process, don't expect those bright red torii gates to open for a flood of tourists any time soon.
When they do open, most probably in a highly regulated, highly supervised manner, it may not be the tourism experience anyone is hoping for during the first months of reopening. TPG founder Brian Kelly shared his advice, saying "I would not want to go to any country right when they open."
Related: A country-by-country guide to reopenings
What sort of Japan planning should you do now?
Since you realistically won't be willing or able to tour Japan in the next few months, what sort of planning should you do now?
Even assuming the so-called test tours operate without a hitch, continued approval for full reopening would not likely occur before fall. Julie McCormack, Asia program director for adventure travel company MT Sobek, told TPG, "I'm very optimistic that Japan will be open for fall 2022," but that the company has no confirmed information and is "continuing to listen for further news." MT Sobek currently accepts Japan bookings for fall 2022 tours, but many spaces are already filled by people who transferred their previously booked tours that were canceled in 2020 and 2021.
Fall is uncertain, and the Japanese domestic travel market is typically frantic and fully booked over the winter holiday through New Year's, so the end of 2022 doesn't seem to be a good time to plan a trip either.
The most likely scenario for things getting back to a "new normal" for foreign tourists to Japan would be spring 2023. So now might be a good time to start planning your cherry blossom-viewing trip from mid-March to early May of 2023. There's huge pent-up demand for travel to Japan, so when things do open up, there will be a rush of travelers quickly booking flights and hotels.
When things first open up for tourism in Japan, the local reaction will likely be mixed. Having lived in Japan for a year, worked for Japan's National Tourism Organization for two years and traveled extensively around the country, I'd expect two types of responses from the Japanese to the first wave of foreign tourists.
Tour operators and travel industry people will be delighted to get their businesses going again, and welcome a return of tourists. A deeply ingrained culture of hospitality will ensure the official trips are met with red carpet treatment — if you follow all the rules exactly.
However, the general population, normally extremely health-conscious (those with colds or any sort of health issue regularly wore masks on subways even in pre-pandemic times) might be averse to mixing with foreigners in the near future. You'll likely get a good seat on the subway as nobody will want to sit near you. Some local cafes, bars and restaurants might be averse to serving you, particularly in areas not accustomed to tourists.
A Japanese colleague in Tokyo messaged me today to say, "In the big cities I think shop and restaurant owners would be welcoming to tourists, but places with low infection rates right now are reluctant to have even Japanese tourists stop by." Despite potential reluctance, MT Sobek's McCormack believes the Japanese will "welcome tourists with open arms — but with masks on!"
Related: Japan lifts travel ban — but don't pack your suitcase yet
Bottom line
Barring some dramatic change in government perspective, Japan will not open for independent tourism anytime soon. Expect a slowly phased relaxing of travel restrictions with organized group tours permitted in the months ahead. As one of the great benefits and enjoyments of travel is mixing with people of foreign cultures, traveling in a "tourist bubble" in Japan might not be the most enjoyable experience.
The Points Guy recommends waiting on that Japan trip until 2023. If you do have an insatiable desire to travel to Japan as soon as possible, find a reputable organized tour that can ensure you get the access and experience you're looking for in order to make the long journey worthwhile.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees