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.
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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.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.