Nooooooooooo, I was about to go to Japan this November, using my iPhone 14 Pro to take pictures of Japan with less tourists...............
With special privilege that’s not available for regular tourist of course.
Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap
11–20 of 103 posts
Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap
#12Does this mean tourists don't need a visa for Japan anymore? Including people with traditionally "weaker" passports like Uganda, India, etc.? The article linked elsewhere in the comments is not clear on this.
Probably not. So far, after COVID, Japan is “open” but only if you go as part of a tour group. You can’t just land and get visa-free entry to go backpacking around. It sounds like that’s what’s changing.
Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap
#13I wonder to what extent this reflects desperation for foreign currency (especially dollars) given the recent intervention by BoJ to stop the yen's freefall. https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/boj-keep-ultra-low-rate... My guess is that this would be a drop in the bucket, but who knows?
I haven't been following this.
This is very interesting considering most Japanese economic policy has been an attempt to reverse deflation or stagnation. Now it's inflating too fast?
Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap
#14Please don't link to a newspaper's tweet when they have an actual story: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/09/23/national/kishid...
The headline, "Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap," is also a more relevant framing, in that the "visa-free" part is a return to the pre-pandemic status quo, not some novel customs policy as some other comments are interpreting it.
Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap
#15Road trip across Japan is quickly moving to the top of my bucket list? Has anyone done it? How was it? Must see stops?
Train trips mostly fit Japan better, and it's more relaxing.
Kyoto is an amazing place, Tokyo is a must, and Mount Fuji is quite nice. I've heard Osaka is cool, but I've never been. Beyond that, specifics depend on what you're into.
My favorite bits were generally the food, temples, museums, onsen and just wandering around shopping districts and taking it all in.
Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap
#16This will make a day layover for a trip much simpler !
Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap
#17Road trip across Japan is quickly moving to the top of my bucket list? Has anyone done it? How was it? Must see stops?
I did a one month vinyl record shopping trip in Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo a few years ago by train.
Hiroshima was my favourite city. Considering what happened there, it had a really peaceful vibe and the city rebuild in the affected areas is great.
Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap
#18Road trip across Japan is quickly moving to the top of my bucket list? Has anyone done it? How was it? Must see stops?
Train trips mostly fit Japan better, and it's more relaxing. Kyoto is an amazing place, Tokyo is a must, and Mount Fuji is quite nice. I've heard Osaka is cool, but I've never been. Beyond that, specifics depend on what you're into. My favorite bits were generally the food, temples, museums, onsen and just wandering around shopping districts and taking it all in.
Also, Japan has fairly high road tolls, so driving adds up fast. And there's not really free street parking either.
Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap
#19Road trip across Japan is quickly moving to the top of my bucket list? Has anyone done it? How was it? Must see stops?
I've traveled extensively in Japan and very highly recommend it.
I especially recommend a long walk in rural or small-town Japan. Perhaps the best one-day option is the Yamanobe Road
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kansai/nara/the-yam...
which is breathtaking. You pass ancient tombs, temples, and shrines -- you will have beautiful mountains to your east and even more beautiful small towns to your west. If you've seen My Neighbor Totoro, imagine that it was brought to life and you got to spend all day walking through it. It's fairly easy to get to from Nara, Osaka, or Kyoto.
If you have more time, the classic long-distance walk in Japan is the Henro-michi in Shikoku, aka the Shikoku pilgrimage.
https://shikoku-tourism.com/en/shikoku-henro/shikoku-henro
I did it on foot over 58 days, and it was absolutely the experience of a lifetime. Even if you don't have two months, just a few days on the trail will showcase rural Japan at its most beautiful, and the Japanese people at their friendliest and most welcoming.
Oh -- and I've driven in Japan, but you'll probably want to get around by train instead, the mass transit is the best in the world.
Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap
#20Nooooooooooo, I was about to go to Japan this November, using my iPhone 14 Pro to take pictures of Japan with less tourists............... With special privilege that’s not available for regular tourist of course.
Yeah all of those pesky tourists always taking pictures with their iPhone 14 Pros, oh wait...