Live data from Hacker News

Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap

japantimes.co.jp

21–30 of 103 posts

Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap

#21
post #5

I 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?

Can’t find the link at the moment, but some economists in Japan think it would have a real impact. Tourism has been a major industry for Japan in the last decade, and all those tourists buy up lots of yen for their trips.

Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap

#22

Road 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 yo…

Those two rural/small town walks you mentioned: can they be accessed without driving?

Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap

#23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 yo…

Those two rural/small town walks you mentioned: can they be accessed without driving?

Yes. The Yamanobe Road is easier to get to, the endpoints are each close to train stations (Tenri on the north end, Sakurai on the south). These are well connected to Nara and Osaka. Alternatively, you can start at Sakurai and walk all the way north to Nara (about 30 km).

The henro-michi is harder to get to, because Shikoku in general is harder to get to. If coming from Kobe or Osaka, you'll probably want to take a bus to Naruto, Tokushima, or Takamatsu. (Naruto if you're starting from the beginning.) A bit more of a schlep, but still not bad.

If doing these walks, then not driving is a big advantage -- because you don't have to worry about where you parked your car! In particular, you don't need to end at the same place you began.

Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap

#25

Please 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...

Ok, we'll changed to that from https://twitter.com/japantimes/status/1572962383252934656 above. Thanks!

Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap

#26
post #5

I 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?

Japanese economists are at least hopeful it will help: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/09/18/business/japane...

Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap

#28

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.

Yeah all of those pesky tourists always taking pictures with their iPhone 14 Pros, oh wait...

Loooll, thankfully I am not your average tourist.

Re: Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap

#29
This reminded me to check on Canada as I periodically do, and it looks like they also just made a related announcement today: they're ending vaccine requirements for the border at the end of the month: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/government-lifting-pandemic...

I've previously been misdirected here, since they have different rules for vacationers vs business travelers or something like that. But, this sounds like a blanket lift of restrictions.

Post reply on HN