After months of speculation, Japan will finally lift its remaining restrictions on tourism from 11 October 2022, as announced by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a visit to New York.
The daily arrival cap will be removed, mandatory tourist visas will be scrapped, and independent travel will be permitted once more. No pre-departure or on-arrival testing is required for fully-vaccinated travellers, and it’s basically back to pre-COVID days.
Japan lifts remaining tourism restrictions
From 11 October 2022, Japan will scrap its daily arrival cap of 50,000 people, and reinstate its visa-waiver programme for nationals from the following 68 countries and regions.
| 🇯🇵 Visa-Free Entry to Japan (All entry valid for 90 days unless otherwise stated) | |
| Region | Countries |
| Asia |
|
| Africa |
|
| Europe |
|
| Latin American & Caribbean |
|
| Middle East |
|
| North America |
|
| Oceania |
|
| Additional terms may apply for certain countries. Refer to MOFA Japan for official details. | |
Japan previously required tourists to purchase a pre-arranged package from a tour agency. This requirement will be removed from 11 October, and free-and-easy travel will be permitted once more. That’s great news for miles and points collectors, who can redeem award flights (assuming you can find space) and hotel nights.
Testing regulations
Pre-departure
Japan has already scrapped the requirement for a pre-departure COVID-19 test for all fully vaccinated travellers. As a reminder, Japan defines “fully vaccinated” as individuals who have received at least three doses of the following vaccines:
- AstraZeneca
- Covaxin
- Covishield
- COVOVAX
- Janssen (only two doses required)
- Moderna
- Novavax
- Pfizer-BioNTech
Any combination of the above is acceptable as well.
From 11 October, CanSino, Sinovac and Sinopharm will be added to the list of recognised vaccinations.
Unvaccinated travellers are required to produce a negative pre-departure PCR test result, taken within 72 hours of travel. The cost of a test in Singapore starts from S$50.
Unvaccinated children under the age of 18 who travel with vaccinated parents/guardians will be treated as fully vaccinated (refer to the bottom of page 17 for the source)
On-arrival
On-arrival testing depends on an individual’s travel history. Singapore is currently classified as a Blue List country, which does not require on-arrival testing or quarantine, regardless of vaccination status.
Visitors from Yellow or Red List countries may be required to take on-arrival tests or quarantine, depending on their vaccination status. However, since the Red List is currently empty, a fully-vaccinated traveller is basically free from all pre-departure and on-arrival testing.
| Category | Vax? | Test?* | Quarantine^ |
| Blue | Yes | PDT: N/A OAT: N/A | N/A |
| No | PDT: PCR OAT: N/A | N/A | |
| Yellow | Yes | PDT: N/A OAT: N/A | N/A |
| No | PDT: PCR OAT: PCR | 3 days (home) | |
| Red | Yes | PDT: N/A OAT: PCR | 3 days (home) |
| No | PDT: PCR OAT: PCR | 3 days (facility) | |
| *PDT= Pre-departure test, OAT= On-arrival test ^Negative PCR test required to end quarantine | |||
If your 14-day travel history cuts across various categories, the restrictions of the strictest one will apply. You can view the full list of countries by category here.
Mask rules
It may surprise you to know that Japan does not actually have a mask mandate. The official stance is that masks are not required outdoors or indoors, assuming you can keep a minimum distance of 2-metres from others. However, the vast majority of locals continue to mask, and it’s safe to say the same will be expected of visitors.
Likewise, there’s no requirement to wear masks on flights to or from Japan, although ANA and Japan Airlines continue to enforce the rule. Singapore Airlines passengers will not be required to mask, as per the airline’s latest global mask policy.
What’s the award space situation?
October calls for 55 weekly flights between Singapore and Tokyo, operated by Singapore Airlines, Scoot, ANA and Japan Airlines.
Singapore Airlines operates the A350-900, B777-300ER and B787-10 on this route, which means redemptions across all four cabins are possible.
 Redemption Cost from Singapore to Japan(Flight on Singapore Air) | ||
| Saver (One-Way) | Advantage (One-Way) | |
| Economy | 27,000 | 45,000 |
| Premium Economy | 37,500 | N/A |
| Business | 52,000 | 70,000 |
| First | 77,000 | 120,000 |
However, bad news if you’re hoping to redeem KrisFlyer miles to Japan. Award space in Business and First Class has virtually vanished for the rest of 2022. At most, you’ll be able to find Economy Class awards, and even those are likely to disappear soon with the latest news.
Not all is lost though. If you have Alaska Mileage Plan miles, Asia Miles, British Airways Avios or any other programme that can book Japan Airlines award space, here’s how you find award flights to Tokyo.
Conclusion
Japan will finally lift its remaining tourism restrictions from 11 October 2022, which means no more visa applications or tour groups. With pre-departure and on-arrival testing already not necessary for fully-vaccinated Singaporeans and nationals of most countries, visiting Japan effectively returns to pre-COVID conditions.
Who’s heading to Japan?
No economical class seats for redemption till Dec even before this announcement 🙁
Did they also restore the validity of multiple entry visas issued before 2020?
Singapore never needed a visa to enter.
The question was whether japan would also lift the suspension on the visas they issued before 2020. In March 2020, they suspended two things: visa waiver for those countries listed above, and validity of visas issued on or before March. Now that the first one has been lifted, what about the second one? Gotta wait for them to release the official regulations document
Singapore never needed a visa to enter.
You realise not every person living in Singapore is Singaporean, right?
It’s interesting to note that Indonesian passport holders now enjoy visa-free entry for 90 days. Pre-Covid they were required to apply for visa.
You need to register your Indonesian e-passport to enjoy your 15 days visa free as mentioned in table. If your visit more than 15 days, you need visa.
This applies since before covid days
Ah yes you’re right on the differential requirement of e- and non-e-passport. Indonesian embassy does not issue e-passport to its overseas resident and therefore I’m required to apply for visa.
There should be more seats for commercial and award bookings after the cap is removed.
Yes, make more award bookings available because the airlines must hate cash bookings. Smart.
My bet worked. Made both flight and hotel bookings back in Jul. Really miss the Jap menu on SQ
Just now I happen to Come across Business class advantage space on one of the days from TYO to SIN though.
but waitlisted right?
No, the one I saw last night was direct book for advantage award, wait list for saver award for the same space. 9 Nov, SQ631 from Haneda, it is still there as of now.
My bet worked!! Our trip for end March 2023 is now ON! First Class Award booking BKK-HND on JAL and then business award booking NGO-SIN-BKK on SQ (booked on 4/7/22 at the old miles rate too!). Just fabulous. Also have about half the accommodation booked at bargain basement prices too. AT LAST. Just wonderful news.
Not sure whether will I attract “stares” if I don’t don a mask outdoor in Ginza and Shinjuku?
No, have been doing that the past week, nobody cares.
People dont really do it lol.
Just a special rule for gaijins.
Useless China Passport.
I thought this day would never come! LOL
For the blue category, I think you don’t need a predeparture test before arrival according to the govt regulations page that you linked in the article.
unvaccinated travellers required PDT, regardless of category.
https://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/PDT_00001.html
Ditto this
(Note 1) For nationals of Indonesia (since December 1, 2014), visas are not required only for those who have registered ICAO-compliant ePassport to diplomatic missions of Japan in Indonesia (the embassy, consulates-general, or the consulate). Validity of the registration is three years period or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.