Originally Posted by
alan11
You guys should realize that despite submitting your travel plans as well as what JGA may claim to offer, the government has not in fact released all the details for what the non-guided tour downgrade actually requires. No mention of travel insurance requirements, when this program will specifically begin (the Sept 7 date was regarding the 50,000 entry cap), or what would be required of the tour company to comply.
If you do get such an ERFS tomorrow, and you then submit for an eVisa soon after, it'd be bogus and may cause a red flag. You may want to wait until at least they announce the actual conditions for the non-guided tours.
Happy to be a guinea pig with 20k JPY if it has a chance of working out. Worst-case scenario I'm out $150 and have a case for a chargeback on the grounds of false advertising, best case scenario I can start firming up plans for my trip. As with others, my flights/hotels are fully refundable and mostly booked on points.