Mar 5, 2020, 5:17 pm
Last edit by: CPH-Flyer
This thread is for discussion of the coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to Japan. Non-Japan-related discussion should be taken either to the most relevant forum, the Coronavirus and Travel forum, or the OMNI forums.
UPDATE FOR TOURISTS LOOKING TO VISIT JAPAN AFTER COVID-19 BORDER RESTRICTIONS EASE
Japan does currently not allow entry for general tourism purposes. Most visa waivers are suspended, and travel to Japan for non resident foreigners generally require a visa. And quarantine as described for the countries and territories below.
UPDATE FOR PEOPLE WITH VISAS THAT ALLOW ENTRY INTO JAPAN
The quarantine requirements mentioned below will generally apply to entrants in Japan. As the conditions of who can obtain a visa for entry on exceptional circumstances are not clearly listed anywhere, it is necessary to confirm entry requirements with your local Japanese diplomatic representatives
Spouses and children of foreign permanent residents or Japanese nationals, can obtain visas for short term stays (up to 90 days) by applying in person or by mail at an overseas Japanese consulate. Required documentation includes application form, letter with reason for purpose of visit, bank statement and Koseki Tohon. Processing times have been reported as on the spot to up to one week.
From March 1st, business travelers, students and technical trainees can again enter Japan. There is a need to have a receiving organisation to apply for the visa. For business travelers, there will be one point of contact with the Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare. Though the full details are not published yet (as of typing on the 27th of February, please add them if you have seen them)
Business travelers must have a Japanese company or organization apply for a Certificate for Completion of Registration to the MHLW ERFS system. This is a two step process. The company must first register and then apply for the Certificate for the traveler. These can both be done online and completed in less than an hour.The website for doing this is https://entry.hco.mhlw.go.jp/.
After getting the certificate the traveler must apply for visa at the Japanese Consulate or Embassy with jurisdiction for where they reside. (They are quite strict about this. E.g. you can't apply while traveling in a foreign country.) The information on the Consulate pages state that you need Letter of Guarantee, Invitation Letter, etc when applying for the visa. In fact, however, if you have the EFRS certificate, all you need is the visa application, your passport and a photo. The Consulate will issue the visa within 5 days.
UPDATE JAPANESE CITIZENS AND RETURNING FOREIGN JAPAN RESIDENTS
All people travelling to Japan has to present a negative PCR test taking no earlier than. 72 hours before departure to be able to board the flight. The certificate has to meet the information requirements and test types from the Japanese government.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000799426.pdf
From the 7th of June, passport number, nationality, signature and stamp from the doctor/medical institution are no longer required.
The requirement for pre-departure test will be removed for passengers on flights landing after the 7th of September 00:00 provided that they have received a full bases vaccination and a booster vaccination. Accepted vaccines are Moderna, Pfizer, Astra, Zeneca, J&J, Novavax, Covaxin.
Uploading documents in advance via the mysos app or via the mysos website is required. For details please see https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/en/
The arrival process is as follows. Countries will be grouped in red, yellow, and blue.
Red countries:
Albania, Sierra Leone
Yellow countries:
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cook Island, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Macau, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Congo, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Vanuatu, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe
Blue countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentine, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Western Sahara, Zambia
For updates to the lists of countries and territories and changes to the rules check the website of the ministry of foreign affairs https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html and ask in the thread for clarifications and experiences of entering Japan.
UPDATE FOR TOURISTS LOOKING TO VISIT JAPAN AFTER COVID-19 BORDER RESTRICTIONS EASE
Japan does currently not allow entry for general tourism purposes. Most visa waivers are suspended, and travel to Japan for non resident foreigners generally require a visa. And quarantine as described for the countries and territories below.
UPDATE FOR PEOPLE WITH VISAS THAT ALLOW ENTRY INTO JAPAN
The quarantine requirements mentioned below will generally apply to entrants in Japan. As the conditions of who can obtain a visa for entry on exceptional circumstances are not clearly listed anywhere, it is necessary to confirm entry requirements with your local Japanese diplomatic representatives
Spouses and children of foreign permanent residents or Japanese nationals, can obtain visas for short term stays (up to 90 days) by applying in person or by mail at an overseas Japanese consulate. Required documentation includes application form, letter with reason for purpose of visit, bank statement and Koseki Tohon. Processing times have been reported as on the spot to up to one week.
From March 1st, business travelers, students and technical trainees can again enter Japan. There is a need to have a receiving organisation to apply for the visa. For business travelers, there will be one point of contact with the Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare. Though the full details are not published yet (as of typing on the 27th of February, please add them if you have seen them)
Business travelers must have a Japanese company or organization apply for a Certificate for Completion of Registration to the MHLW ERFS system. This is a two step process. The company must first register and then apply for the Certificate for the traveler. These can both be done online and completed in less than an hour.The website for doing this is https://entry.hco.mhlw.go.jp/.
After getting the certificate the traveler must apply for visa at the Japanese Consulate or Embassy with jurisdiction for where they reside. (They are quite strict about this. E.g. you can't apply while traveling in a foreign country.) The information on the Consulate pages state that you need Letter of Guarantee, Invitation Letter, etc when applying for the visa. In fact, however, if you have the EFRS certificate, all you need is the visa application, your passport and a photo. The Consulate will issue the visa within 5 days.
UPDATE JAPANESE CITIZENS AND RETURNING FOREIGN JAPAN RESIDENTS
All people travelling to Japan has to present a negative PCR test taking no earlier than. 72 hours before departure to be able to board the flight. The certificate has to meet the information requirements and test types from the Japanese government.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000799426.pdf
From the 7th of June, passport number, nationality, signature and stamp from the doctor/medical institution are no longer required.
The requirement for pre-departure test will be removed for passengers on flights landing after the 7th of September 00:00 provided that they have received a full bases vaccination and a booster vaccination. Accepted vaccines are Moderna, Pfizer, Astra, Zeneca, J&J, Novavax, Covaxin.
Uploading documents in advance via the mysos app or via the mysos website is required. For details please see https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/en/
The arrival process is as follows. Countries will be grouped in red, yellow, and blue.
- Group “Red”：On-arrival test is required. 3-day quarantine at a government-designated facility is required, however, those who obtain a valid vaccination certificate may have 5-day home quarantine (or 3-day home quarantine + negative result of a voluntary test) instead.
- Group “Yellow”：On-arrival test and 5-day home quarantine (or 3-day home quarantine + negative result of a voluntary test) are required, however, those who obtain a valid vaccination certificate are not required to have on-arrival test, home quarantine and other measures.
- Group “Blue”：Regardless of the vaccination status of the entrants/returnees, on-arrival test, home quarantine and other measures are not required.
Red countries:
Albania, Sierra Leone
Yellow countries:
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cook Island, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Macau, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Congo, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Vanuatu, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe
Blue countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentine, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Western Sahara, Zambia
For updates to the lists of countries and territories and changes to the rules check the website of the ministry of foreign affairs https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html and ask in the thread for clarifications and experiences of entering Japan.
Coronavirus impact in Japan [consolidated]
Apr 30, 2022, 7:46 pm
#8386
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NGS
Programs: UA Silver, ANA MC, HH Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Plat, Shangri-La GC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,240
I was referring to the US$-JPY exchange rate when I first arrived in Japan in 1974. I assume that FlyingSloth's comment that "the Japanese yen is at an all time low" means an all-time recent low since the yen has of course been weaker historically than it is today (although in 1974 the yen had strengthened against the dollar compared to 1972, it was weaker against the dollar then than it is today). When I first arrived here, $33 was worth about 10,000 yen.
Apr 30, 2022, 9:24 pm
#8387
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,439
A recent report suggested that over half of Americans had already contracted COVID at least once, leading some to argue that catching COVID is inevitable, so we should all just move on to the "learn to live with it" stage.
However, with masking and other prevention requests in Japan still in place, that number remains well under 5% of the population of the Kanto area. So a vast majority of the population has still managed to avoid infection.
And this is fortunate, because the hospital infrastructure has, thanks to the byzantine system of Japan, been stressed to dangerous levels even with the low number of infections seen to date. If this system remains unchanged, and all restrictions are removed and we end up getting like 5% of Tokyo's population infected all at the same time, then the system could well and truly be brought to its knees.
So if the Japanese government does decide that this is the direction that society needs to move in, then they will first need to create a law or somehow otherwise legally relegate COVID to a flu-level of disease, so that regular hospitals will be able to handle the cases, which would finally allow Japan to just let the virus have its way. And I think that's the step that will be necessary before full-blown tourism resumption will be palatable, though I've yet to hear a peep from Kishida on a timetable for that.
However, with masking and other prevention requests in Japan still in place, that number remains well under 5% of the population of the Kanto area. So a vast majority of the population has still managed to avoid infection.
And this is fortunate, because the hospital infrastructure has, thanks to the byzantine system of Japan, been stressed to dangerous levels even with the low number of infections seen to date. If this system remains unchanged, and all restrictions are removed and we end up getting like 5% of Tokyo's population infected all at the same time, then the system could well and truly be brought to its knees.
So if the Japanese government does decide that this is the direction that society needs to move in, then they will first need to create a law or somehow otherwise legally relegate COVID to a flu-level of disease, so that regular hospitals will be able to handle the cases, which would finally allow Japan to just let the virus have its way. And I think that's the step that will be necessary before full-blown tourism resumption will be palatable, though I've yet to hear a peep from Kishida on a timetable for that.
May 1, 2022, 1:17 am
#8388
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,191
A recent report suggested that over half of Americans had already contracted COVID at least once, leading some to argue that catching COVID is inevitable, so we should all just move on to the "learn to live with it" stage.
However, with masking and other prevention requests in Japan still in place, that number remains well under 5% of the population of the Kanto area. So a vast majority of the population has still managed to avoid infection.
And this is fortunate, because the hospital infrastructure has, thanks to the byzantine system of Japan, been stressed to dangerous levels even with the low number of infections seen to date. If this system remains unchanged, and all restrictions are removed and we end up getting like 5% of Tokyo's population infected all at the same time, then the system could well and truly be brought to its knees.
So if the Japanese government does decide that this is the direction that society needs to move in, then they will first need to create a law or somehow otherwise legally relegate COVID to a flu-level of disease, so that regular hospitals will be able to handle the cases, which would finally allow Japan to just let the virus have its way. And I think that's the step that will be necessary before full-blown tourism resumption will be palatable, though I've yet to hear a peep from Kishida on a timetable for that.
However, with masking and other prevention requests in Japan still in place, that number remains well under 5% of the population of the Kanto area. So a vast majority of the population has still managed to avoid infection.
And this is fortunate, because the hospital infrastructure has, thanks to the byzantine system of Japan, been stressed to dangerous levels even with the low number of infections seen to date. If this system remains unchanged, and all restrictions are removed and we end up getting like 5% of Tokyo's population infected all at the same time, then the system could well and truly be brought to its knees.
So if the Japanese government does decide that this is the direction that society needs to move in, then they will first need to create a law or somehow otherwise legally relegate COVID to a flu-level of disease, so that regular hospitals will be able to handle the cases, which would finally allow Japan to just let the virus have its way. And I think that's the step that will be necessary before full-blown tourism resumption will be palatable, though I've yet to hear a peep from Kishida on a timetable for that.
I doubt the two pieces of research are comparable in the way they are being used. And to be honest, I am skeptical of both sets of data.
May 1, 2022, 1:46 am
#8389
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 328
And this is fortunate, because the hospital infrastructure has, thanks to the byzantine system of Japan, been stressed to dangerous levels even with the low number of infections seen to date. If this system remains unchanged, and all restrictions are removed and we end up getting like 5% of Tokyo's population infected all at the same time, then the system could well and truly be brought to its knees.
Has it really been stressed to dangerous levels this year? I didn't see the occupancy for normal patients going much higher than 50% in Tokyo. I would bet they have an emergency plan to increase that maximum capacity too, if necessary.
Conversely, we can certainly say that Hong Kong's medical system was stretched to dangerous levels earlier this year, where we saw elderly people dying outside hospitals for lack of space.
In the UK recently, up to 8% of the population had COVID simultaneously, and at the moment it's around 4% and dropping according to the ONS study, and the medical system hasn't come close to being overrun during the most recent wave. Japan is a developed country, I can't imagine their medical system is significantly worse than the NHS.
May 2, 2022, 12:38 pm
#8390
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SAN, LAX
Programs: JMB, Bonvoy, Hyatt
Posts: 237
There appears to be a lot of leeway for the moment, however - for example, in Tokyo right now, only 11 out of the 510 beds (2.2%) designated for severe COVID patients are occupied. For general COVID patients, it's 1,442 out of 7,229 beds (19.9%).
Has it really been stressed to dangerous levels this year? I didn't see the occupancy for normal patients going much higher than 50% in Tokyo. I would bet they have an emergency plan to increase that maximum capacity too, if necessary.
Conversely, we can certainly say that Hong Kong's medical system was stretched to dangerous levels earlier this year, where we saw elderly people dying outside hospitals for lack of space.
In the UK recently, up to 8% of the population had COVID simultaneously, and at the moment it's around 4% and dropping according to the ONS study, and the medical system hasn't come close to being overrun during the most recent wave. Japan is a developed country, I can't imagine their medical system is significantly worse than the NHS.
Has it really been stressed to dangerous levels this year? I didn't see the occupancy for normal patients going much higher than 50% in Tokyo. I would bet they have an emergency plan to increase that maximum capacity too, if necessary.
Conversely, we can certainly say that Hong Kong's medical system was stretched to dangerous levels earlier this year, where we saw elderly people dying outside hospitals for lack of space.
In the UK recently, up to 8% of the population had COVID simultaneously, and at the moment it's around 4% and dropping according to the ONS study, and the medical system hasn't come close to being overrun during the most recent wave. Japan is a developed country, I can't imagine their medical system is significantly worse than the NHS.
Also, I think health care systems are complicated and aren't just strictly "better" or "worse" than others. The one in Japan certainly has had its struggles during the heights of COVID and I can't imagine much has improved on that front.
May 2, 2022, 4:55 pm
#8391
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,191
Sri Lanka, Turkey and Vietnam was removed from the designated country list, so no quarantine requirements for boosted travelers.
Bulgaria, Laos, and South Africa was added to the list of designated countries.
Wiki has been updated.
Bulgaria, Laos, and South Africa was added to the list of designated countries.
Wiki has been updated.
May 2, 2022, 6:06 pm
#8392
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,439
Interesting that countries are still being newly added as a result of Omicron based variants. I wouldn't think that's something the government would do if they were looking to normalize things soon.
May 2, 2022, 6:14 pm
#8393
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
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Posts: 21,191
I was a bit surprised that things are still being added. But I guess no one asked the "quarantine related overseas infection status monitoring office" to stop their activities.... (don't know what the office is actually called but it always ends up being rather long)
May 2, 2022, 6:58 pm
#8394
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,163
These things tend to take a life of their own, especially in Japan. Wouldn't surprise me that the list would be active and changing well after they stopped enforcing it...
May 2, 2022, 8:03 pm
#8395
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Thanks for the Memories !!!
Posts: 10,658
Well , at least they aren't pursuing a "zero covid" policy like China! 
May 2, 2022, 10:21 pm
#8396
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,713
I remember when the Japanese yen was 306 yen to the dollar and even then it was not at an all-time low. Still, I get your drift, and it's nice to be in Japan and able to use my US-issued dollar-based credit cards for most purchases. I hope you get here in time to take advantage of it. 
May 2, 2022, 10:22 pm
#8397
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,713
That’s because you’re thinking logically, analytically. That is not the norm here IME.
May 2, 2022, 10:26 pm
#8398
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,713
A recent report suggested that over half of Americans had already contracted COVID at least once, leading some to argue that catching COVID is inevitable, so we should all just move on to the "learn to live with it" stage.
However, with masking and other prevention requests in Japan still in place, that number remains well under 5% of the population of the Kanto area. So a vast majority of the population has still managed to avoid infection.
And this is fortunate, because the hospital infrastructure has, thanks to the byzantine system of Japan, been stressed to dangerous levels even with the low number of infections seen to date. If this system remains unchanged, and all restrictions are removed and we end up getting like 5% of Tokyo's population infected all at the same time, then the system could well and truly be brought to its knees.
So if the Japanese government does decide that this is the direction that society needs to move in, then they will first need to create a law or somehow otherwise legally relegate COVID to a flu-level of disease, so that regular hospitals will be able to handle the cases, which would finally allow Japan to just let the virus have its way. And I think that's the step that will be necessary before full-blown tourism resumption will be palatable, though I've yet to hear a peep from Kishida on a timetable for that.
However, with masking and other prevention requests in Japan still in place, that number remains well under 5% of the population of the Kanto area. So a vast majority of the population has still managed to avoid infection.
And this is fortunate, because the hospital infrastructure has, thanks to the byzantine system of Japan, been stressed to dangerous levels even with the low number of infections seen to date. If this system remains unchanged, and all restrictions are removed and we end up getting like 5% of Tokyo's population infected all at the same time, then the system could well and truly be brought to its knees.
So if the Japanese government does decide that this is the direction that society needs to move in, then they will first need to create a law or somehow otherwise legally relegate COVID to a flu-level of disease, so that regular hospitals will be able to handle the cases, which would finally allow Japan to just let the virus have its way. And I think that's the step that will be necessary before full-blown tourism resumption will be palatable, though I've yet to hear a peep from Kishida on a timetable for that.
I hope the Japanese government ultimately will agree as well. The Chinese policy is just ironically unbelievable and draconian. I cannot see it working in the long term unless I missing something…
May 2, 2022, 10:33 pm
#8399
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
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Posts: 5,336
May 2, 2022, 10:37 pm
#8400
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NGS
Programs: UA Silver, ANA MC, HH Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Plat, Shangri-La GC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,240
https://www.macrotrends.net/2550/dol...storical-chart