Japan Opening for Packaged Tours
May 29, 2022, 5:33 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 200
Japan Opening for Packaged Tours
Surprised there wasn't a thread on this already!
Does anyone know which packaged tours will be eligible to get entry? Is it simply any travel agency in Japan that will fill out the ERS(sp?) form for you and get you the visa?
Does anyone know if it costs the companies any money to do this form? I'm trying to book a light packaged tour that doesn't have literally every minute of the day scheduled so I can get a little free time to roam.
Does anyone know which packaged tours will be eligible to get entry? Is it simply any travel agency in Japan that will fill out the ERS(sp?) form for you and get you the visa?
Does anyone know if it costs the companies any money to do this form? I'm trying to book a light packaged tour that doesn't have literally every minute of the day scheduled so I can get a little free time to roam.
May 29, 2022, 5:41 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,970
Surprised there wasn't a thread on this already!
Does anyone know which packaged tours will be eligible to get entry? Is it simply any travel agency in Japan that will fill out the ERS(sp?) form for you and get you the visa?
Does anyone know if it costs the companies any money to do this form? I'm trying to book a light packaged tour that doesn't have literally every minute of the day scheduled so I can get a little free time to roam.
Does anyone know which packaged tours will be eligible to get entry? Is it simply any travel agency in Japan that will fill out the ERS(sp?) form for you and get you the visa?
Does anyone know if it costs the companies any money to do this form? I'm trying to book a light packaged tour that doesn't have literally every minute of the day scheduled so I can get a little free time to roam.
I think details are still pretty sparse. Only approved travel agencies that work with the Japanese government like JTB (Specifically Honolulu, but more JTB offices might be included).
If overpaying to be shuttled around to pre-approved sites, movement severely restricted, and having your hygiene inspected like a dirty gaijin in a way that would make Kim Jong Un blush is your thing, then there is a package on their site for September, but I haven't seen anything sooner yet: https://online.jtbusa.com/TourDetail...rDate=20211210
May 29, 2022, 6:14 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Kanto
Posts: 151
I think this thread is still a bit too early for any relevant tour info.
Supposedly the "test" tours (that are still currently happening) need to conclude so the government can "evaluate" them and set the "guidelines" for any tours that are suppose to start in mid-June. So it will probably be another week or so till that happens
But once the restrictions... umm, I mean "guidelines" are determined, then JTB would probably be one of the first operators to start these tours.
Here's their current offerings from their US site (its either 1-3 day tours for people already in the country like residents, or package tours/escorted tours that aren't until autumn.)
https://www.jtbusa.com/TourTop.aspx
Its worth noting that JTB still lists tour info that says "2020", so you can see that its been a while since this has been properly updated.
Supposedly the "test" tours (that are still currently happening) need to conclude so the government can "evaluate" them and set the "guidelines" for any tours that are suppose to start in mid-June. So it will probably be another week or so till that happens
But once the restrictions... umm, I mean "guidelines" are determined, then JTB would probably be one of the first operators to start these tours.
Here's their current offerings from their US site (its either 1-3 day tours for people already in the country like residents, or package tours/escorted tours that aren't until autumn.)
https://www.jtbusa.com/TourTop.aspx
Its worth noting that JTB still lists tour info that says "2020", so you can see that its been a while since this has been properly updated.
May 29, 2022, 6:58 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 200
I think this thread is still a bit too early for any relevant tour info.
Supposedly the "test" tours (that are still currently happening) need to conclude so the government can "evaluate" them and set the "guidelines" for any tours that are suppose to start in mid-June. So it will probably be another week or so till that happens
But once the restrictions... umm, I mean "guidelines" are determined, then JTB would probably be one of the first operators to start these tours.
Here's their current offerings from their US site (its either 1-3 day tours for people already in the country like residents, or package tours/escorted tours that aren't until autumn.)
https://www.jtbusa.com/TourTop.aspx
Its worth noting that JTB still lists tour info that says "2020", so you can see that its been a while since this has been properly updated.
Supposedly the "test" tours (that are still currently happening) need to conclude so the government can "evaluate" them and set the "guidelines" for any tours that are suppose to start in mid-June. So it will probably be another week or so till that happens
But once the restrictions... umm, I mean "guidelines" are determined, then JTB would probably be one of the first operators to start these tours.
Here's their current offerings from their US site (its either 1-3 day tours for people already in the country like residents, or package tours/escorted tours that aren't until autumn.)
https://www.jtbusa.com/TourTop.aspx
Its worth noting that JTB still lists tour info that says "2020", so you can see that its been a while since this has been properly updated.
May 29, 2022, 7:29 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Kanto
Posts: 151
Somehow I imagine these tours will have all customers either fly in together on the same flight, or if having different origin locations then have them arrive at the same day/time. The "tour" will probably start and end at the airport, with all transport arranged and a monitoring watchdog... I mean "guide" with you the whole time.
May 29, 2022, 8:39 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 200
If you already have a flight reservation, you may not be able to use it in conjunction with one of these upcoming "package" tours.
Somehow I imagine these tours will have all customers either fly in together on the same flight, or if having different origin locations then have them arrive at the same day/time. The "tour" will probably start and end at the airport, with all transport arranged and a monitoring watchdog... I mean "guide" with you the whole time.
Somehow I imagine these tours will have all customers either fly in together on the same flight, or if having different origin locations then have them arrive at the same day/time. The "tour" will probably start and end at the airport, with all transport arranged and a monitoring watchdog... I mean "guide" with you the whole time.
May 29, 2022, 11:35 pm
#7
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,822
Surprised there wasn't a thread on this already!
Does anyone know which packaged tours will be eligible to get entry? Is it simply any travel agency in Japan that will fill out the ERS(sp?) form for you and get you the visa?
Does anyone know if it costs the companies any money to do this form? I'm trying to book a light packaged tour that doesn't have literally every minute of the day scheduled so I can get a little free time to roam.
Does anyone know which packaged tours will be eligible to get entry? Is it simply any travel agency in Japan that will fill out the ERS(sp?) form for you and get you the visa?
Does anyone know if it costs the companies any money to do this form? I'm trying to book a light packaged tour that doesn't have literally every minute of the day scheduled so I can get a little free time to roam.
It's discussed in the megathread here: Coronavirus impact in Japan [consolidated]
I think details are still pretty sparse. Only approved travel agencies that work with the Japanese government like JTB (Specifically Honolulu, but more JTB offices might be included).
If overpaying to be shuttled around to pre-approved sites, movement severely restricted, and having your hygiene inspected like a dirty gaijin in a way that would make Kim Jong Un blush is your thing, then there is a package on their site for September, but I haven't seen anything sooner yet: https://online.jtbusa.com/TourDetail...rDate=20211210
I think details are still pretty sparse. Only approved travel agencies that work with the Japanese government like JTB (Specifically Honolulu, but more JTB offices might be included).
If overpaying to be shuttled around to pre-approved sites, movement severely restricted, and having your hygiene inspected like a dirty gaijin in a way that would make Kim Jong Un blush is your thing, then there is a package on their site for September, but I haven't seen anything sooner yet: https://online.jtbusa.com/TourDetail...rDate=20211210
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japa...-we-hoped.html