The Government of Japan announced a policy of resuming entry by individual travellers for tourism purposes beginning on October 11.
Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) looks forward to welcoming individual inbound travellers back to Japan with the long-awaited lifting of entry restrictions. The resumption of individual travel to Japan and visa waivers, and the elimination of the daily arrival cap will allow international visitors to enjoy Japan in more ways than in the past two-and-a-half years. These measures are long-awaited news for tourists around the world who have been looking forward to visiting Japan.
JNTO President SEINO Satoshi commented: “The Japanese government has, at last, announced the resumption of individual travel for tourism purposes, visa waivers, and the elimination of the daily arrival cap. I am incredibly pleased to finally welcome back individual travellers after coping with the pandemic during a wait of two-and-a-half years.
“In response to the announcement, JNTO will be doing everything we can to provide you with the latest information on coming to Japan so that many tourists can visit and journey throughout our country.
“So you can do more than take in Japan’s captivating culture, history, nature, and cuisine, we are also working hard on projects for sustainable tourism, adventure travel, and luxury travel. Japan is a highly attractive country not only for tourism, but also for international conferences and incentive travel. With the relaxed travel measures, Japan is fully prepared to host these events.
“Along with revelling in the many ways to take in the allures across Japan, now is a time when international visitors can take advantage of shopping opportunities.
“Japan has been busy over the past two-and-a-half years with preparations to welcome back everyone. Come see the new Japan. We eagerly await your arrival!”
What to look forward to in Japan in 2023 and beyond
TOKYO
-
Shimokitazawa – An ongoing redevelopment around a suburban railway line stretching across three stations (‘Senrogai’), cementing the district’s place as a youth culture hub. Yuen Bettei Daita ryokan traditional accommodation, illi Shimokitazawa studio apartment rentals and Mustard Hotel affordable (even by the hour) room rates, have made staying in Shimokitazawa more feasible alongside new boutique and food facilities like Bonus Track, Reload, tefu Lounge and Mikan Shimokita.
-
Okushibu – The nickname given to ‘Deep Shibuya’, this secluded strip around Yoyogi and parallel to the new rooftop Miyashita Park, has seen an explosion in late night café culture, unique eateries and flower shops. The new Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park opens here with a rooftop infinity pool and views over the park, in 2023.
-
Toranomon-Azabudai – A futuristic development project by Heatherwick opening in 2023 in the well-heeled area of south-west Tokyo by the same name, the Toranomon-Azabudai Project will foreground green spaces, a new temple, retail spaces designed by Sou Fujimoto, Japan’s tallest high-rise building, two Aman properties and the new permanent location for teamLab exhibitions in Tokyo from 2023.
CITIES
-
Sapporo – 2023 will see the return of the Snow Festival for the first time in person in 3 years, and comes as the Susukino nightlife district grows with a new OMO3 property (2022) aimed at more adventurous travellers and a new Tokyu complex (2023) on the iconic Susukino crossing, including entertainment spaces and a new hotel. This follows on from the opening of high-end luxury Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo (2020) and in the run-up to the Adventure Travel World Summit due to be held here in the autumn of 2023.
-
Yokohama – 2023 sees the return of the Yokohama Biennale art festival, timed with the reopening of the Yokohama Museum of Art post-renovation. This is in the context of the ongoing community-led revitalisation of the little-known Koganecho area which has welcomed the opening of an artist-in-residence programme, galleries, art classes, a book bazaar and new street art installations. 2023 will also see the opening of Yokohama’s first high-end Hilton property in a waterfront development that will also house the K-Arena, one of the world’s largest live music venues, as part of the new ‘Music Terrace’.
-
Nagoya – 2023 will see the opening of the remaining two areas of the Studio Ghibli Park, making the lesser celebrated city of Nagoya a key transit point for would-be visitors. It also will see the opening of the TIAD luxury hotel in the buzzy Sakae/Shin-Sakae entertainment districts, after the opening of the art deco hotel The Tower Hotel Nagoya (2020) on the upper levels of Nagoya’s TV tower, with the large beams of the tower as a centrepiece within each room.
HOTELS
-
Not A Hotel Ishigaki – Opening on the island of Ishigaki in 2023, this Sou Fujimoto set of luxury sea-view villas have the unique property of being raised as if from the ground, with meadows for rooftops, a sleek futuristic design reminiscent of his designs at the recent Shiroiya Hotel in Gunma.
-
The Mana Village – A collection of villa properties opening in stages on the wild and rustic southern coastline of Kochi prefecture, on Shikoku island. As of 2022 it features a recently renovated hotel area and local market, as well as a marine leisure area and an exclusive seafood restaurant located on a long pier into the ocean, flanked by infinity pools. 2023 will bring the opening of a farm area for agritourism, with a private villa area due to open in 2024.
-
Marufukuro – Located in the former HQ of pop culture behemoth Nintendo, this Kyoto hotel is a stylishly renovated property opened in 2022, featuring a suite of exclusive rooms in a richly storied building, with a special whiskey bar and library showcasing the works of Nintendo pre-Super Mario and then through the ages until now.
-
Zenbo Seinei – A new meditation experience centre above the canopies of the Hyogo prefecture next to Kyoto and Osaka, designed by award-winning architect Shigeru Ban. It takes the shape of a long wooden sky deck on various levels encompassing an open-air deck for meditation, wooden rooms with tatami made for overnight stays, study/contemplation rooms and a restaurant serving fresh seasonal cuisine.
CULTURE ROUND-UP
-
Japan House exhibition running until the end of January 2023, opening 29th Sep, focusing on woodwork in Hida, Takayama.
-
The National Museum of Scotland is currently hosting an exhibition on contemporary Japanese design until 5th March 2023, and Stonehenge will host an exhibition on stone circles and the prehistoric sites of Jomon Japan from 30 Sep 2022 until August 2023.
-
Elsewhere, the star-studded Super Mario movie (name TBC) will be opening in cinemas in April 2023, and a film adaptation of popular video game Ghost of Tsushima is in the works.
Comments are closed.