Japan made travellers around the world very excited last week, when Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed that his government would relax border restrictions on individual travellers from October 11. The news has been welcomed by ski industry operators who will now enjoy a 22/23 winter season with foreign tourists for the first time in almost three years.
The country will resume its visa exemption program with the 68 countries and regions listed below from from 0:00 am (JST) on October 11, 2022. Conditions will apply to some countries; view the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s website for more details: mofa.go.jp.
Tourists from some countries, including China and Russia, will continue to require a visa for short-term stays in Japan.
Asia
- Brunei
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Republic of Korea
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Taiwan
North America
- Canada
- United States
Latin America and the Caribbean
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Surinam
- Uruguay
Oceania
- Australia
- New Zealand
Middle East
- Israel
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
Africa
- Lesotho
- Mauritius
- Tunisia
Europe
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- North Macedonia
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
2025 SKI ASIA AWARDS
Vote in the 2025 Ski Asia Awards for your chance to win
Voting is now open – your chance to support the resorts, accommodation and service providers that have delivered the best experiences to their guests. You’ll also have the chance to win a $150 eGift voucher from backcountry.com.