Are you on the list? Japan opens to independent travellers from these 68 countries from October 11

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