How Japan Travel Have Change After 6 Months
It's been some time since our last journey to Japan. As we are consider our upcoming travel plans for the autumn and winter seasons, it's crucial to be aware of the changes that have taken place since our previous visit, and should start to gather necessary information to ensure a well-prepared and enjoyable trip.
Visit Japan Web
For some, It’s been a while since we use the Visit Japan Web, lets take a quick look on the updates. Notably, the "Quarantine procedure (Fast Track)" icon has been removed, due to changes in entry requirements since end April. The platform now boasts several new features, including the Tax Free Purchase function, Passport OCR input, VISA linkage and 3rd party proxy input, which significantly enhance the app's usability for its users.
How’s it’s like at the Airport and Mask Usage?
With the removal of the quarantine procedure, there's no longer a need for a valid vaccination certificate or a pre-departure test. Additionally, upon arrival at the airport, quarantine checkpoint has been omitted, facilitating a quicker immigration process.
The decision to wear a mask, continue to be individual's discretion. However, it's still important to note that, the government still advises mask usage in settings like medical facilities and crowded public transportation.
Hotel and Labour Shortage
More foreign tourists, worker shortages fuel tourism troubles.
The resurgence of foreign tourists in Japan is colliding with a persistent labor scarcity in the hotel and transportation sectors, leading to a range of challenges within the overwhelmed tourism industry. Especially now, as China had lifted its 3½-year-old ban on group travel to Japan.
On July 19, the Japan National Tourism Organization reported the return of foreign tourists, surpassing 2 million in June for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hotels, like Tokyo's Mimaru Suites, tailored to foreign visitors are witnessing increased demand. Due to the pandemic, the occupancy rate plummeted, prompting drastic price reductions to around 15,000 yen ($108). Now, with occupancy at around 70%, prices have rebounded to approximately 32,000 yen.
Some hotels are raising prices to manage occupancy rates due to labor shortages. Teikoku Databank's survey, of 27,663 companies, found that 75.5% of hotel and inn businesses, experienced a shortage of regular employees, with 78% facing a scarcity of irregular workers.
Transportation companies are grappling with similar personnel issues. Long lines for buses and trains have become a common sight at popular tourist destinations. Kyoto's JR West-operated Sagano Line, used by both tourists and locals, has led to congestion complaints, prompting the addition of extra train runs.
In response to overcrowded buses in Kyoto, the Municipal Transportation Bureau has decided to discontinue its one-day pass, favored by foreign travelers.
Hakone, another tourist hotspot is experiencing crowded buses and taxis due to a driver shortage. Taxi operator Hakone Mobility Service Company reduced its vehicle fleet from 100 to 66 during the pandemic, facing recruitment struggles.
With labor shortages posing challenges, the tourism industry is actively managing increasing demand and aiming to ensure both comfort and satisfaction for tourists and local.
Hope this will ease yours worries when traveling to Japan.
Japan Rail Price Increase
I think, the Japan Rail Pass is the biggest setback for us travellers. Starting from October 1st, 2023, there will be an increase in prices for Japan Rail Pass and all other Regional Passes such as JR East, JR West, JR Hokkaido, JR Central, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu.
The Japan Rail Pass price adjustments range from 65% to 77%, for various pass categories.
To provide added value, Japan Rail Pass will now include a special Nozomi Mizuho ticket, exclusively for pass holders. But there’s a catch, you need to pay extra to use these trains.
Despite the price increase, JR plans to provide special discounts for attractions in major cities across Japan.
Notably, from October 1st, Japan Rail Pass can only be purchased from the official dedicated website or other overseas agents authorized by JR, as local Japan sales offices will no longer sell it.
Travellers who planning to travel during Autumn or Winter time, please take note that the JR Pass purchased from the overseas agents authorized by JR, has a validity of 3 months from the date the Order was issued. On a safer side, if you bought on the 29 September, 2023, you can exchange the exchange order by December 29, 2023! Hope this update can help you plan better and save some money for your upcoming trip to Japan!
Travellers travelling to Tokyo
When navigating Tokyo, an IC transport card proves remarkably convenient. The prominent IC transport cards in Tokyo are Suica and Pasmo. These reloadable cards offer more than just accessibility on trains and buses; they extend to payments at participating establishments like stores, restaurants and even stretches to many vending machines.
Regrettably, due to the ongoing global semiconductor shortage, sales of both Pasmo and Suica cards have been indefinitely suspended. JR East which manages Suica and Pasmo Company, have jointly announced the temporary suspension of card sales from August 2. This suspension had previously impacted non-personalized Suica and Pasmo cards starting in June. Now, even the purchase of personalized cards, which mandates the provision of personal particulars, such as name and phone number during purchase has been brought to a halt.
Nonetheless, not all news is grim. Specific IC cards remain available for purchase, and they are the two distinctive IC cards tailored for foreign tourists, the Pasmo Passport and Welcome Suica, but in limited quantity due to the uncertainty of future production. Additionally, there's the option to obtain mobile versions of Suica and Pasmo on your smartphone. For Iphone Users, Apple has simplified the process with its Apple Wallet app. For Android users, there is one caveat to add funds in Japan, your phone must support “Osaifu-Keitai.” If your Android phone was not purchased in Japan, it is unlikely you will be able to use it.
For travellers, who travel to other regions of Japan, you still can purchase their own regional IC card, like the Icoca IC card from JR West, or Kitaca IC card from JR Hokkaido, both functioned the same way as the Suica and Pasmo card.
If you are planning to book a hotel in Japan, start researching for a good deal now, as it will get more expensive near your upcoming stayed date. Hope everyone have a wonderful upcoming trip to Japan!
How can we simplify our upcoming trip and save money in light of these changes?
For travellers planning to explore more of Japan between September and December, especially before the Japan Rail Pass price hike takes effect, consider starting by looking at the 14 to 21-day Japan Rail Pass options. Structure your itinerary based on the number of days you'll be traveling. Craft your journey along the popular golden route, encompassing Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka. Extend your travels to include Hiroshima and finally Hokkaido. By visiting all these regions, you'll already get back more than what you had paid for the pass. Although there is the 7 day pass, but i feel it will be too rush to cover the above mentioned regions.
When it comes to flights, and if your itinerary include both Tokyo and Osaka, explore arriving in Kansai Airport instead of Narita Airport, as it often offers more affordable options. If you're arriving at Narita Airport, keep in mind the emergence of Japan's recently launched budget airline, ZipAir. This option often offers competitively priced tickets, like their ZIP full-flat seat, which is similar to business class seat. However, it's important to note that ZipAir currently operates flights to a limited number of destinations, including Bangkok, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Manila, San Francisco, San Jose, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo.
Android users aiming to obtain an IC card should consider arriving at Kansai Airport, to secure your Icoca card while they're still available for purchase. Or get the Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport when you arrive at Narita Airport. For Iphone users, digital Suica or Pasmo will be the easier option.
Navigating accommodation can be a bit challenging, due to the labour shortage causing price increases. While preferences and budgets vary, for those traveling with family members and seeking facilities for light cooking and laundry, Airbnb can prove to be a more economical choice when compared to hotels, considering the amenities it offers.
To simplify your experience, consolidate all your information into a digital PDF, that you can access and review on the go.
Consider this PDF to refer to flight numbers and times, plan your travel time and route to the airport.
List your accommodations in different regions, and even view your lodging location map for the direction.
Pre-plan the shinkansen or trains you intend to take in each region, to avoid missing departure times, seat numbers and the type of ticket that you need to reserve from the ticket machine.
Prior to your flight, create a checklist for each family member's packing list, to ensure you don't overlook any essential items.
After getting the pdf, you can access it from your laptop, tablet or even print it out, or use your mobile device on the go for convenient referencing.
Affiliate Disclosure:
The links for JR Pass & tours may result in a small affiliate commission if you decide to purchase the recommended product at no additional cost to you.
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Official Japan Rail Pass Website - https://japanrailpass.net/en/
Japan Rail Pass Price Table - https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2023/20230726_ho01.pdf
JR East Price Table - https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2023/20230726_ho02.pdf
JR West Price Table - https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/pdf/press_20230726.pdf
JR Hokkaido Price Table - https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/CM/Info/news_en/pdf/pass_revised_202307_en.pdf
JR Central Price Table - https://jr-central.co.jp/news/release/_pdf/000042849.pdf
JR Shikoku Price Table - https://shikoku-railwaytrip.com/news/pdf/202304_pricechange_en.pdf?_230323
JR Kyushu Price Table - https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/pdf/20231001_pricerevision.pdf
Luggage Size Limit - https://japanrailpass.net/pdf/oversized_baggage_EN_230317.pdf