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Japan Has Reopened for Tourism: How to Plan Your Next Trip

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What to know before visiting Japan

Best things to do in japan, best ways to fly to japan on points and miles, japan has reopened for tourism recapped.

Finally. After being closed to tourists for over two and a half years, Japan reopened to visa- and agent-free foreign tourism in October 2022. Americans can visit Japan without applying for a visa, needing to book a group tour or special agent, testing on arrival or having to quarantine. Fully vaccinated travelers don't even have to get a pre-departure test if they show a vaccination card on arrival.

Japan is one of my favorite countries in the world. I've spent over 50 nights in Japan over the past six years, visiting eight different cities.

Whether you're a first-time visitor or it's been a while since you've visited, here are my must-knows and must-do's now that Japan has reopened for tourism.

Japanese culture has more layers, rules and norms than any culture I've explored. However, the good news is that you don't need to know too much to start.

Japan is a very cash-based society

Bring your favorite travel credit card with you, but be prepared to pay for a lot of expenses in cash. A vast majority of Japanese consumers prefer to pay with cash, and cash may be the only way to pay at many places, such as vending machines, food stalls and many restaurants.

To reduce your ATM fees, use one of NerdWallet's favorite banks for international travel , such as the Schwab Investor Checking account .

Hotel rooms are tiny

(Photo by JT Genter)

Prepare for culture shock when you open your hotel room door. Japanese hotels can be tiny — even by New York City standards. Hopefully, you won't spend too much time in your room. However, make sure to check the room size when searching for hotel rooms and factor that into your booking decision.

Be considerate

Although the Japanese have plenty of outlets for creative expression, typically, being loud or boisterous in public isn't one of them. 

Be careful not to cut in lines. Don't spit or throw trash on the ground. Try to be thoughtful and considerate of others, even more than you would back home.

Don't tip

The advice for tipping in Japan is rather simple: Don't do it. 

Japanese people who aren't familiar with visitors' tipping culture might be confused or even insulted by your well-meaning gesture. Instead, try to use your words and actions to communicate your appreciation.

Use technology

Technology makes travel so much easier , and that's especially true in Japan. Use your tools throughout your visit to make the trip easier. 

For example, Google Maps is incredibly useful in Japan — including recommending which subway car to board and which subway exit to use. And Google Translate is a critical tool for translating the complex Japanese language.

One of the best things about Japan is that there’s something for everyone. Enjoy exhibits? Japan offers incredibly diverse museums filled with antiquities. Are you a foodie? With fresh tuna from Tsukiji fish market and more types of ramen than you knew existed, Japan is a gastrophile's paradise.

Eat noodles

Honestly, it doesn't matter what kind. Just find a noodle shop — preferably one with a line — and order something from the menu. I've yet to be disappointed when doing this. 

Take a photo before you dig in so you can reference afterward to determine which kind you like best.

After plenty of experimentation, I'm an absolute sucker for tonkotsu ramen, particularly from Ichiran.

Go to a festival

It seems no one has dared to compile a list of all Japanese festivals, but estimates place the number over 100,000 per year. So, you should have no trouble finding one to attend.

Japanese festivals are generally unique, each providing a window into the culture it celebrates. Plus, festivals can be a great way to explore delicious food and interact with locals.

Visit a temple or shrine

Both of Japan's major religions — Shinto and Buddhism — feature ornate temples and shrines. Whether it's the famous Sensō-ji temple in Asakusa or a shrine you stumble across, make sure to visit at least one temple or shrine. 

Pay attention to signs at temples and shrines advising visitors what to do (e.g., remove their shoes) and not do (e.g., take photos).

Ride the Shinkansen

Japan christened the Shinkansen in 1964, and the high-speed rail network still stands as one of the best in the world. Zipping across the Japanese landscape at around 200 mph is something you have to experience to really appreciate. 

And you have plenty of opportunities to do so. Just the Tokaido Shinkansen line — which connects Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka — averages 373 trains per day, carrying an average of almost half a million passengers daily.

Visit an onsen

To really get a taste of Japanese culture, visit an onsen. These public baths are where many Japanese people go to communally bathe in the nude. You won’t find that in many spas in the U.S. Note that many onsens in Japan won't let you bathe if you have tattoos.

Ready to book your trip to Japan? Many travelers are flocking back to Japan as it reopens to tourism, driving up the price of paid flights. But thankfully you can leverage points and miles to cut your out-of-pocket cost.

Here are some of the best sweet spots for booking award flights to Japan:

Use Virgin Atlantic points to book ANA business class from 75,000 to 90,000 points each way between the U.S. and Japan.

Transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to ANA Mileage Club to book business class award flights from 75,000 miles round-trip .

Redeem American Airlines AAdvantage miles for Japan Airlines business class for 60,000 miles each way, or splurge for first class for 80,000 miles each way.

Alaska Mileage Plan members can book Japan Airlines flights for 35,000 miles each way in economy, 60,000 miles in business class or 70,000 miles in first class. Plus, you can add a free stopover in Tokyo on your way to another destination in Asia.

Tourists are finally getting a chance to visit Japan after two and a half years of the country keeping its borders closed to tourism. Whether you've never been or can't wait to return, it's important to review the cultural differences between the U.S. and Japan.

Japan may feel intimidating to those who have never visited before. However, I've found from my travels that Japan can be a welcoming place in its own way. It's worth putting in a bit of effort to learn about the culture and things to do to enrich your experience there.

How to maximize your rewards

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Last updated: Wednesday, May 31st, 2023

Get ready for your dream trip to Japan! Japan is now open to travelers from all countries or regions! Those who enter Japan on or after April 29th 2023 are not be required to present a valid vaccination certificate or a Covid-19 negative test certificate.

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Japan Will Restart Visa-Free Tourism in October—Here's What to Know for Your Next Visit

By Melinda Joe

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The moment the world has been waiting for has finally arrived: Individual tourists can once again visit Japan freely, with no requirement to be part of an organized group tour or to have a special visa.

Starting October 11, Japan will lift the majority of its strict entry requirements for tourists, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced in a speech on Thursday. The country—a favorite destination among travelers around the world that saw a record number of visitors in 2019 —was one of the slower and more cautious countries to welcome back travelers.

For more than two years, Japan's borders remained closed to tourists. In June, the country first reopened to leisure travelers from 98 countries including the U.S., but officials required a visa for entry and capped daily visitors at 20,000 people (later elevating it to 50,000 daily visitors). Tourists were also required to be part of a tour-operator group and to purchase private insurance that would cover any medical expenses related to COVID-19.

But, as of October 11, all those requirements will fall by the wayside. "We will remove the cap on the number of people entering the country, and will resume accepting individual travel and visa-free travel," Kishida said on Thursday, according to Nikkei Asia . All visitors will need to be vaccinated three times or submit a negative COVID-19 test result before arrival, Japan Times reported. 

The lifting of restrictions is sure to bring a host of first-time visitors to the country. But even returning travelers will find much to discover in the Land of the Rising Sun. Here are the best new hotels, restaurants, and things to do in Japan following the reopening—from Tokyo , Kyoto , and Osaka , to the northern island of Hokkaido and the southern paradise of Okinawa .

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The pool at Four Seasons Otemachi

What's new in Tokyo

Prior to the pandemic, Olympic fever sparked a frenzy of development in Tokyo, adding a host of new hotels, restaurants, bars, and cafes. With more venues slated to open this summer and autumn, there’s never been a more exciting time to visit Japan’s capital.

The hottest hotel openings were Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo, the Four Seasons Otemachi , and The Tokyo Edition Toranomon . The buzzy vibe at the Kimpton channels Manhattan with design inspired by New York’s art world, and dog-friendly dining at District brasserie. With expansive views of the Imperial Palace, a tranquility pool in the lounge, and Zen-influenced accents in the guest rooms, the Four Seasons Otemachi is an oasis of calm in the financial district—with Michelin-starred French cuisine at Est and sophisticated cocktails at bar Virtus. Over at the Tokyo Edition, the glittering new Gold Bar offers prime people-watching and a drinks list that pays homage to the pre-Prohibition golden age of tipples—and it's worth a visit even if you’re not staying at the hotel.

Despite a tumultuous two years of pandemic-induced dining restrictions, the food scene is thriving with the arrival of a new wave of ambitious, young chefs bringing fresh perspective and international flair to the Japanese capital. British-born Daniel Calvert kicked off the trend with Sezanne , situated in an art-filled space inside the Four Seasons Marunouchi . In its first year, the venue has already racked up a string of accolades—including a Michelin star and the number 17 slot on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants—for impeccable signatures like a layered heirloom tomato tart with burrata cream and Calvert’s French riff on Shanghainese drunken chicken. 

At Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura , head chef Antonio Iacoviello interprets Japanese ingredients through the lens of Italian cuisine (think eggplant Parmigiana-meets-spaghetti aglio e olio, in a smoky dashi of fermented eggplant). Iacoviello’s dazzling presentations match the interior outfitted with antique mirrors and tables set with Gucci cups and plates. A few blocks away at Ginza Yuzan , Japanese-American chef Keiichiro Kurobe (of L.A.’s Hinoki and The Bird fame) offers a taste of California-style multiculturalism with dishes such as claypot-cooked arroz con pollo and egg-filled arancini with umami sauce. Virgilio Martinez’s brand-new Maz Tokyo , led by Santiago Fernandez, explores Peru’s diverse terrain and food culture in inventive combinations like iwana river fish topped with watermelon granita and coconut-herb sauce, and desserts that use every part of the cacao fruit—from the fermented and roasted rind to a sweet-and-tart jelly made from the pulp inside the pod.

Other notable additions include 3110NZ by LDH Kitchen , an art gallery-cum-sushi joint collaboration between gallery Nanzuka Underground and renowned Sushi Saito, set in a futuristic space with glowing recessed lighting cut into the white walls. At Nine by La Cime , chefs Yusuke Takada (of Osaka’s two-Michelin-starred La Cime ) and Toru Tokushima create provocative, seafood-centric tasting menus, and Ippei Hanten a hidden six-seat counter devoted to Cantonese fine dining. After 9:00 p.m., the restaurant transforms into the more casual Ye Hong Kong, serving epic family-style feasts in two private rooms.

Looking to indulge your sweet tooth? Head to Azuki to Kouri , a stylish shaved ice spot specializing in fresh-fruit kakigori, or pick up one of Jerome Quilbeuf’s signature burnt Basque cheesecakes at the chef’s eponymous shop in Ginza’s new Exit Melsa. This summer, Quilbeuf will also roll out a second branch of his popular Spanish gastrobar, Gracia , in a larger space with terrace seating in Ichigaya.

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Matt Ortile

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Former World Barista Champion Hide Izaki creates “the ultimate coffee break” with rare specialty brews, bespoke Japanese ceramics, and seasonal sweets prepared by restaurant Narisawa at Cokuun, which launches in early autumn. The experience marries coffee culture with elements of traditional tea ceremony and takes place inside a pod-like tea room, shaped like an iron pot, with seats for four guests.

A room at the new Ace Hotel Kyoto

The past two years have seen expansion in Kyoto’s luxury hotel space, starting with Kengo Kuma’s lattice-covered Ace Hotel and the elegant Hotel the Mitsui , a 161-room property built on the grounds of the Mitsui family’s centuries-old former residence opposite Nijo Castle. The recently opened The Shinmonzen in the historic Gion district blends the amenities of a Western boutique hotel with the hospitality and aesthetics of a traditional Japanese ryokan . Designed by Tadao Ando with interiors by Remi Tessier, the luxe nine-suite hotel features spacious rooms appointed with hinoki wood bath tubs and boasts an astounding collection of contemporary art. A restaurant by Jean-Georges Vongerichten will launch in late autumn; in the meantime, staying guests can enjoy delightful dinners that make excellent use of organic produce from the mountains north of Kyoto, served in suite, and Provençal-inflected afternoon tea in the lounge overlooking the Shirakawa River.

Opening in August, Maana Kiyomizu offers a unique alternative to a conventional hotel. The handsome complex comprises three suites, a retail shop, and a café within a row of splendidly refurbished machiya townhouses. The light-filled suites come with tea sets, paper lanterns, and textiles from POJ Studio, a collective of artisans crafting modern pieces using traditional techniques.

On the food front, newcomers So Kawahagishi , which serves updated twists on izakaya classics like panko-crusted venison katsu (cutlets) with housemade marmalade, and Suba , a stylish standing soba bar where they make the noodles upstairs, stand out for excellent casual eats and a chilled-out vibe. While Kyoto is best known for traditional fare, creative cuisine is on the rise. Hidden inside the Ritz Carlton’s Italian restaurant Locanda, the six-seat Chef’s Table reflects Katsuhiko Inoue’s experiences working in Spain, South America, and at Tokyo’s Bulgari Il Ristorante Luca Fantin . Inoue prepares genre-blurring dishes beside a table covered with an elaborately constructed miniature moss garden.

A 90-minute drive from Kyoto on the shores of Lake Biwa, Benu alum Coleman Griffin takes inspiration from the landscape to craft innovative terroir-driven tasting menus at Sower , in a minimalist space designed by Teruhiro Yanagihara.

The Living Room bar at W Osaka

Osaka, which captured more than 46 percent of the 4.8 trillion yen spent by visitors to Japan in 2019, was hit hard by the lack of tourists. Although sluggish during the pandemic, development has picked up, meaning there is plenty for taking advantage of Japan reopening. Last year, the city welcomed the W Osaka , a dark monolith designed by Tadao Ando that opens onto an exuberant world of colorful design accented with modern Japanese detailing. The hotel’s six dining outlets—including trendy sushi restaurant Ukiyo; teppanyaki Mydo; and neobistro Oh.lala, overseen by La Cime’s Yusuke Takada—add to the allure.

The arts got a boost with the Nakanoshima Museum of Art , which opened in early February after nearly 30 years of planning. Housed in a boxy, five-story structure with a jet-black exterior (a popular look for new buildings in Osaka), the museum boasts one of Japan’s largest collections—more than 6,000 art pieces by modern masters such as Magritte, Dali, and Japanese artists like painter Jiro Yoshihara.

Osaka will always be the street-food capital of Japan, but new establishments are adding a touch of sophistication to the restaurant scene. Innovative chef Hiroyuki Kosuda worked at famed fusion temple Kahala for 20 years before breaking out on his own this year; with only five seats, his eponymous restaurant has become one of the city’s hardest to book. The brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Noguchi Taro, the specialty at Noguchi Taro Ramen is a steaming bowl of housemade noodles floating in an umami-dense shellfish broth, topped with sliced char siu and a truffle-scented fishcake. Wine enthusiasts will find much to love at Rilo Wine Lounge , a sleek and moody speakeasy-style spot (DM them on Instagram for the pass code) with an eye-watering collection of vintage champagne.

Hot pot at the new Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono

Japan’s ski haven and northernmost island, Hokkaido has been trending as an off-the-beaten-track destination for the past five years. But recent developments are turning it into a hub for luxury travel: Most of the ski resorts are concentrated around Niseko, which encompasses six areas surrounding towering Mount Yotei. In 2020, Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono unveiled a sprawling 100-room property with 11 restaurants, a soothing hot spring spa, and its own four-seat ski lifts. Nestled between Mount Yotei and Mount Annapurni on the Shiribetsu River, Raku Suisan ’s 18 ample rooms are equipped with baths filled with alkaline-rich water sourced directly from a natural hot spring. Anchored by a traditional Japanese irori fireplace, the resort’s inviting lounge features a cozy piano bar. Shiguchi is a new complex of five beautifully renovated Japanese farmhouses, each adorned with ceramics, paintings, and sculptures from the private collection of founder Shouya Grigg. Grigg’s photography is also on display, along with an ongoing exhibition of art and artifacts spanning the region’s history, including pottery from the Jomon period and work created by the indigenous Ainu, in the Somoza gallery nearby.

Farther afield in the Tokachi region, on the island’s southeastern side, Memu Earth Hotel ’s five villas are stunning examples of eco-friendly contemporary architecture set amid a wide-open pasture. Each house has a distinctive character; the white-clad Meme House reflects the light and blends into the scenery, while the Horizon House offers 360-degree panoramic views. The resort’s restaurant serves simple but elegant cuisine made with seasonal, local products in a former warehouse designed by architect Toya Ito.

A sandbar in Kerama Islands National Park, Okinawa

Looking for something warmer? With fewer new openings during the pandemic, the pace of life on Okinawa remains leisurely—but changes are afoot in Japan’s tropical paradise. Last summer, luxury group One Suite launched The Grand resort on secluded Kouri Island, accessible by car from the main island. The Grand’s trump card is its 114-meter Ocean View Panorama Suite, equipped with a jacuzzi on the 30-meter terrace and offering sweeping views of the East China Sea. Playful French fine dining is on the menu at the property’s La Bombance, an outpost of the Michelin-starred restaurant in Tokyo. Among the latest of star bartender Shingo Gokan’s ever-growing empire of watering holes, El Lequio exudes an island vibe with its kitschy-cool Tiki-bar décor and line-up of cocktails based on rum, tequila, and mezcal.

Located in Onna village, between the main island’s forested mountains and sea, the restaurant inside the brand-new Yumiha resort incorporates unique local ingredients—kokuto black sugar, shimadofu tofu, and Okinawan honey—into modern French preparations like perfectly roasted Agu pork with a sauce made from awamori, the island’s fiery distilled spirit: Staying guests can sample around 30 kinds (included in the price of accommodation) in the resort’s roomy suites.

This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

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Watch CBS News

Here's what to know about heading to Japan as the country reopens

By Peter Greenberg

October 11, 2022 / 4:42 PM EDT / CBS News

Travelers to Japan, from and through Japan are getting some big news today: Anyone can now travel to Japan , without a visa. And that's effective today.

It's been slow going — or no going — to Japan for quite some time. The country was effectively shut down and closed off during the pandemic — until about four months ago, when the government announced that as of  June 10, a limited number of international travelers would be allowed to enter Japan, if they booked a relatively restricted package tour with a guide. Then, on Sept. 7, the government eased the rules somewhat, allowing non-guided package tours from all countries.

And as of Oct. 11, anyone can travel to Japan, without a visa, on an individual basis.

Travelers headed to Japan — and for that matter, to Asia — are also aided by the power of the U.S. dollar against a weakening Japanese yen, which is at a 25-year low against the dollar.

In addition, it opens up dozens of countries to travelers and airlines looking at Japan as a hub. Many airlines, such as Delta, use Tokyo as a main hub for Asia, concentrating their flight schedules first to Japan and then connecting to Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries.

What this also means is that Japanese travelers, eager to fly out of the country, can now do so, to such favorite vacation destinations as Korea and Hawaii. Both destinations are now preparing for a wave of tourists. Japan is already seeing increases in airfares to popular destinations like Korea and Hawaii. And that, in turn, is beginning to translate into higher airfares and hotel rates throughout the 50th state.

The economic impact of Japan's reopening is huge. In 2022, only a small number of people have traveled to Japan — about 500,000. In 2019, nearly 32 million people visited. Bookings on airlines like JAL have tripled in just the past few days, and the country's economists are predicting about 34.5 billion in travel spending by visitors within the next six to nine months.

If you want to go to or through Japan now, you won't need a visa, but be aware that masks are still required to be worn in all public places. A number of Asian airlines will still require masks to be worn during your flight. And either proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test will be required to enter the country — or even to change flights at a Japanese airport.

Ticket prices and hotel rates have already gone up an average of 20% in the last 24 hours as news about the Japan opening has spread.

And lately, the end of quarantine rules for arriving travelers in Hong Kong means that, for the first time in more than two years, visitors can travel freely to and within Hong Kong. This is great news for hotels that were struggling with few guests and averaging about a 25% occupancy rate as Hong Kong once again becomes an aviation hub for flights worldwide.

For both Hong Kong and Japan, though, opening some of the world's most restrictive border controls doesn't mean that visitors will find these destinations operating at full blast: 73% of hotels report staff shortages and more than 4,000 stores that closed during the pandemic have yet to reopen.

Peter Greenberg, CBS News' travel editor, reports regularly on a broad range of travel-related news. A multiple Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and producer, Greenberg is the consummate insider when it comes to reporting the travel business as news.

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What to expect as Japan opens back up to the world

After almost three years, Japan will fully open its borders again to foreign independent tourists and other arrivals on Tuesday — a move that many hope will galvanize the economy and kickstart the country’s post-pandemic recovery.

Below are answers to the most pressing questions would-be tourists and other arrivals should be asking as they dust off their suitcases, open up those phrase books and get ready once again for a journey to Japan.

Just how open will the country become?

Since Japan’s border first slammed shut to arrivals from countries most affected during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic in April 2020 — extending to a ban on arrivals from some 159 countries and regions by late August that year — Japan’s reopening has been a long and winding road of false dawns and U-turns.

After a previous attempt to relax border restrictions late last year failed with the emergence of the highly contagious omicron variant , the door to overseas arrivals gradually started to creep open this year, first in March to business travelers, students and those arriving on compassionate grounds — such as to attend a wedding or funeral – and then, from June, tourists on guided tours.

From Tuesday, Japan will completely lift its daily cap of 50,000 arrivals and recommence visa-free independent travel for those arriving from any of the 68 countries previously on its short-term visa-exemption list . Travelers from countries not on the visa exemption list remain subject to the same pre-pandemic entry restrictions.

Will I need to book a guided tour?

The short answer — no!

From June, those wishing to enter Japan had to do so as part of a guided tour . With many travelers balking at the restrictions this placed on their freedom of movement — some social media users compared the measures to those of North Korea , which operates a similar system for overseas visitors — uptake was low.

From early September, the government relaxed the regulations slightly, allowing travelers on so-called self-guided tours that required arrivals to book their flights and accommodation with registered travel agencies.

Agencies could then act as a sponsor, keeping tabs on the whereabouts of individual travelers, encouraging them to conform to local antivirus rules — such as frequent hand-washing and mask wearing — and offering assistance in the case of coronavirus infection while in Japan.

The need to take part in tours, guided or otherwise, will be a thing of the past from Tuesday, with the government hoping an influx of independent tourists — looking to take advantage of the weakened yen as they travel around the country — will help local tourism industries struggling from the effects of a prolonged period of near total isolation.

However, there is some concern that the benefits of tourism-related economic recovery will be limited by a lack of Chinese tourists , who typically make up a large proportion of visitors to Japan, but who are currently restricted from traveling abroad amid the Chinese government’s continued adherence to its “COVID zero” policy.

Will I need to be vaccinated to enter?

An on-arrival COVID-19 test is no longer required once you get to Japan. However, to enter, you must still fulfill one of the two following requirements:

• Obtain a certificate confirming you have received at least three shots of a vaccine recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The document should be issued by an official body, such as a government agency, and should have an attached Japanese or English translation if originally written in another language.
• Obtain a certificate confirming the negative status of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure for Japan from your country of origin.

In both instances, travelers must fill out a pre-arrival COVID-19 questionnaire, which the government recommends they complete online in advance using their “Fast Track” service — which is available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Indonesian — and an associated app called MySOS, which you can install on your smartphone via QR code or a link.

Do I need to quarantine? What should I do if I get sick?

In principle, visitors will no longer be required to isolate upon arrival, meaning they can move freely other than in cases where they have been diagnosed with the coronavirus after arrival in Japan.

In the event a traveler to Japan suspects they may have caught COVID-19 following their arrival, the government recommends that they contact the Japan Visitor Hotline at 050-3816-2787 for an over-the-phone consultation with a health professional who will determine the severity of the case and offer advice on the next steps to take. The service is offered in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.

Do I need to wear a mask?

As a general rule — yes.

The situation is complicated as, despite the government’s repeated calls for the public to remove their face masks while outdoors , the majority of Japanese people still continue to wear masks while outside the house, even in situations where overseas travelers might consider it unnecessary.

The government is expected to revise legislation to allow hotel operators the right to refuse entry to anyone not wearing a mask.

Until a surge in cases over the summer temporarily made Japan the nation with the highest number of daily cases in the world, the country’s infection rate has remained low in comparison to other countries. Many in Japan attribute this, at least in part, to the ubiquitous use of masks throughout the pandemic.

While overseas visitors may see Japanese individuals not wearing a face mask in public, a variety of cultural reasons — including for some, admittedly, attitudes toward foreign nationals — make it advisable for visitors to wear a mask in public situations, such as when riding crowded trains and buses and when entering hotels or restaurants, if only to avoid causing discomfort for those around you.

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Is Japan gearing up for a full reopening after Covid-19?

The country is increasing its daily cap on visitors from 20,000 to 50,000, with some tourists soon able to explore without a guide.

Tourists will soon be able to explore the alleyways of Kyoto, Japan, without restriction. The country's prime minister announced travel rules will change in October. Photo: Andre Benz / Unsplash

Japan's ancient temples, tranquil hot springs, cherry blossoms and futuristic skyscrapers could soon be open for more people to enjoy again as the country has further eased Covid-19 restrictions.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that non-escorted visitors on package tours will be able to travel to Japan from next Wednesday. Speaking at an online press conference, he also said the daily arrival cap on visitor numbers would increase to 50,000 from the same date.

That’s an increase from the existing 20,000 policy .

Both changes, announced on Wednesday, are a significant step towards moving the nation's border restrictions on a par with other major economies. However, tourists hoping to hop on a plane and explore the Land of the Rising Sun at their leisure will have to sit tight.

The new rules allow tourists from "low-risk" countries into Japan without the need to join a guided tour, but only if visits have been arranged via a travel agency.

These agencies are responsible for managing holidaymakers' schedules and travellers must book a complete package tour. They will only be allowed to visit or experience other attractions listed on the approved itinerary.

Holidaymakers entering Japan on package tours will also need to have medical travel insurance covering Covid-19 treatment.

Last week, authorities in Japan eased Covid-19 entry requirements with tourists no longer needing to show a negative PCR test result to travel to the country so long as they have received three vaccination doses.

According to reports, tourists travelling to Japan will have to follow isolation guidelines in place if they test positive for the virus during a visit. These currently include self-quarantining for 10 days or no less than 72 hours after symptoms subside. Two negative tests are required before travellers are able to end isolation.

A slow start to post-pandemic travel in Japan

As one of the countries with the strictest lockdown measures during the pandemic, Japan reopened in June just in time for summer travel.

In the first month, only 1,500 tourists visited the country, according to its Immigration Services Agency.

That is 95 per cent less than traveller numbers in the same period pre-pandemic.

The strict travel agency rules and compulsory guide are joined by visa issues as stumbling blocks in reviving the industry.

The border is currently only open to those with pre-issued tourism visas, citizens and long-term visa holders. Visa waivers for travel, which were in place before the pandemic, have not been reinstated since they were halted.

Before the pandemic, Japan hosted 32 million foreign visitors in 2019 and had been on track to achieve its goal of 40 million in 2020.

Japan's cherry blossom season — in pictures

Cherry blossoms in full bloom at the moat near the Imperial Palace in Chidorigafuchi, Tokyo. AP

Japan reopening details: What you need to know now

On Sept. 26, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which governs entry requirements, officially announced that as of midnight local time on Oct. 11, "foreign nationals enter[ing] into Japan for a short-term stay for tourism will be no longer limited under package tours." On the same date, according to the website, a visa will no longer be required for visitors from 68 countries, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Current Japan visa requirements and tour restrictions will remain in place until Oct. 11.

Japan is one of the last remaining nations with strict COVID-19-related bans and restrictions on general tourism.

While supervised group tours to Japan have been available for the past few months, the restrictions on travel discouraged many people from booking trips. If the plan to reopen more fully moves forward, Japan will welcome back individual tourists and resume visa waivers, among other changes.

Travelers should be mindful that the Japanese government has not yet supplied complete details for the reopening, including COVID-19-related entry requirements. Given prior announcements of plans to reopen for tourism that proved quite limited, TPG recommends travelers await full details from the Japanese Consulate before booking a trip.

Read on to find out the available details of the announcement and what it might mean in terms of planning your long-awaited trip to Japan.

Japan reopening details

In his Sept. 22 press conference in New York, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said individual tourists will soon be welcomed to Japan without the requirement of visas or group tours, as reported by the Japan Times .

Following the Prime Minister's announcement of reopening, the visa website for the Embassy of Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website have each added brief notes confirming the Oct. 11 reopening plan.

U.S. travelers planning a trip should consult these websites for the latest information prior to making any travel arrangements.

According to these government websites, Japanese entry requirements will return to pre-COVID-19 policies, with tourists from the U.S. and 67 other countries permitted to visit Japan for up to 90 days without a visa.

However, travelers still must provide proof of vaccination (including a booster shot) or a negative COVID-19 PCR test to enter the country without quarantine, according to the Embassy of Japan's website. Visitors will still be "required to upload either a pre-departure COVID-19 testing result or a valid vaccine certificate through Fast Track/My SOS ."

Consult the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare visitor webpage for the latest COVID-19-related entry requirements.

The cap on daily visitors to Japan, which had recently risen from 20,000 to 50,000, will also be lifted as of Oct. 11 to allow an unrestricted number of foreign entries, according to the latest information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

And while the Japanese government has not mandated mask-wearing, expect it to still be strongly encouraged and privately enforced at hotels and shops around the country. "About 98% of Japanese are still wearing masks," Kenny Onishi, general manager for tour operator Intrepid Travel in Japan told TPG in an interview. Mask-wearing "may be required to enter some stores and restaurants, and some may check your temperature," according to Onishi.

Related: Japan reopens for tour groups

How to plan a Japan trip now

Assuming unrestricted visa-free tourism returns to Japan in October as scheduled, expect there to be a huge uptick in flight, lodging and tour reservations.

"We're absolutely delighted to hear this," Julie McCormack, program director for Asia for the MT Sobek tour operator, told TPG on a call to discuss Kishida's announcement. "We've been hoping for this for a long time. Japan had been such a good destination for us before [COVID-19]."

Even though signing up for a group tour may no longer be required for entry to Japan, many visitors typically combine a group tour with a few days on either end of the visit for individual travel. Plus, Japan's eased travel restrictions will mean that tours will have increased access to people, places and activities that might have been curtailed during the pandemic.

So, if you're interested in having a guide for at least part of your trip, try to confirm those plans as soon as possible.

Tour operator Intrepid Travel is hustling to meet pent-up demand in Japan with a flurry of additional trip offerings. It currently has tour groups on the ground there now. These trips have regular schedules allowing guests free time to explore independently as they were able to do before the pandemic, according to Intrepid's Onishi. The company already has 241 Japan tour departures planned for 2023, exceeding its total of 230 Japan trips completed in 2019.

With a crowded market for tour companies, expect some to offer enticing "return to Japan" deals to help relaunch tours. But be aware many people who have had tours canceled in the past due to visa restrictions will have priority for obtaining tour space with some operators during prime periods, like next spring's cherry blossom season.

A strong dollar versus the yen will also make travel within Japan more affordable for Americans. The recent exchange rate of 142 yen to $1 set a 24-year low for the currency.

Kishida also announced the launch of a travel discount program within Japan to help promote tourism, but these benefits will only be available for residents of Japan, according to a Kyodo News report .

Consult the Japan National Tourism Organization website for the latest details on any potential discount programs and other details for foreign tourists.

Related: Using points and miles for a trip to Japan

Bottom line

If Japan does finally reopen to tourists without strict group travel or visa requirements, expect to see a surge of demand for travel to the country. Book as soon as possible, and keep your eyes open for attractive package deals from tour operators eager to rebuild their businesses.

But, given prior false alarms on Japan's reopening, be sure to confirm the latest visa details with the Japanese Embassy or Consulate websites prior to making any nonrefundable reservations.

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Japan prepares to reopen to tourists for first time since 2020

‘Test tourism’ to begin in May in the form of limited package tours as a way of gathering information prior to full reopening

Japan will start conducting “test tourism” in the form of limited package tours in May ahead of a full reopening to tourism.

Though tourism was a major pillar of Japan’s economy, tourists have not been permitted to enter since it adopted strict border controls in 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Regulations have been loosened slightly to allow students and some business travellers to enter. But, individual tourists remain barred despite calls from industry leaders hoping to restart tourism to take advantage of the yen, which has fallen to 20-year lows.

Japan’s Tourism Agency said it would start allowing small group tours to enter from later this month as “test cases” to gain information for a broader resumption of tourism at an unspecified future date.

Tourists who have been triple-vaccinated and come from the United States, Australia, Thailand and Singapore will be allowed to take part in the tours, which will be strictly planned in conjunction with travel agencies and accompanied at all times by tour conductors, it added.

“This venture will allow us to verify compliance and emergency responses for infection prevention and formulate guidelines for travel agencies and accommodation operators to keep in mind,” it said.

Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said earlier this month in London that he would bring Japan’s border controls into line with other wealthy democracies in June, but no further details have been given, including when the country will fully open its borders to tourists again.

In 2019, Japan hosted 31.9 million foreign visitors, who spent 4.81tn yen ($37.2bn).

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Reports: Japan could announce full tourism reopening this week

Japan could scrap its remaining tourism restrictions by October, with a possible announcement as early as this week. Endgame?

Japan’s much anticipated reopening has come in fits and starts, with the latest concession of allowing tourists on “non-escorted package tours” seeing little uptake.

However, the endgame could be close at hand. Per a report in the Japan Times (citing FNN ), Japan may announce a full reopening to tourists as early as this week, scrapping arrival caps, mandatory visas, and allowing for independent travel.

Japan tourism reopening imminent?

While tourists have been able to visit Japan ever since June this year, would-be visitors have had to navigate three main roadblocks:

• A daily cap on arrivals
• Mandatory visa requirement (all visa waiver agreements have been temporarily suspended)
• The need to purchase a package from an approved tour agency

Even though Japan no longer requires tourists to be constantly escorted by a chaperone, the revised system of “unguided package tours” remains a major deterrent. Let’s face it- travel agencies have their uses, but not everyone wants to use them. Moreover, the complex rules have become a breeding ground for profiteering, with some agencies charging exorbitant fees for the all-important ERFS (which is needed for visa application).

Unsurprisingly, take-up rate has been low. Japan may command a special place in the hearts of many, but there’s just too many hoops to jump through.

That said, things are looking up. The Japan Times reports that the government is planning to make a decision on lifting tourism restrictions as early as this week, with a possible implementation date from October 2022.

This would involve abolishing the daily arrival cap altogether, restoring visa waiver arrangements, and allowing tourists to book their own flights, hotels and activities. In other words, it’s basically be pre-COVID travel once again.

Will any COVID-19 testing be needed?

Japan has scrapped the requirement for a pre-departure COVID-19 test for all vaccinated travellers. As a reminder, Japan defines “fully vaccinated” as individuals who have received at least three jabs of the following vaccines:

• AstraZeneca
• Bharat Biotech
• Pfizer-BioNTech

On-arrival measures depend on an individual’s travel history. Singapore is currently classified as a Blue List country , which does not require on-arrival testing or quarantine, regardless of vaccination status.

Visitors from Yellow or Red List countries may be required to take on-arrival tests or quarantine, depending on their vaccination status.

Yellow List

If your 14-day travel history cuts across various categories, the restrictions of the strictest one will apply. You can view the categorisation of countries here.

Flights between Singapore and Japan

Flight capacity between Singapore and Japan is a shadow of its former self, though presumably airlines are waiting for the “real” reopening before adding more services.

Here’s what the schedule looks like for September to Tokyo Narita and Haneda.

Singapore Airlines is also operating flights to Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka.

Scoot plans to resume daily services to Sapporo from November 2022, as previously announced. 

Award costs

If Japan allows for independent travel, frequent flyers will be able to use their miles to book their own flights once again. 

Here’s how much it costs to redeem an award between Singapore and Japan through KrisFlyer.

While Economy Class award space on Singapore Airlines flights to Japan is plentiful, Business Class award space has mostly vanished for the next few months. It is possible to find the odd option on ANA however, if you’re lucky.

For an easy (and free!) way to search for Star Alliance award space, I highly recommend using Awards PNR.

Alternatively, if you have Alaska Mileage Plan miles, then a round-trip Business Class flight on Japan Airlines to Tokyo would cost 50,000 miles . Unfortunately, Japan Airlines does not seem to be releasing award space until April 2023 at the earliest, and even then it’s sporadic. June 2023 might be a better bet. 

Japan could be lifting its remaining restrictions on foreign tourists soon, with October mulled as a possible implementation date. That would certainly be welcome news for people planning year end travel, though I fully expect the price of flights and hotels to spike given all the pent up demand.

Is it really happening this time?

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Hack: skip the immigration lines in kuala lumpur with priority pass, details: changi terminal 2 northern wing reopens, 16 comments.

i was skeptical, but so happy to be proven wrong! jpow after 3 yrs incoming!

singapore’s population will be halved in dec…

Should have chance for me to travel hassle free in Feb 2023, yay!

Why does Japan not recognize Sinovac Covid vaccine. I got 3 Sinovac jabs and one Novavax booster. Do I need to do pre departure PCR test?

bcos you got jabbed with the equivalent of normal saline

also will prevent hordes of chinese from flooding japan

Because the country that relied on Sinovac is still having lockdowns. Shows how effective it is.

Yes, you’d be treated as unvaccinated and will have to take a pre-departure PCR test.

Isn’t it great news? To prevent prcs from flooding to japan..

he’s not wrong tho

It is Japan. we do not question

do not believe japanese announcements until next year feb. japan is moving 6 months late than all developed nations.

China is even worse lewlz

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/bordercontrol.html

may wanna add that pre-departure pcr tests required for non-vaccinated or those with 2 jabs.

Finally. Those speculative reward redemptions I made for end March 2023, for Cherry Blossoms, are looking pretty good now. And I have not flown JAL in first before, so look forward to that too. Have already emailed the Roykan in Matsumoto that I had to cancel in 2020, and hope to have the accommodation bookings in place very soon too.

Actually there is quite a bit of award space on JAL – just that you have to fly ex-BKK rather than ex-SIN. And a few days in BKK on the way is hardly an imposition!

Third time’s the charm!

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As borders reopen, is Japan ready for tourism's pitfalls?

From crowding to reliance on China, current approach is unsustainable long-term

TOKYO -- After closing its doors to most foreign travelers throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the Japanese government has announced plans to start allowing group tours to enter Japan next month, much to the relief of hotels and other businesses that rely on tourism.

But the reopening is also expected to bring a trio of problems: local pushback against excessive tourism, extra strain without accompanying profits due to a weak yen, and the security risk that comes from depending too heavily on China.

Japan's tourism reboot begins with a whimper

As tourists return, japan looks to open doors even more, japan slowly opens up to foreign tourists: 5 things to know, japan to reopen to tour groups from 98 nations and regions, japan tops global tourism index for 1st time, despite tight borders, okinawa rivals hawaii in tourist numbers but not spending, thai hotels bet on expansion and recovery from covid this year, vietnamese travel to domestic destinations as covid curbs ease, taipei plays down fears of 'ukraine today, taiwan tomorrow', asia's rise of sustainable tourism: is it for real, japan braces for further consumer price hikes starting june 1, latest on comment, what's ahead for the yen after wild week, u.s. inflation watch resumes, myanmar ruler min aung hlaing yearns for public acceptance, kishida tapped reagan speech writer to press u.s. for ukraine aid, sponsored content, about sponsored content this content was commissioned by nikkei's global business bureau..

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Japan, famously polite, struggles to cope with influx of tourists

Huge numbers of visitors are causing chaos at such popular spots as Mount Fuji and Kyoto, leading to some extreme measures to tamp down the crowds.

TOKYO — Japan is proud of its “omotenashi” spirit, its practice of wholeheartedly caring and catering for guests. But a post-covid surge in tourist numbers, coupled with a weak yen that makes Japan cheaper for many visitors, is pushing Japan’s world-famous hospitality to the brink.

One town is installing a huge screen to stop tourists causing traffic jams while they take selfies in front of Mount Fuji. At least one overrun restaurant is reserving Friday nights for locals only. Even the deer of Nara, usually very proactive about coming forth for snacks, have had their fill.

This is because international tourists, unable to enter Japan for 2½ years during the covid pandemic, now appear to be making up for lost time.

The Japanese yen has been steadily weakening, losing more than 40 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar in the past five years and making Japan a much cheaper place to visit.

A staggering 25.1 million tourists visited the country last year, marking a sixfold increase from 2022. In March, at the start of the cherry blossom season, 3.08 million visitors arrived in the country, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization ( JNTO ), with the monthly number surpassing 3 million for the first time since records began in 1964.

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Just over a quarter of tourists this year have come from South Korea, while about 17 percent are from Taiwan and 15 percent from China. Americans have made up less than 7 percent of tourists since January.

The influx has been good for the Japanese economy: Spending by visitors to Japan in the first quarter of this year totaled $11.4 billion (1.75 trillion yen), the highest quarterly figure ever recorded, according to the Japan Tourism Agency . The average spending per person was about $1,300 (208,760 yen), up 41.6 percent from the same period in 2019.

But, in many popular places, it has not been good for the locals. There have been widespread complaints about overcrowding, litter, strain on infrastructure and a particularly Japanese worry: not being able to devote the requisite amount of care to each visit.

The concept of “omotenashi” is at the heart of the Japanese service sector. This wholehearted hospitality and level of attentive service can be felt in hotels, restaurants and shops from the moment one arrives in Japan — in fact, from the moment the air marshallers on the airport tarmac bow as planes taxi up to the boarding bridge. It’s in the white gloves of taxi drivers and the individually wrapped wet wipe that accompanies even the cheapest cup of coffee.

“Overtourism is a serious issue in Japan with tourism concentrated in the major centers, lacking the infrastructure to deal with the volume of visitors,” said Max Mackee, founder of adventure travel company Kammui.

“This can ruin the tourists’ experience, particularly as the beauty of Japan is often found in its peace and meditative moments, even in cities like Tokyo. It’s also a serious issue for the local population, which is not equipped to handle visitors, which can lead to local resentment, environmental impact or even closure of restaurants and bars and other establishments on the tourist trail.”

Screening off Mount Fuji

Fed up with badly behaved tourists, the town of Fujikawaguchiko is building a screen to block views of Mount Fuji at a popular photo spot.

The Lawson convenience store in the town has become a hit on social media because the renowned volcanic cone sits perfectly above the store’s neon sign. Tourists have flocked to the store’s parking lot to take photos of themselves in front of the Instagrammable scene.

Residents complained about the traffic problems, unauthorized parking, trespassing and littering this was causing. The Ibishi Dental Clinic, across the street, even installed a barrier to keep tourists away and ensure customers could get in.

“When we asked people to move their cars, some yelled back, and some even threw lit cigarettes. There are days where it’s difficult to provide proper medical services,” the clinic wrote in a statement on its website .

“Obviously it’s regretful for us too, to lose that view from our clinic, but we believe that it’s now an inevitable measure that needs to be taken in response to the unthinkable violations that exceed all measures we have taken until now.”

Lawson even issued a statement apologizing to residents and customers for the inconvenience.

The town has decided on more extreme measures: It is constructing a mesh net that is 8 feet tall and 65 feet wide to block the view, expected to be finished next week. “To ensure the safety of both tourists and drivers, and to ensure the peaceful life of residents, we have regrettably come to the difficult decision to proceed with this construction,” the town of Fujikawaguchiko posted on its website .

Then there are the crowds on the mountain itself.

Mount Fuji — Japan’s highest peak and a popular tourist destination — has been dealing with overcrowding in recent years, and the influx of overseas tourists has led the prefecture to take measures.

Starting this week, authorities have instituted an online booking system to stop Mount Fuji’s most popular trail from becoming excessively crowded during the summer hiking season. A maximum of 4,000 people will be allowed on the Yoshida Trail each day during the July-to-September hiking season, with 3,000 of the spots requiring advance bookings at $13 a pop.

Kyoto crackdown

In February, Koji Matsui was elected as Kyoto’s new mayor after campaigning against overtourism. Kyoto, just over two hours from Tokyo by bullet train, is famous for its temples and shrines and its traditional wooden buildings.

The city, once Japan’s capital, has a resident population of about 1.5 million but saw more than 20 times that number — about 32 million — of tourists arriving last year.

One major attraction is the Gion district, where geisha and their apprentices can be seen walking around in traditional kimonos and makeup. Kyoto last month banned tourists from entering private alleys in Gion after locals complained that the neighborhood was “not a theme park” and urged the government to act against unruly tourists.

Matsui’s other campaign pledges included charging tourists more than residents to take public transport fares and creating special tourist bus routes. The new mayor also plans to introduce “smart” garbage cans that send signals to the management bureau when full to try to curtail littering.

“ While we are very grateful for the large number of tourists attracted by the charms of Kyoto, we are now facing serious challenges in achieving a healthy balance between tourists and local citizens, ” Matsui said during his inauguration news conference.

The picturesque temples and gardens of Nara, just south of Kyoto, make it a popular side trip. And almost every visitor goes to Nara Park, where deer wander freely and vendors sell rice crackers, which the deer love. Usually.

Nara deer usually approach people and famously “bow” to — or sometimes butt — them to ask for the crackers. Not anymore.

This month during Golden Week, a popular Japanese holiday period, visitors to Nara found that deer were done with the rice snacks.

“Deer crackers have now become absolutely worthless due to the sudden surge in deer crackers during Golden Week,” one visitor wrote on X, posting a photo of an unimpressed deer lying beside four uneaten crackers.

これはＧＷの急激なシカ高せんべい安によって紙くず同然の価値となった鹿せんべい。 pic.twitter.com/hJNus8d0MA — 魅惑のなめろうフィットネス (@cqFv4ntcLoT6Sk6) May 5, 2024

Hiroshima, another regular stop on the tourist trail due to the Peace Memorial Museum commemorating the site of the 1945 U.S. nuclear bombing, is also feeling the strain.

Hiroshima is famous for okonomiyaki, a savory vegetable and meat pancake cooked on a griddle in front of the customer. But okonomiyaki restaurants are becoming so overcrowded that one popular place, Momiji-tei , has reserved Friday evenings exclusively for locals.

“It feels wrong for us to become a restaurant that is inaccessible to our regulars who supported us throughout the pandemic,” owner Ryota Fujiwara told local media. “We want to make sure to preserve their place even if it’s just once a week.”

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Japan Visitors Exceed 3 Million for 2nd Straight Month, Tourism Agency Says

FILE PHOTO: Visitors take selfie photos under an early-flowering Ookanzakura cherry blossoms in full bloom at Ueno Park in Tokyo, Japan March 8, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan welcomed more than 3 million visitors for a second straight month in April, official data showed on Wednesday, setting the stage for a potential record year for tourism.

The number of foreign visitors for business and leisure was 3.04 million last month, edging down from the monthly record of 3.08 million achieved in March, data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) showed.

Arrivals in April were up 56% from the prior year and 4% higher than in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic shut global borders. Visitors from France, Italy, and the Middle East rose to record levels in April for any single month.

The yen's slide to a 34-year low has made Japan a bargain destination for foreign visitors, with arrivals set to blow past the annual record of 31.9 million seen in 2019.

While the surge in arrivals is good news for Japan's economy, it has caused frictions with locals. Complaints of litter and illegal parking caused local officials to erect a barrier this month to block a popular photo spot of Japan's iconic Mt. Fuji.

Trail restrictions and a new 2,000 yen ($12.79) fee will go into effect for Mt. Fuji climbers this summer after a rise in pollution and accidents during last year's hiking season.

Visitors from Mainland China, Japan's biggest tourist market before the pandemic, exceeded 500,000 in April for the first time since January 2020 but were still 27% below the level in 2019.

(Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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One Japanese Word Changed the Course of Her Career

Devin Halbal had amassed hundreds of thousands of TikTok followers with her inspirational videos. Then she went to Asia.

By Jessica Roy

In January, the travel and fashion influencer Devin Halbal decided to take a trip to Kurashiki, a city in the Okayama Prefecture of Japan. Ms. Halbal, a Queens-born 26-year-old who goes by the username “Hal Baddie” on TikTok, had spent four years traveling around Europe with an extra-long selfie stick and a dream, sharing videos with hundreds of thousands of followers.

Ms. Halbal had become known for coining inspirational phrases, like “ doll check-in ” as a proud calling card to her fellow trans girls, and “ Met Gala behavior ,” for when you’re feeling and acting confident about what you’re wearing. Her fame seemed to peak in 2022 when she was profiled by W magazine and Rolling Stone, and invited on a brand trip to Ibiza by Loewe. But after globe-trotting and a few months off with friends in New York, she wanted to do more than “fashion and affirmations,” she said in a recent interview.

It was with this mind-set that she set off for Asia. Ms. Halbal said she loves finding places that are off the beaten path and close to nature — and Kurashiki, a small city of less than half a million people known as the birthplace of jeans in Japan , fit the bill.

She was experimenting, posting different types of travel videos. At the same time, she was learning Japanese, and there was one word she kept hearing everywhere: kudasai, which translates to “may I please have.”

“It kept on ringing in my head,” she said. “I would just be sitting down on a random Tuesday and I would just be thinking to myself: kudasai , kudasai .” She decided to make a video of herself using the word while walking down the street: “Sushi, kudasai,” (sushi, please) she says in a sing-songy voice while strutting with her selfie stick. “Ocha, kudasai.” (Tea, please.)

To date, the video has gotten more than 13.5 million views.

@hal.baddie The only words I know in Japanese. ♬ original sound - Devin Halbal

“I had no idea, out of all my content, that the one video that just goes super, super viral all throughout Asia is me saying five words,” Ms. Halbal said.

The video’s success convinced her to extend her stay in Japan; she went to Tokyo, Takamatsu, Mt. Fuji and Yamanashi, making videos about food , travel and the Japanese language. She made friends and volunteered on a farm . She started not just getting recognized on the street, but swarmed by fans . A quick trip to pick up some bubble tea became a two hour meet-and-greet. Then the fan accounts started cropping up, as did media coverage , calling her the “kudasai girl.”

“Now, ‘kudasai’ is the trend word in Japan,” a Japanese TikToker named Sorari said in a video posted last month, expressing surprise about how quickly and thoroughly Ms. Halbal’s content spread.

Ms. Halbal’s trip, originally planned for two weeks, turned into two months, and her reach expanded beyond Japan to other countries.

She started getting comments in Korean, Thai, Hindi, Nepali and Mandarin. “I’m like, ‘I have to do an Asia tour,’” she said. “What better way to continue learning about other cultures and continue learning about languages?”

Ms. Halbal attributes her success to the way she tries to actually speak the language and engage with different cultures wherever she goes. “I’m actually trying to pronounce the food in the way that they pronounce it — I’m not doing it with an American accent,” she said.

Last month, Ms. Halbal left Japan and traveled to Busan, South Korea. She’s still saying kudasai, but now she’s also started incorporating Korean into her vernacular, including the word for please, juseyo .

Now, the largest percentage of her followers on Instagram , where Ms. Halbal also shares her videos, are from the United States, but South Korea comes in second. At a recent meet-up at Korea University in Seoul, hundreds of fans crowded around her on the street, jostling to take selfies with her, or to give her food recommendations and ask her to speak in their language.

“Showcasing people’s food, showcasing people’s culture, in a way is a sense of community,” Ms. Halbal said. “You’re saying: I respect you, I value you and I value your food.”

She is continuing to tour Asia, with plans to potentially go to China, the Philippines and Malaysia. She said she was also weighing a permanent move to South Korea or Japan.

“I feel really at home here,” Ms. Halbal said. “People are so sweet. They treat me like I’m their family. So even though I’m ‘solo traveling,’ I never feel alone here.”

In South Korea, she said, some fans have started asking her to get into pop music.

“Especially in Korea, I think there’s a certain rhyme and cadence to the way that I’m speaking that they really want me to make music,” she said.

Is she ready to make the leap?

“I’m entering my K-pop star era,” Ms. Halbal teased.

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Serbia leases ex-army HQ in Belgrade to Trump son-in-law's firm

The Serbian authorities and Jared Kushner's U.S.-based investment firm Affinity Global Development, signed a 99-year lease deal on Wednesday, allowing the company to overhaul two buildings which housed the headquarters of the former Yugoslav People's Army.

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Hobby Airport runway back in service after lightning hits it, officials say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- According to the Houston Airport System, a Hobby Airport runway returned to service on Monday evening after a lightning strike forced its closure.

A post to Hobby's social media channels stated that runway 13R was closed for repairs due to the strike.

Jim Szczesniak, Houston Airport System director, explained in an interview on ABC13's Live at Five that the strike was on an intersection of the runway, calling it the worst spot for a lightning hit.

WATCH: ABC13's Live at Five interview wit Houston Airport System director

Based on the airport's social media posts, the repairs began at about 4:30 p.m. Officials announced the reopening at about 7 p.m.

Before the closure, flights were already at a standstill at Hobby and Bush airports due to the weather, with ground stops ordered.

At one point during the closure, Hobby Airport's flight status site showed multiple departures scheduled at 4:55 p.m. and later pushed back by more than three hours. There were also a handful of cancellations.

The airport system asks passengers to contact their airlines for flight status information.

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