Is Japan open to vacationers? It is the place Singaporeans need to journey

Some 49% of Singaporeans say they’re contemplating Japan for his or her subsequent trip overseas, in line with the market analysis agency YouGov.

Curiosity could also be even increased amongst younger residents. Some 68% of Singaporeans aged 16 to 24 years previous indicated they’re contemplating Japan for his or her “subsequent trip,” in comparison with 37% of these aged 55 and older, in line with analysis printed in Could.

Japan was the best choice amongst survey respondents by a very good margin, with the second selection, Taiwan, garnering curiosity from 39% of these surveyed. Some 26% indicated curiosity in vacationing in Malaysia, in line with the outcomes, however this will have been affected by the survey query, which particularly requested about journey plans “by air.”

Nonetheless, Wanping Aw, CEO of the Tokyo-based travel agency Tokudaw mentioned her firm noticed a big uptick in enterprise after Japan reopened its borders in June — with 50% of enquires and bookings coming from Singapore, she mentioned.

Japan has all the time been a preferred vacation spot with Singaporeans, mentioned Aw, particularly amongst those that desire a change of seasons.

Spring and winter are the 2 “peak seasons” for vacationers from Singapore, she mentioned: “They like cherry blossoms and snow quite a bit.”

Singaporean dealer Alex Ng mentioned he’s planning a visit to Japan this autumn.

A self-described “Japanophile,” Ng mentioned the nation strikes the “candy spot” between the acquainted and the unknown.

He mentioned Japan’s security, cleanliness and professionalism are like that of Singapore, as is the tradition’s adherence to social guidelines for the collective good.

“The trains aren’t occurring strike whilst you’re dashing again from a day journey,” he mentioned.  “We really feel snug working in that construction. It is acquainted to how we reside right here, in all probability why most Singaporeans like Switzerland too.”

The meals can be acquainted — rice-based with components like fish, pork and tofu — however it “branches off from there in a myriad of fascinating instructions.”

He mentioned he additionally appreciates the spiritual variations between the 2 international locations.

“We’re lucky to have a spread of religions right here in Singapore,” he mentioned. However “Shintoism, which informs a lot of Japanese life and tradition — particularly their structure, aesthetics, cultivation and maintenance of pure areas — is pretty totally different from what we grew up round.”

And the cherry blossoms? “Tons of of years have been spent cultivating tens of 1000’s of cherry blossom timber … for a couple of weeks of vibrant festivities yearly.”

“I’ve but to tire of the spectacle,” he mentioned.

Singapore is one among greater than 100 international locations and territories marked “blue” in Japan’s color-coded entrance classification system.

Vacationers from these locations should not required to take a Covid-19 check or quarantine on arrival, or be vaccinated to enter. Visas and pre-flight Covid-19 PCR exams are required although, in line with the website for the Embassy of Japan in Singapore.

However the necessities past this have left many vacationers confused, mentioned Aw.

That is very true of the rule permitting vacationers to enter “solely when a journey company amongst others organizing the journey serves because the receiving group of the entrants,” as said by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Web sites like these use “language that talks in loops,” mentioned Aw.

“And this misunderstanding is escalated with the truth that the Japanese embassies are utilizing the phrase — bundle tour,” she mentioned. This conjures up photographs of “30 to 40 strangers in a giant bus, occurring a hard and fast route with a pre-fixed itinerary.”

However this is not correct, she mentioned.

One particular person can e-book a “bundle tour,” she mentioned, including that she’s organized three solo journey bookings — together with one from Singapore — since Japan’s borders opened in June.

The time period “pre-fixed itinerary” can be befuddling potential vacationers.

“Everybody appears to have the impression that they’ve to repair their itinerary right down to the hour or minute … that it’s troublesome to provide you with,” she mentioned. “However it isn’t as exhausting because it appears.”

One other downside — “everyone seems to be confused and confused concerning the visa utility course of,” she mentioned.

To use for a vacationer visa, vacationers have to plan an itinerary and e-book their flights and lodging earlier than she will be able to course of their “ERFS certificates,” she mentioned, referencing an approval doc that guests want earlier than they’ll apply for his or her visas.

Solely Japanese firms can apply for the certificates, nonetheless vacationers can work by means of tour businesses of their residence international locations, who in flip work with their native companions in Japan, she mentioned.

As soon as an ERFS certificates is obtained, vacationers can apply for his or her visas, mentioned Aw.

Along with working with an company, worldwide vacationers should additionally journey with a chaperone “always,” mentioned Aw.

Company should pay for the chaperone, who’s an worker of the journey company, mentioned Aw. However on the upside, chaperones can help with issues like restaurant reservations and practice schedules to make journeys run smoother, she mentioned.

A chaperoned journey is not a deal-breaker for Ng, nor are the remainder of Japan’s journey guidelines, he mentioned. Nonetheless he mentioned he would in all probability journey to Japan extra usually if the foundations have been much less cumbersome.

For now, Ng mentioned he is optimistic.

“There is a good likelihood that Japan relaxes restrictions additional quickly, provided that elections are now over,” he mentioned.

Ng mentioned he is secured his flights and accommodations — however not his visa — on the belief that, come autumn, the foundations could also be totally different.

Aw mentioned many different Singaporeans are doing the identical factor. They’re planning, however pushing off the method to use for his or her visas “for so long as they’ll,” she mentioned.