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Dear ,
Welcome to the final 2022 issue of the Japan Travel Trade Newsletter.
I am going to forgo the usual seasonal highlight opening words this month with a more personalised message to close the year - and what a year it has been!
After a gradual, cautious reopening, Japan finally fully reopened to international travel in October, just in time for the autumn leaves and the coming ski season, and many of you have already sent clients to Japan as soon as they could get over. I've heard from many more of you who are working on bookings for the next few months, as well as planning into next year. We're all excited to welcome you and your clients back to Japan soon.
It was wonderful to reconnect with so many of you at our Roadshows in Sydney and Melbourne in August (our first in-person events since late 2019), and at our Cruise Japan event which we co-hosted with Silversea Cruises in November. We will be back with another round of Roadshows in February (dates below) so I hope to see even more of you then.
Thank you as always for your support of JNTO and of tourism to Japan. I look forward to working with you to send more and more of your clients over now that the border has fully opened.
I wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year!
Now, read on for the usual monthly news & updates from JNTO.
With warmest wishes,
Sally Miles
Business Development Manager
JNTO Sydney Office
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Latest entry requirements and guidelines (as of 04 Dec)
From November, Visit Japan Web has fully replaced the MySOS app so travellers now only need to log in to one system to complete the 3 pre-departure forms for entry into Japan. Visit Japan Web can be accessed from either a desktop or mobile device.
All visitors are encouraged to complete the quarantine questionnaire (including uploading a valid vaccine certificate or negative PCR test result), immigration and customs forms prior to departure to streamline entry into Japan.
At this time, entrants to Japan are still required to either be triple vaccinated or have a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of departure for Japan. Be sure to check the specific requirements on the MHLW website.
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Japan Roadshow 2023 - Save the date
Japan Roadshow will return to New Zealand and Australia in February 2023.
Thursday, 02 February 2023 @ Auckland
Monday, 06 February 2023 @ Sydney
Tuesday, 07 February 2023 @ Brisbane
Wednesday, 08 February 2023 @ Melbourne
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!
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Insider Tip
#11: Wear slip-on shoes and nice socks
If you visit a restaurant, traditional hotel, or someone’s home and encounter tatami, the straw mats used for flooring in traditional Japanese buildings, you will need to take off your shoes, so wear comfy slip-on shoes to make it easier when coming and going from these places.
Some places will provide indoor slippers for you to wear when walking through the tiled or wood-floored hallways, but when you get to a room with tatami floors, you’ll need to remove the slippers, too, so leave the socks with the hole over the big toe at home.
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Travel Inspiration & Updates
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Japan boasts a vast unspoilt countryside waiting to be discovered. Whether you’d prefer to hit the open road or relax on the country’s extensive rail network, here's a roundup of trips to appreciate the country’s boundless natural wonders and rural culture.
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Sake (more commonly referred to as nihonshu in Japan) and shochu play a key role in Japanese life and culture. Learn more about these two traditional alcoholic beverages, including how they are made, where you can go on a sake brewery or shochu distillery tour and more.
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Explore Japan via the big screen at this year’s Japanese Film Festival. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, be quick, they’re selling out fast.
© 2021 AOI Pro./TY Limited
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Autumn colours, known as koyo, can be seen from late September through to early December, depending on the location. Here are 9 locations to add to your 'momiji-gari' (maple leaf hunting) list!
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Skiing and snowboarding in Japan
With mountains of endless powder snow to discover and over 600 resorts to choose from, Japan is the perfect destination to discover incredible skiing and snowboarding. Start planning your next snow adventure now.
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A new shinkansen route linking Nagasaki and Saga Prefectures in the southern island of Kyushu recently opened, making it easier than ever for travellers to explore this beautiful region of Japan.
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This year, Japan has taken out the award for Best Destination for Immersion in Culture in Out & About with Kids' annual Readers' Choice Awards. Japan and some of its attractions were finalists in 3 other categories, as well!
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Nagano is a great snow sport destination but there is much to explore beyond its famous ski slopes. This model route introduces some of its other offerings, including dining in a snow hut, a path to a shrine lined with 400-year-old cedar trees and an opportunity to experience Zen meditation.
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Located on the border of Aomori and Akita Prefectures, the mountainous Shirakami Sanchi region is home to Japan’s first World Heritage site, a beech forest dating back over 8000 years. Explore the pristine environment on a number of designated routes and learn about the ecosystem and wildlife of the area at the visitor centre.
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Resources for you and your clients
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Travel Trade Resources
Find e-learning programmes and webinars by JNTO & our partners; JNTO's photo and video library; brochures, maps and posters; inbound travel suppliers and more!
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Access travel advisories and the latest information on countermeasures the government and companies and facilities such as airlines, airports, railway companies and accommodation providers have implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19.
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JNTO has worked with local governments and travel suppliers in Japan to highlight off-the-beaten-track experiential travel. The handpicked experiences are separated into 7 passions - Tradition, Outdoors, Cuisine, Cities, Nature, Art, Relaxation - allowing you to find activities suited to your clients' interests, all across the country. Visit the microsite to find an experience for any type of traveller.
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Open 24hrs, 365 days a year.
Call for tourist information, if you need assistance in case of emergencies (accidents or sickness) or for support during natural disasters.
Ph: +81 (0)50-3816-2787
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Designed to make your trip to Japan smooth, safe and comfortable.
Features:
- Tourist information articles
- Restaurant listings
- Public transport guidance
- List of hospitals with foreign language services
- Natural disasters alerts
- Find duty-free shops, luggage-forwarding spots and ATMs
- Search for Wi-Fi access points and Tourist Information Centers offline
Available in the App Store and Google Play.
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Copyright © 2022 Japan National Tourism Organization | All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Japan National Tourism Organization
Suite 1, Level 4, 56 Clarence Street
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
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