Vax/Test Ends Early

Plus Japan Rail Pass price increase, Japan restaurant reservations, Ghibli Museum tickets, and a new ZipAir San Francisco-Tokyo route

The Japanese government just ended the Covid vax or negative test requirement effective April 29, midnight, Japan Time (so, it’s already over). This move came nine days earlier than expected. Here’s the Ministry of Health page with the announcement. So, there are now NO Covid formalities for Japan. We’re back to the old days of just buying a ticket and flying to Japan. I’m trying to determine the status of the Visit Japan Web app. I’m assuming it will be voluntary and that it will not include the quarantine (Covid) section at all. I’ll put more details on my InsideKyoto Covid page when I have them.

Japan Rail Pass Price Increase

Japan Rail just announced that they are significantly raising the cost of the Japan Rail Pass in October of this year. It’s expected that prices will go up by about 70%. Here’s a Japan Times article on the price hike. The good news is that holders of the pass will be allowed to use the Nozomi and Mizuno shinkansens (with purchase of a special ticket). Even with the price increase, a Japan Rail Pass will still be a great deal for those who ride a lot of long-distance trains in Japan. However, I’ll be exploring other options here and on InsideKyoto in the future: long-distance ferries, domestic flights, regional train passes etc.

Japan Restaurant Reservations

Kyoto restaurant exterior. Photo by City Foodsters.

Making restaurant reservations in Japan can be a major headache, especially if you want to dine at high-end restaurants. Fortunately, it can be done. I’ve just published How to Make Restaurant Reservations in Japan on InsideKyoto. Obviously, one of the easiest ways is to book through a hotel concierge, and I introduce hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto with great concierge services. The good news is that there are a few mid-range hotels in Kyoto with capable concierges, so you can save money on hotel fees and spend it at restaurants.

Ghibli Museum Tickets

Ghibli Museum sign. Photo by Ben Stiefel.

One of the most popular attractions in Japan, especially for children, is the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (near Tokyo). It’s a veritable shrine to the films of Hayao Miyazaki. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult for foreign travelers to get tickets to the museum. Fortunately, Sunrise Tours (a Japanese travel company) is now offering day tours to the museum which you can easily buy online. I put all the details on my new InsideKyoto page titled How to Get Ghibli Museum Tickets.

New ZipAir San Francisco-Narita Route

Starting on June 2 of this year, ZipAir will be operating an SFO-Narita route. ZipAir is a budget subsidiary of Japan Airlines. I’m seeing economy flights in July for this route as low as US$909. And business class flights are as low as US$2386. That makes ZipAir business class easily the cheapest lie-flat service from North America to Japan. So, if you don’t need all the frills and just want a way to get some sleep on your way to Japan, this is an excellent choice.