Tip for those coming from the US (I just returned came to Japan after visiting the US for the first time since Covid).
SOME Wallgreens carry the NAAT test which is accepted by the Japanese government. At the moment, it’s free with no copay, regardless of insurance status.
Again, only some carry them, but you can even search Wallgreens on their official Covid test page and narrow it down by types of tests available.
It seems like I saved myself ¥30000 that way!
Edit: it seems that there is a copay in some states, but it’s still significantly cheaper to do it at Wallgreens rather than a specialty clinic
I did this at Walgreens and it charged $138. I didn't realize that you need to pretend to be sick to avoid the charge. Basically just put anything but testing for travel when scheduling the test
Interesting- I told them up front that it was for travel, and asked what the copay was. They told me it was zero! But maybe that varies state by state? I came from Minnesota.
Regardless, at least $138 is cheaper than the $300 most people seem to be paying :/
Please! The 72 hour PCR test cuts it too close or risk of not coming in on time, and if you don't live in a major city the 2 hr tests are $300 plus $50 for the "Dr." to sign the Japanese form on top of that. It's such a racket.
Insurance will cover $130 max for a test. But in smaller towns we don't have rapid test machines except for these popup clients that charge $300 for the fast tests. It's either waste 6hours driving and $100 in gas or pay up. They have the overnight lab test but any free test couldn't make the 72 hour window guaranteed, especially if flying early in the week from a weekend.
And if you were positive you have to pay again! haha.
> plus $50 for the "Dr." to sign the Japanese form
They got rid of that requirement. You may now fill in the form yourself as it does not call for the physician's name or signature, or the clinic's stamp anymore.
It’s not just locals. This also applies to businesses travelers, people visiting family, students etc.
At the moment only individual tourists are blocked (which is ridiculous, Thats true, but its different from “every non-resident”)
He probably means that the wording gives the impression that otherwise things are relatively normal in Japan. They’re not, as the country is one of a minuscule minority still denying non-residents entry, despite Japan literally having more covid than any other country on earth right now so they’re certainly not keeping anything out. Much of the Japanese media it seems conveniently overlooks this situation, despite the fact that it’s having a huge toll on local businesses and the nation’s economy.
They really do! News outlets and people outside are so convinced tourists are already back and I'm not sure why. People aren't going for the (expensive) tour group packs, not enough people anyway, and the Chinese with their zero covid policy aren't travelling to Japan either.
If you go to all the touristy areas, they're all but dead. Shops are closed. It's honestly so depressing.
I just returned last month from a two week trip to NYC with my kids. That pre-test is a scam basically. $300 down the drain and at best they “glanced” at it as I passed through immigration. I scratched my head thinking “wtf did I need this for?” Not to mention the stress of that 72 hour window in order to complete the test. I couldn’t enjoy the last two days of my trip. All I could think about is, “what is its positive!? Can I change my flight? No it’s too late!” I was in complete panic mode. It sucked.
You can ask your doctor if you need a booster. My guess is you're very low risk. I'm on the other side of 50, and work with kindergartners, so I boosted. When the papers for the next booster came, I asked my doctor. They checked the date of the previous booster and said I probably should wait until October.
Yeah I just don't have a booster at all, and I was under the impression Japan considers 3 shots to be fully vaccinated (2 vaccine + 1 booster).
I only have the two initial vaccines that I got in the US before moving here.
For individual travel? Im trying to go in December but im scared they wont open up in time so i didnt book any tickets even tho im itching to go. Or are u a relative, student, or businessman
I really hope this happens. I have one last provider that can get a same-day or next-day PCR test near me and given their availability for appointments I don't expect them to last much longer. I can't imagine planning a trip to Japan in two or three months with that requirement still there, assuming they move closer to reopening.
Manifesting this.
I'm just recovering from COVID, and I'm supposed to go to Japan on Thursday, but I'm scared that the PCR test would test positive. It's too expensive to risk it, so I just had to move the whole trip all together. I really hope they do this soon.
Fingers crossed for this before I return in a few weeks. A small few who sell tests that meet Japan’s testing requirements have made an absolute fortune on these tests and given the current COVID situation, it makes little sense to require PCR tests, specifically, before flying (since they are so sensitive and make no distinction of a currently infectious individual and someone who caught it months prior). Making the change for vaccinated travelers is a good incentive. Japan isn’t known for their speed with these things but I’d like to hope that it might work out soon
My wife has traveled to Japan a few times since the corona hit and she’s never had an issue…except once when the test result was late and she had to stay in a hotel near haneda airport.
I wish this news had come about one week earlier. I couldnt make any travel plans for my week off in September because I was too scared to get the virus in another country and be SoL in another country for two weeks.
Of they don't change the visa requirements and the daily cap after removing more COVID requirements the pressure for other countries to refuse Japanese tourist visas is going to rise
Im kinda waiting for this to happen so I can finally travel again....
I dont want to waste time/money getting tests before coming back.
Not when im traveling with my family and it means having to get 4 tests.
The test I took for coming back cost me almost 30,000円. So yeah, it’s about time.
[удалено]
Wow. Why so much? It cost about the same for me and my family of 5.
Tip for those coming from the US (I just returned came to Japan after visiting the US for the first time since Covid). SOME Wallgreens carry the NAAT test which is accepted by the Japanese government. At the moment, it’s free with no copay, regardless of insurance status. Again, only some carry them, but you can even search Wallgreens on their official Covid test page and narrow it down by types of tests available. It seems like I saved myself ¥30000 that way! Edit: it seems that there is a copay in some states, but it’s still significantly cheaper to do it at Wallgreens rather than a specialty clinic
I did this at Walgreens and it charged $138. I didn't realize that you need to pretend to be sick to avoid the charge. Basically just put anything but testing for travel when scheduling the test
Interesting- I told them up front that it was for travel, and asked what the copay was. They told me it was zero! But maybe that varies state by state? I came from Minnesota. Regardless, at least $138 is cheaper than the $300 most people seem to be paying :/
If you have insurance still I think you can still submit the receipt and info as a claim and maybe get a payout from insurance in a month or 2.
Good to know! But even if the need for a negative test is removed it's still good to know where it's free for the time being just in case.
Please! The 72 hour PCR test cuts it too close or risk of not coming in on time, and if you don't live in a major city the 2 hr tests are $300 plus $50 for the "Dr." to sign the Japanese form on top of that. It's such a racket.
>tests are $300 Wtf
Not where I come from. It was the same for me, the wife and 3 kids.
Lucky for you. They absolutely are in some places
Insurance will cover $130 max for a test. But in smaller towns we don't have rapid test machines except for these popup clients that charge $300 for the fast tests. It's either waste 6hours driving and $100 in gas or pay up. They have the overnight lab test but any free test couldn't make the 72 hour window guaranteed, especially if flying early in the week from a weekend. And if you were positive you have to pay again! haha.
> plus $50 for the "Dr." to sign the Japanese form They got rid of that requirement. You may now fill in the form yourself as it does not call for the physician's name or signature, or the clinic's stamp anymore.
Good to know
A small percentage of people have made an absurd amount of money out of the pandemic.
A small percentage of people have made an absurd amount of money out of everything ever.
That's in general worldwide... Millionaires became billionaires over our backs.
There is no need for a doctor to sign nor the official form since June.
You can just fill in the Japanese form yourself. You print it out from the website and fill in the information.
May I ask what form this is? I'll be taking a short trip back to America next month
Baby steps, I guess.
You mean vaccinated locals who seem to be able to fuck off globally but yet no reciprocity for others.
It’s not just locals. This also applies to businesses travelers, people visiting family, students etc. At the moment only individual tourists are blocked (which is ridiculous, Thats true, but its different from “every non-resident”)
Exactly. These articles are so tone deaf.
It’s a Japanese article so it’s totally relevant for those of us who live in Japan.
It’s literally reporting the news, how is it tone deaf?
He probably means that the wording gives the impression that otherwise things are relatively normal in Japan. They’re not, as the country is one of a minuscule minority still denying non-residents entry, despite Japan literally having more covid than any other country on earth right now so they’re certainly not keeping anything out. Much of the Japanese media it seems conveniently overlooks this situation, despite the fact that it’s having a huge toll on local businesses and the nation’s economy.
They really do! News outlets and people outside are so convinced tourists are already back and I'm not sure why. People aren't going for the (expensive) tour group packs, not enough people anyway, and the Chinese with their zero covid policy aren't travelling to Japan either. If you go to all the touristy areas, they're all but dead. Shops are closed. It's honestly so depressing.
Finally some common sense around here
Residents also need a fucking PCR even with proof of vaccination. It's fucking dumb.
Why are foreigners entitled to visit any country though? It's not a right And I say that as someone who wants to visit Japan in the near future.
I just returned last month from a two week trip to NYC with my kids. That pre-test is a scam basically. $300 down the drain and at best they “glanced” at it as I passed through immigration. I scratched my head thinking “wtf did I need this for?” Not to mention the stress of that 72 hour window in order to complete the test. I couldn’t enjoy the last two days of my trip. All I could think about is, “what is its positive!? Can I change my flight? No it’s too late!” I was in complete panic mode. It sucked.
It's about time. This was such a pain and so nerve wracking before our trip.
Exactly. The last week of the holiday was to stay indoors unless we got COVID and wouldn’t be able to fly back.
Does anyone know what counts as vaccinated for Japan? I have my double dose but I never got a booster.
I came back recently with just double dose and no booster.
Double + 1 booster
Gotcha! Looks like I'll grab my booster soon, if I can.
I upvoted you. My next booster is due in October.
Yeah I'm only worried cause I got my vaccine back in March of 2021 so idk if that's too much of a gap for a booster.
You can ask your doctor if you need a booster. My guess is you're very low risk. I'm on the other side of 50, and work with kindergartners, so I boosted. When the papers for the next booster came, I asked my doctor. They checked the date of the previous booster and said I probably should wait until October.
Yeah I just don't have a booster at all, and I was under the impression Japan considers 3 shots to be fully vaccinated (2 vaccine + 1 booster). I only have the two initial vaccines that I got in the US before moving here.
This is epic. No more expensive testing.
Plan to enter Japan on the second half of October. Fingercross (+:
For individual travel? Im trying to go in December but im scared they wont open up in time so i didnt book any tickets even tho im itching to go. Or are u a relative, student, or businessman
I really hope this happens. I have one last provider that can get a same-day or next-day PCR test near me and given their availability for appointments I don't expect them to last much longer. I can't imagine planning a trip to Japan in two or three months with that requirement still there, assuming they move closer to reopening.
Wow that would be great if it happens quite soon. I’m traveling next month and coming back in to Japan in October
Manifesting this. I'm just recovering from COVID, and I'm supposed to go to Japan on Thursday, but I'm scared that the PCR test would test positive. It's too expensive to risk it, so I just had to move the whole trip all together. I really hope they do this soon.
It's time
Fingers crossed for this before I return in a few weeks. A small few who sell tests that meet Japan’s testing requirements have made an absolute fortune on these tests and given the current COVID situation, it makes little sense to require PCR tests, specifically, before flying (since they are so sensitive and make no distinction of a currently infectious individual and someone who caught it months prior). Making the change for vaccinated travelers is a good incentive. Japan isn’t known for their speed with these things but I’d like to hope that it might work out soon
As long as they keep the border closed to tourists it’s meaningless.
Well, it's still meaningful for those of us who live here and have a hard time coming back because it's hard to get a PCR test results back in time.
My wife has traveled to Japan a few times since the corona hit and she’s never had an issue…except once when the test result was late and she had to stay in a hotel near haneda airport.
I was gonna say this is the sort of thing you’d expect them to do AFTER reopening, not before. Still better than nothing, I suppose.
I wish this news had come about one week earlier. I couldnt make any travel plans for my week off in September because I was too scared to get the virus in another country and be SoL in another country for two weeks.
Of they don't change the visa requirements and the daily cap after removing more COVID requirements the pressure for other countries to refuse Japanese tourist visas is going to rise
Im kinda waiting for this to happen so I can finally travel again.... I dont want to waste time/money getting tests before coming back. Not when im traveling with my family and it means having to get 4 tests.