My Japanese Travel VISA Application Frustrations! - Part 1 日本の渡航ビザ申請で挫折! - August 18, 2022
以下日本語訳：
I am sorry in advance for my utter frustration in this video!!! Be forewarned..... I am a President of a company in the USA, and I have NEVER had this kind of paperwork to deal with on a VISA application! Unbelievable. I can only summarize that Japan DOES NOT really want "gaijin" aka "non resident foreigner" tourists to return any time soon. There isn't anyone in America, or frankly in any other G7 country, who would jump through these kinds of hoops to travel to Japan as a tourist!
Instead, I will go to Thailand or South Korea if my Japanese VISA application is denied. Period. The long, confusing, and difficult VISA application process, the onerous "mySOS app" and other health and location tracking apps that I'm required to have on my phone, along with the PCR testing requirements (72 hours prior to flying) have broken my will and spirit to travel to Japan.
I am not new to Japan! I have enjoyed over 120 nights in Japan over 5 @ month-long trips there between 2017 and 2019. I have climbed Fujisan - TWICE - I have toiled alone on Kumano Kodo for 7 days, I have visited 100's of small and large towns and cities in Japan. In fact, I have considered retiring there to rebuild an akiya in satoyama Kyushu! Yet, this entire process has put a sour taste in my mouth for all things Japan right now.
And, as you read the articles below, you will be quick to realize that right now, 1 in 10 ryokan and hotels in Japan have permanently closed since 2020, and 1 in 8 small restaurants and izakaya have also been shuttered. Japan is losing out to other nations such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and all of Europe perhaps for many decades. Japan has returned to a closed off society, akin to the "Sakoku" isolationist period of the early 1800's. It's incredible and so sad.
Please feel free to ask questions or comments, but PLEASE be respectful, I'm already frazzled over this this time-sucking, onerous, and convoluted VISA application experience!
Here's some reading for you if you wish to attempt to obtain a VISA to travel to Japan in September/October/November..., 2022:
Procedures and documents required to enter Japan: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border...
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_00105...
Application for VISA process to Japan: https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_0009...
Embassies of Japan in the USA: https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/...
Chicago Consulate-General of Japan office: https://www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itp...
US Dept of State USA information about traveling to Japan: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en...
Japan Travel Restrictions by Japan Travel Organization: https://www.japan.travel/en/practical-coro...
CNN Article: "Japan is open to travel. So why aren't tourists coming back?": https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/jap...
The Points Guy Article: "Stop believing Japan is reopening. Read this before planning a trip." : https://thepointsguy.com/news/japan-reopen...
NHK World Article: "Only 8,000 foreign tourists visited Japan in June, July": https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20...
Japan Today Newspaper Article: "Over 100,000 foreign visitors came to Japan in July for 4th month in a row" (read the article's fine print, though): https://japantoday.com/category/national/o...
VIDEO: "I know why Japan is still closed!": • I know why Japan is still closed!!! (Two ...
VIDEO: Only in Japan Go: "Only 8,000 foreign tourists visited Japan in July 2022": • Only 8,000 Foreign Tourists Visited Japan ...
VIDEO: Only in Japan Go: "Semi-open isn't open": • Semi-Open isn’t Open | Japan Travel Update...
Again, please feel free to ask questions or comments, but PLEASE be respectful, I'm already frazzled over this ridiculous VISA experience!
Miku Fan USA
このビデオで私の完全な欲求不満を前もって申し訳ありません!!!ご注意ください..... 私は米国の会社の社長ですが、VISA 申請でこの種の書類を扱ったことは一度もありません!信じられない。私が要約できるのは、日本は「外人」別名「非居住外国人」の観光客がすぐに戻ってくることを本当に望んでいないということだけです.アメリカでも、率直に言って他の G7 諸国でも、観光客として日本に旅行するためにこの種の輪を飛び越える人はいません。
代わりに、日本のビザ申請が却下されたら、タイか韓国に行きます。限目。時間がかかり、紛らわしく、難しい VISA 申請プロセス、厄介な「mySOS アプリ」、および携帯電話に必要なその他の健康および位置追跡アプリ、および PCR 検査の要件 (飛行の 72 時間前) が破られました。日本に旅行する私の意志と精神。
私は日本に来たばかりではありません！私は2017年から2019年の間に日本で120泊以上の5ヶ月の旅行を楽しんできました.私は富士山に登りました-2回-私は熊野古道で7日間一人で苦労しました.私は何百もの大小の町や都市を訪れました.日本で。実は九州の里山に秋屋を建て直すために引退を考えたことがあります！それでも、このプロセス全体が、今の日本のすべてのことに対して私の口に酸っぱい味を与えています.
そして、以下の記事を読むと、2020 年以降、日本の旅館やホテルの 10 軒に 1 軒が閉業し、小さなレストランや居酒屋の 8 軒に 1 軒が閉鎖されていることがすぐにわかります。日本は、おそらく何十年もの間、タイ、ベトナム、カンボジア、およびヨーロッパ全体など、他の国に負けています。日本は、1800 年代初頭の「鎖国」鎖国時代に似た閉鎖社会に戻りました。信じられないほど悲しいです。
お気軽に質問やコメントをお寄せください。ただし、敬意を表してください。私は、この時間のかかる、厄介で、複雑な VISA 申請の経験にすでに困惑しています。
2022 年 9 月/10 月/11 月に日本に旅行するための VISA を取得しようとする場合は、次の情報をお読みください。
Miku Fan USA