Current Information

As you may aware from recent media and news reports, Japan will relax its current border closure policy from 1st June 2022. 

We currently have not received full and comprehensive details about this from Japan and therefore can not provide any definitive  information regarding to what extent tourist entry to Japan will involve.

According to details released by the government, early indications suggest that Japan will accept tour groups starting June 10. Initially, entry will apply only to guided tour groups sponsored by Japanese travel agencies and similar organizations responsible for taking in visitors. No individual tourist traveling alone will be granted entry. Tour guides will accompany the groups during their stays to ensure that activities during the trips are carefully monitored.

The 98 nations and regions, which includes Australia, were chosen based on low rates of positive cases, both locally and among inbound travelers at Japan's points of entry. Officials will start processing visas for the group tours on June 10. But it is expected to take some more time before the first tourist groups start arriving under the program.

As further and more detailed information regarding tour conditions and entry guidelines becomes available, we will update this information here for your reference. You can also keep up to date and follow the latest guidance from the relevant official bodies;

Booking Change and Credit Requests

We understand the current situation is causing uncertainty and therefore have currently input the following policy surrounding novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
For cancellation requests received from 09:00 am AEST on 16 March 2020 customers have the option to rebook or retain its value in credit.

The following travel criteria must apply for a customer to be eligible:

All Arrangements except Japan Rail Passes

• Travel Dates must be: 16 March 2020 to 31 December 2020;
• Revised/alternative travel date must be advised to us by 31 March 2022 and must travel by 31 March 2023;
• Customers are subjected to pay for any price difference if the revised/alternative travel date is higher than the original booking;
• Any cancellation fees charged by suppliers and hotels must be paid, however, we will try our best to negotiate these;
• If you do not wish to retrain a credit, you can request a refund, however, the initial non-refundable deposit will be held as a credit to be used for travel in Australia or to Japan, all additional HIS cancellations fees are waived.

Japan Rail Passes

• Cancellation fees waived for exchange vouchers issued for travel dates: 16 March 2020 to 31 of December 2020;
• For exchange vouchers issued for travel outside of the above dates, standard cancellation fees apply;
• Exchange vouchers must be received back to us before a refund can be arranged, please post to Att:Travel Japan Manager - PO Box 1517, Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217
• Please allow at least 21 days for your refund to be processed.

The above policies are only valid until 31 December 2022, to which at this time we will review accordingly. 

Proud Member of ATAS

H.I.S. Australia Pty Ltd operating as Travel Japan is a proud member of ATAS, which means we have met strict financial and customer service criteria. 

As some Australian consumers have questions surrounding refunds and credit policies which travel agents are offering so ATAS has complied a list, if you have questions surrounding our policies they maybe answered here; https://www.atas.com.au/covid19-update