Going to Japan from Singapore? Here’s what you need to know

Excited to be able to travel again? If you’re looking for the next great holiday destination you may be wondering if there are still any Japan travel restrictions for Singapore citizens and residents.

This guide covers all you need to know about travel to Japan from Singapore in 2023, including a Japan VTL update, covid requirements and more. We’ll also introduce Wise as a great way to make your money go further in Japan, whether you’re headed off to ski, shop, or soak in the culture.

Travel to Japan covid update

Japan’s borders stayed closed for longer than many countries during the height of the covid pandemic. However, the good news is that you can now travel to Japan again without needing to worry about covid related requirements. In fact, in May 2022 it was reported that Japan was opening its borders to select tour groups, before the announcement in October 2022 that visa free travel to Japan was coming back.

At the time of writing, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that there’s no need for people entering Japan to show proof of covid vaccination status, no tests on arrival are in place, and there’s no need for covid positive individuals to be treated at designated facilities. All that said, if you’re not feeling well you’d definitely be better off avoiding travel in the first place.

We know that travel rules can change significantly and at short notice - so if you’re planning to travel from Singapore to Japan you’ll need to double check entry rules and requirements in advance, just in case. Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a very helpful list of contact addresses for information about Japan entry requirements, as a reference point. For everything else you need to know about your next trip to Japan, read on.

What about the Japan VTL from Singapore?

While Singapore was exploring ways to open up travel safely during the pandemics, VTLs (vaccinated travel lane) offered a helpful way to arrange essential travel. As long as you fulfilled the requirements of both the Singapore side and the country you were headed to, you could hop on a VTL flight to get where you needed to go.

Since countries started to reopen, and Singapore put its own covid related travel entry rules aside, VTL flights are no longer necessary. That means you can pick any available flight to get to Japan and back, without needing to look for a specific VTL. We’ll cover some popular destinations served from Changi at the end of this guide, to help start your research.

Japan travel requirements

As we’ve seen, there’s no covid specific travel requirements for Japan right now. However, as with any country, there are still some rules you’ll need to follow to make sure you can enter Japan without delays or hassle.

The Embassy of Japan in Singapore confirms that Singapore citizens can enter Japan for short term tourist stays of up to 90 days without needing a visa. If you’re not Singaporean you’ll need to check if your country of citizenship qualifies for visa free travel to Japan - if not you can apply for a short term visa online pretty easily. If you’re headed to Japan for over 90 days or if you’re planning on working while you’re there you’ll need to get a visa in person from the embassy before you can arrange your travel.

When you arrive in Japan you’ll need to complete a customs declaration form as you pass through the airport. Double check the lists of restricted and prohibited items, to make sure you’re not accidentally carrying anything you shouldn’t. In particular it helps to know that some food and drink products are restricted and must be declared - or may even be banned entirely. If you’re carrying food items as gifts you’ll need to double check the rules before you get on your flight.

Returning from Japan to Singapore

Getting into Japan isn’t likely to pose any major issues since Japan’s covid restrictions have been more or less completely dropped now. However, don’t forget that you’ll need to complete your SG arrival card to get back into Singapore from Japan. You can fill out your card up to 3 days before you land back home, and getting everything done in advance should mean you get through Changi airport in double quick time.

How can Singaporeans travel to Japan now?

Getting excited about your trip to Japan already? As you’d expect, the only practical way to get to Japan from Singapore is to fly. You can fly non-stop from Singapore to Tokyo and Osaka, and there are then plenty of connections within Japan once you’ve arrived. Japan is a pretty big country, so you’ll need to think carefully about your itinerary to minimise time wasted on travel, but the good news is that you can easily book advance connections from Singapore to other destinations in Japan including Okinawa, Fukuoka and Sapporo.

Flight times to Japan are pretty long - so be prepared. Getting direct to Tokyo is likely to take you nearly 7 hours, and direct flights to Osaka are in the region of 6 and a half hours long, too.

Travel company Kayak offers some handy hints for snagging a cheap flight from Singapore to Japan, too. January is the cheapest month to travel, while flights in December jump up in price by 14% or so - making it the most pricey month to go. You also find costs mount in April and May, while July can come with some bargains if you’re looking to get away mid-year. Shop around to see which options suit you best.

Travelling to Japan? Get the Wise card to spend JPY without losing on exchange rates and foreign transaction fees

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