You may wish to wait further as the rules may get relaxed further in not so distant future that will make this erfs and travel agent rule obsolete. Visa timing also take quite a while now due to consulate all being bogged down by all the visia application

I need some Help & Advice!

We had booked return flights through Etihad approx. 9 months ago, and are due to visit Japan in 8 weeks time - on 5th Nov. We really want to visit, however the restrictions that the Japanese Gov' are stating is making it look unlikely, as they quote:

"a Japan travel agency, etc. arranges round-trip air tickets for tour participants when entering and leaving the country and all accommodation facilities during their stay"

We have already booked the flights, which a non refundable/changeable, and so if we can't visit we lose the £2400 that we paid for them! We have also booked accommodation in several cities, of which we can cancel 50% of them, other than that we stand to lose another £500.

We are nervous about entering a country with a current high Covid infection rate , however as we have been triple vaccinated we would cause no risk during the visit. We desperately want to see this amazing Country.

HELP!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

This may still work out in your favour. Some of the tour agencies that had been accepting ERFS sales, such as JGA, have now suspended those sales because of the “rapidly changing border situation”. If these companies have suspended those sales, there may be an announcement imminent about the loosening of restrictions.

Otherwise, you could take a look around at other agencies that are still offering the ERFS if you’d prefer the peace of mind it can give.

I sense erfs are possible with tour agency but the bigger problem you might face is the visa. Consulate are packed. Do check with the london embassy on their openings/appointments.

Use a VISA agency to get around the problems of getting a visa in decent time.

Email from one travel agent last week:

I do want to be upfront that we do not expect these rules to last for much longer. We fully expect Japan to return to the visa waiver for UK citizens in the next few months so by the time you arrive next spring, these rules will be well behind us.

If you are in England (I am guessing based on your putting prices in ££) you might want to ring Inside Japan in Bristol.

They are an approved travel agency within the Japanese rules and are likely to be able to sort out your trip, or at least tell you what you need to do.

I have used them to help organise 6 month long tailored trips to Japan over the past few years and have found them to be honest, efficient and very knowledgeable.

They say on their website that they can sort out the paper work for visas etc,

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