Interest may be even greater among young citizens. About 68% of Singaporeans aged 16 to 24 said they were considering Japan for their “next holiday”, compared with 37% of those aged 55 and over, according to a survey published in May. Japan was the first choice among respondents by a good margin, with the second choice, Taiwan, garnering interest from 39% of respondents. About 26 percent said they were interested in vacationing in Malaysia, according to the results, but that may have been influenced by the survey question, which specifically asked about travel plans “by air.” However, Wanping Aw, CEO of Tokyo-based travel agency Tokudaw said her company saw a big boost in business after Japan reopened its borders in June – with 50% of inquiries and bookings coming from Singapore, he said.

Why Singaporeans like Japan

Japan has always been a popular destination for Singaporeans, said Aw, especially among those looking for a change of season. Spring and winter are the two “peak seasons” for Singaporean travelers, he said: “They really like the cherry blossoms and snow.” Singaporean trader Alex Ng said he is planning a trip to Japan this fall. Wanping Aw in Shinjuku Gyoen, a popular park in Tokyo. Aw, who is Singaporean, has lived in Japan for 13 years. Source: Wanping Aw A self-proclaimed “Japanophile”, Ng said the country hits the “sweet spot” between the familiar and the unfamiliar. He said Japan’s safety, cleanliness and professionalism are like Singapore’s, as is the culture’s adherence to social norms for the collective good. “The trains don’t go on strike while you’re rushing back from a day trip,” he said. “We feel comfortable operating in this structure. It’s familiar how we live here, probably because most Singaporeans like Switzerland too.” The food is also familiar – rice-based with ingredients such as fish, pork and tofu – but it “branches out from there in a myriad of exciting directions”. Alex Ng said most Singaporeans enjoy the intricacies of Japanese culture. “It’s cathartic and inspiring to experience.” Source: Alex Ng He said he also appreciated the religious differences between the two countries. “We are lucky to have a range of religions here in Singapore,” he said. But “Shinto, which informs much of Japanese life and culture – particularly their architecture, aesthetics, cultivation and conservation of natural spaces – is quite different from what we grew up with.” And the cherry blossoms? “Hundreds of years have been spent cultivating tens of thousands of cherry blossom trees … for a few weeks of vibrant festivities each year.” “I’m not sick of the sight yet,” he said.

Confusion abounds

Singapore is one of more than 100 countries and territories marked “blue” in Japan’s color-coded entry classification system. Travelers from these places are not required to undergo a Covid-19 test or quarantine on arrival or be vaccinated to enter. However, visas and Covid-19 PCR tests are required before the flight, according to the website of the Embassy of Japan in Singapore. But requirements beyond that have left many travelers confused, Aw said. This is especially true of the rule that allows tourists to enter “only when a travel agency, including the one organizing the trip, serves as the host organization for the entrants,” as Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. Sites like these use “a language that speaks in loops,” Aw said. Everyone is confused and stressed about the visa application process. “And this misunderstanding is compounded by the fact that Japanese embassies use the word — tour packages,” he said. This conjures up images of “30 to 40 strangers on a big bus, going on a fixed route with a predetermined itinerary.” But that’s not accurate, he said. A person can book a “tour package”, he said, adding that he has arranged three individual travel bookings – including one from Singapore – since Japan’s borders opened in June. The term “scheduled itinerary” also confuses potential travelers. “Everybody seems to be under the impression that they have to determine their itinerary down to the hour or the minute … which is hard to pin down,” he said. “But it’s not as hard as it looks.” Another problem – “everyone is confused and stressed about the visa application process,” he said. To apply for a tourist visa, travelers must plan an itinerary and book their flights and accommodations before he can process their “ERFS certificates,” she said, referring to an approval document visitors need before submitting visa application. Only Japanese companies can apply for the certificate, but travelers can work through tourism offices in their countries, which in turn work with their local partners in Japan, he said. Once an ERFS certificate is obtained, travelers can apply for a visa, Aw said.

Finally, the escort

In addition to working with an agency, international travelers must also travel with an escort “at all times,” Aw said. Visitors must pay for the escort, who is an employee of the travel agency, Aw said. But on the other hand, attendants can help with things like restaurant reservations and train schedules to make travel smoother, he said. An escorted trip is not something that disturbs Ng, nor the rest of Japan’s travel rules, he said. However, he said he would probably travel to Japan more often if the rules were less cumbersome. For now, Ng said he is optimistic. “There is a good chance that Japan will further relax restrictions soon, given that the election is now over,” he said. Ng said he has secured his flights and hotels – but not his visa – on the assumption that, come autumn, the rules might be different. Au said many other Singaporeans are doing the same thing. They are making plans but pushing through the visa application process “for as long as they can,” he said.