Parents Coming
The Japanese borders have been closed since October 2020, there have been some exceptions for business and students but for the most part tourism as a whole is dead in the water until the borders reopen.
Needless to say this has caused many businesses not only those in the tourist industry to suffer.
But the question now is asked, how are our parents visiting us if the borders closed? Well for us that answer is luckily a simple one.
We chose the route of opening our own business and self-sponsoring, which gave us the ability to vet or guarantee compliance for individuals wishing to enter Japan for business purposes.
Our parents have always been members of our companies boards so and have helped us many times setting up offices and in some cases filming.
Because of this they qualify for our guarantee.
But what are the steps for them to enter on short term business purposes.
Well they need to apply for a visa still (at the current moment). Normally US Passport holders are exempt from visa requirements for short term stays. They need to get a certificate from our company called a ERFS.
They take the visa application, ERFS form and their passports to the nearest Japanese Consulate / Embassy and apply.
Our mother did this a couple weeks ago now and their visa have been approved and they are expected to visit us in early July.
Now I know tourism to Japan may restart by then but if I’m hearing the rumors right they might only allow tour groups initially to see how things go then slowly branch to the general public.
BUT from what we have experienced if Japan is talking about opening to tourism then it’s likely that it will happen fast.
Japans’ GDP is heavily based on tourism, they bring in BILLIONS of dollars yearly from visiting guests. Being closed for ALMOST three years has definitely hurt the economy with yen prices falling and of course the closure of so many businesses.
Japans borders reopening may bring a breath of fresh air for those who are making ends barely meet.
But that’s for another story.
To cover our bases and to ensure compliance I should state that our parents are coming to help us renovate an office space for our filming. Our dad is a contractor and our mom has an amazing eye for details so the help is greatly appreciated. They are also helping us film some of our exploration videos into Tokyo and Osaka.
So to those who doubt that’s the real reason. But we are of course making some time for them to see things around the city so that its not just all work.
How have all of you been dealing with the disconnect from family members? Has the Japan Border closures affected you in any way? I’m interested to know..
