Hanaguma

Don't think so in the case of Japan at least. No tourists allowed as yet, except very small and select groups going on select itineraries, starting in June. Not sure when the country will open for general tourism. Hell, even residents and citizens have a hard time when they return from overseas. Have to do a PCR test at the airport, wait for the result, then go home for a one week quarantine if you are not 3x vaccinated.

As someone who has lived in Japan for 20 years, I can tell you with confidence that the video is PRE Covid, probably in Shinjuku station. There are myriad subways, private trains at the station. That level of crowded is not the norm generally. It is also why I drive my own car and do NOT live in Tokyo. Whoever said that a car here has a lifespan of only 2 years due to environmental regulations is full of unko. My car is 12 years old and going strong! What does happen is a safety check- after 3 years for new cars, then every 2 years after that. But there is no rule on having to scrap or replace vehicles. And yes, people are generally very tolerant of crowding and having their personal space invaded.

OP here with the updates. First of all, thanks to all for their stories and experiences! Combination of "TiT" and "ESID" and the like. Our positive tests were done at a local clinic that specializes in testing for travel to Japan. We both did saliva based pcr tests. Mine was positive at a 29 CT, my wife at 33. Both barely over the threshold but enough to trigger our current situation. First night in quarantine, staff are nice enough, checked in at about 800pm. Brief consult with the nurse on duty, usual health questions. She said that we will be tested again on Day 3 and if negative, can leave. If not, another test on Day 5... and so on. Deliveries here are OK but must be left at the lobby for pick up, final pick up 600pm. But since we arrived later, we were able to get a pizza delivered later than that. Like I said, no complaints about the staff. Situation is complicated by being tourists and not having access to a cell phone. Can't use our phone from home for anything so we can't set up any accounts with virtually anyone. So, no calling Grab or Food Panda or almost any other form of food or service company. Pizza Hut delivered, also this morning we could order from Villa Market and things arrived by noon. Villa and PH didn't require a phone number, just a credit card. We were happy to get stuff like extra paper products, some fresh fruit, drinks, snax, and so on. Makes life seem more civilized. Room? Basic Novotel base. The TV is good, nice view east over Soi 34 and a few houses. Bed interestingly is made of cardboard...bar size fridge and microwave in an alcove off the room. Food? No choices, gets delivered outside the door with a ring of the bell. Breakfast was a bit hideous, think the worst an airline would provide. Worst was no coffee or juice- the room has bottles of water provided and I guess that is all you get. Lunch was char quay teau (sorry for butchered spelling)- flat noodles with some veg and chicken cooked in an oyster sauce kind of base. All in all, definitely different than the food we got in our Day 1 "Test and Go" hotel! Have yet to hear about costs or anything else. We bought the mandatory insurance when we came (through AXA insurance) so we will see what transpires. Nobody took my credit card imprint at check in or anything like that. Thai Airways has kindly cancelled our flight home with minimal fees and seems like they will let us book again when we know our departure, so good news on that front. Otherwise............. waiting and reading. If anyone has any questions, I have loads of time to answer!

...and now we are in a quarantine hospitel. Whisked away in a van this evening at 700pm and deposited in the former Novotel on Soi 34. Here to stay for anything from 3 to 10 days.... depends on whether we test negative on Day 3 or Day 5 or the staff wasn't too clear on it. Sooner we can go home the better.

Hi, my wife is Japanese, I am a permanent resident on a lifetime visa. Lived there for more than 20 years. I am so tempted to get a "second opinion" test done at another clinic and see if it is still positive before deciding on anything. The hotel we are at now is not an official "hospitel" but it is an SHA Plus. Told the front desk our situation at noon and they have not said or done anything. We gonna get kicked out I wonder?

Hi; thanks for the advice. I was thinking the same, why did we both test positive? It was a saliva based test, not nasal swab, and we both have been having a very minor cold (but no fever or any other covid-y symptoms) so maybe that threw off the test. I am sorely tempted to run downstairs to the pharmacy and at least get a couple rapid tests for us to try. Plus ask another testing clinic to send someone here to do a nasal swab test. We don't even eat in restaurants- usually we got take out food and ate at our Airbnb. Drove a rental car. Private tours only. No boozing or nightlife. This makes no sense.

Sorry to cross-post with 'another forum', but I am curious about WTH to do.... So, my wife and I are supposed to fly home to Japan on Thursday after our vacation here. Arranged a pcr test with a clinic in Bangkok, did the test.............. phone call this morning. We are both positive! Both asymptomatic, both double dosed with with Phizer (last November), no sign of fever. Did temperature checks everywhere and was 36.5 always. Currently staying in a nice hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 23. Told the staff and are waiting to see what happens.... Waiting to see if our hotel will let us stay here or we have to transfer to a hospitel somewhere. Visa free status will run out in 3 days also- can we sign up for an extension of some kind from quarantine? Bizarre situation. We dont go to parties, bars, group tours, stayed in an isolated villa on Phuket for 3 weeks..... what are our next steps? Advice, grumpiness, scolding, whatever you want to give is fine. Looks like we will be here a while!