DENIED ENTRY INTO JAPAN 🇯🇵😳 What Just Happened???

Hey, everyone! We wanted to share a recent experience that taught us a valuable lesson about international travel. We were all set to work with the Japan Tourism Board on a series of exciting events and attractions, but we ran into a major roadblock when we were denied entry to Japan not once but twice in one week!


So what really happened?

Our journey started in New Zealand, where we decided to visit Bali, Indonesia, for a week before flying to Tokyo with a short layover in Vietnam. However, we didn't know that due to COVID, Vietnam had suspended its visa-on-arrival services during weekends! As our flight was on a Sunday, we had to scrap our original plans and book new flights via Singapore, losing time and money in the process.

Now this is where things get even more complicated! After arriving in Singapore, we discovered that Japan still has firm COVID restrictions in place and that a third booster shot is also required for entry (we have two shots each). The alternative was a valid PCR test which we couldn't obtain in the short window in Singapore, so we were denied boarding on our second attempt to enter Japan!!

What followed was a stressful period of rearranging our travel plans, communicating with home exchanges, and finding accommodations. But despite the setbacks, we learned to be flexible and resilient in the face of unexpected challenges. We also discovered the kindness of strangers on the home exchange who opened their doors to us at midnight during our stay in Singapore.

This experience reinforced our belief that travel is not always a smooth ride but also an opportunity for personal growth and development. We hope that by sharing our story, we can help other travelers avoid similar mistakes and embrace the adventures of exploring new places.


Join us on our journey and see the world through our eyes as we continue growing up without borders!