Going to Japan (Osaka) in 2 Weeks - Should I Cancel?

Ltenoclockfindu on 19/02/2020 - 10:37
Last edited 21/02/2020 - 15:20

Hi Everyone,

I will be going to Osaka/Nara/Kyoto in 2 weeks for 2 weeks and my parents are thinking to cancel it due to the Coronavirus.

Their main concern is the flight (we are flying Qantas) as its an enclosed area where the air just circulates/air con system … etc. Also, I have read a lot of articles about Japan suppressing the media to report on Coronavirus as Olympic is happening soon so that can be one of the reason that we arent seeing everything.

However, I think its the best time to go given that there are no tourists (people from China cant go there and they are majority of the tourists).

Also, if I do cancel, I will need to pay $400 for flight cancellation and lose $500 on one hotel as I can cancel the rest

I just want to get some thoughts on this.

Note:

  • My parents are old and older people have higher chance of getting it so thats why they are worried.
  • We have enough face masks (P2 grades)
  • We have been to Japan like 7 times
  • I am also Chinese so I am not racist against Chinese people

EDIT:
I have decided to cancel my trip. Thank you for taking your time to comment.

Thanks in advnace

Travel Asia Japan Osaka

Comments

  • CyberMurning on 19/02/2020 - 10:42
    +12

    soon this ozb will full of new threads with subject:
    "going to xxx should i cancel"

    so far i saw singapore, japan, cruise,…

    • Archi on 19/02/2020 - 11:22
      +3

      my uncle from the US is on the Holland -America cruise ship currently docked in Cambodia

    • Bargain80 on 19/02/2020 - 11:59
      +16

      soon it will be "I'm going out of house, should I stay home"

      • Archi on 19/02/2020 - 12:13
        +2

        the way people are staying home its probably safer outside

      • Ozbargainite on 20/02/2020 - 03:03
        +7

        Should I eat my pets or is a vaccine imminent?

        • kiitos on 20/02/2020 - 08:55
          +5

          Depends - is it a pet bat?

        • geoffs87 on 21/02/2020 - 12:39

          I was just emailed an invoice for annual injections for my dog he received in December last year… one of them was for the Coronavirus… Crazy that this wasnt even an issue back then, but dogs were being vaccinated for it!

          Anyway - suppose my dog will be free of the virus, so theres that option i guess? :S

          • Rusty4 on 21/02/2020 - 14:19
            +4

            @geoffs87: Coronaviruses are common viruses in animals. They were discovered in the 1960s…

      • striker5950 on 21/02/2020 - 11:29
        +9

        im leaving my room to go to the living room in about 1 hr, should i stay in my room?

    • payless69 on 21/02/2020 - 10:17
      +2

      or forgot to buy car insurance, can I do after the crash?

  • Porker on 19/02/2020 - 10:42
    +1

    Also, I heard (I haven't confirmed it myself) that apparently if one person on an entering flight to Japan is confirmed to have corona, then the whole flight is quarantined - but as I write this now, I think it's the case for any entering flight to a country.

    My mother is going to Tokyo in April to meet up with other family members there (all based on my advise to go to Japan) and she's now doing what she can to cancel the holiday. Another friend of mine got a good Jetstar deal to Japan for $350-ish return for June (I think).

    In both cases there is the issue of lost money for not going - my response to them has been 'think of it as paying that money to reduce your chances of getting corona'. It's just something I said to alleviate their concerns for losing the money.

    • lostn on 21/02/2020 - 00:12

      apparently if one person on an entering flight to Japan is confirmed to have corona

      How on earth will they confirm this? And who will do the confirming? They have no way to tell if a person is negative or incubating.

      Do you have to take a blood test at Dorevich before you board your plane, or does Japan get every disembarking traveler to a testing facility for a blood test?

      • Porker on 21/02/2020 - 09:55

        No idea - assume it'll be a digital thermometer reading that you see on TV with airports - if you're high, a test is done(?).

        I don't know, hence my comment 'apparently' and 'I haven't confirmed it myself' as disclaimer.

        • lostn on 21/02/2020 - 10:55
          +1

          thermometer can't detect incubations with no symptoms. It's pretty ineffective.

          Until a vaccine is developed I think the only way to kill this thing quick is to put the entire world under martial law and all travel is banned for 14 days. This obviously isn't going to happen though and would be impossible to even try.

          • twinbag on 28/02/2020 - 15:16

            @lostn: It would have to be 14 days after the last infected person is healed. This is pretty much what they've done in Wuhan, but they're still getting more cases.

            • lostn on 28/02/2020 - 15:43

              @twinbag: their infection rate is declining. Still getting new cases, but less than before. And more recoveries are confirmed than new cases. The tide is turning in China. Problem is what happens in the rest of the world. You can be as draconian as you want in containing the virus, but if other countries are more relaxed in dealing with it, it won't contain the virus for anyone.

              South Korea's infections have now surpassed China's, and they are a much smaller country who was not the epicenter of the outbreak. They have a real emergency on their hands.

  • Blue Suby on 19/02/2020 - 10:51
    +2

    My daughter is currently in Japan for 6 weeks and is used to taking precautions (she's a doctor) for infection control so she's pretty fussy about hand washing, masks in some instances and generally fussy with hygiene. I'm off to NZ next month with Qantas and also will take standard precautions but have no intention of cancelling.

    • sagrules on 20/02/2020 - 12:36
      +3

      There are no known cases in NZ why would you cancel?

      • timps on 21/02/2020 - 18:45
        +2

        Because a flight leaves you sealed inside a cabin with other people and if one of them is diagnosed, everyone gets quarantined.

  • Fergy1987 on 19/02/2020 - 10:53
    +1

    Yes

  • serpserpserp on 19/02/2020 - 10:54
    +51

    Yes. Cancel and go via cruise ship.

    • wiipantz on 19/02/2020 - 11:00
      +4

      Came for this.

    • Cluster on 19/02/2020 - 12:14
      +31

      Diamond Princess is a little delayed, so I recommend the Sapphire Prince, or Ruby Queen.

      Book one cruise, get 14 days free near Tokyo, then receive your free gift of 14 days on Christmas Island.

  • wannagrababargain on 19/02/2020 - 10:58
    +1

    Is it feasible to monitor the evolving situation and make your decision at the last minute? I feel like the next few weeks will tell us if there's a full blown pandemic evolving or if it has been mostly contained on the China mainland.

  • Archi on 19/02/2020 - 11:03
    +2

    in my view, in order for you to catch the corona virus on a flight (or any other illness) there needs to be a person on that flight with the virus. the virus doesn't just appear out of thin air.

    you are travelling from Australia to japan. confirmed cases in Australia are 15 (across the country), haven't been an increase in a while

    japan however has the second largest number of cases, mainly due to the docked cruise chip. take the numbers away from the total and japan is looking more like under 50 confirmed cases

    the risk is low, albeit it is still a risk, the likely hood of catching it on the plane to japan I think slim but coming home might be a different story as the numbers in Asia is still increasing. as long as countries continue to stop flights from china then the risk is lower

    we had a holiday booked in April to Hong Kong and Taiwan, that we cancelled. I have a boys trip in June to japan not sure what's happening (hope it settles over the next few weeks)

    • CyberMurning on 19/02/2020 - 11:13

      hey taiwan is safe

      • Archi on 19/02/2020 - 11:17

        except im flying there from hong kong… and virgin already cancelled the flights and cancelled the entire route

        • lostn on 21/02/2020 - 00:16

          do you know if any countries are closed to HK travelers? Because I fly to Japan via HK. I can't get a refund on my ticket though because they only give 24 hours for cancelation.

          • Archi on 21/02/2020 - 00:38

            @lostn: Is it Cathay or ate you travelling syd to hk return and hk to Japan return

            • lostn on 21/02/2020 - 01:32

              @Archi:

              Is it Cathay or ate you travelling syd to hk return and hk to Japan return

              I'm going MEL - HK - Osaka and then Tokyo - HK - MEL.

              I booked all this before the coronavirus became a thing. Cathay have screwed me over, canceling my flight to OSaka and putting me on the next flight, which means I have a 13 hour layover in HK. They won't compensate me or even put me in a hotel because I booked through Expedia. They told me to speak to the travel agent who surprise surprise is unhelpful.

              • Archi on 21/02/2020 - 08:54

                @lostn: I would start the dialog with your insurance provider.

                and you could always start pressuring Cathay for a refund… does hurt to ask and pester if you really want to cancel.

                I don't see much of a risk, i didn't have a choice, Virgin cancelled the tickets and route for the period I'm travelling which is early April.

                • lostn on 21/02/2020 - 11:00

                  @Archi:

                  I would start the dialog with your insurance provider.

                  Insurance doesn't cover cancelations for change of mind or fear of travel. And since I didn't buy insurance until after coronavirus hit the news, they won't cover any claims related to the disease, even if Japan refused to let me enter the country. If you bought insurance after an event is known, you are assumed to be aware of and accepting of the risks of travel. They won't provide cover for known events. You had to have purchased the insurance before the event was known in order to be covered, and also most (all?) insurance won't cover pandemics.

                  and you could always start pressuring Cathay for a refund… does hurt to ask and pester if you really want to cancel.

                  Cathay refuses to even entertain it. When you don't book directly with the airline, they pass the buck to the OTA.

                  I don't intend to ever fly Cathay again.

              • Maxxjet on 21/02/2020 - 16:06
                -1

                @lostn: No surprise - typical Asian business behaviour - when they can have your money, their services can be as good as submissive - when it comes to get money out of them ( even it is your money) - their services can be as bad as abusive!

          • Wyn-Ryder on 21/02/2020 - 01:08

            @lostn: Taiwan is closed to HK travellers. Not sure about Japan

        • chriise on 21/02/2020 - 09:03

          I'm traveling to Taiwan in 2 weeks to meet up with a couple friends from HK- their flights got cancelled last week.

          Looks like I'm going on my own.

          • Jackkkkkk on 21/02/2020 - 12:32

            @chriise: From the Philippines to Taiwan, they have added Taiwan as no travel. Just a heads up

            • chriise on 21/02/2020 - 14:18

              @Jackkkkkk: Thanks do you have any sources? Only news I can find is from a week or so back when Philippines lifted the travel restriction from Taiwan… A few countries had restrictions from Taiwan due to WHO classifying them as China. I believe Italy is only remaining country with a restriction in place.

              • Jackkkkkk on 21/02/2020 - 15:03

                @chriise: it seems they've lifted the ban a few days ago

      • HighAndDry on 19/02/2020 - 11:18
        +1

        There was just a death there a few days ago, the fifth death from coronavirus outside (mainland) China.

        • Archi on 19/02/2020 - 11:21
          +2

          66 year old Chinese un registered taxi driver servicing Chinese customers

          • HighAndDry on 19/02/2020 - 11:24
            +1

            @Archi: Yeah but you really don't want a taxi driver to be infected because even if he only infected other passengers who're Chinese, you have no idea where those passengers have been and who they may have infected. And with the 2-10 day incubation period, by the time you know, it'd be far too late.

            • Archi on 19/02/2020 - 11:25
              +1

              @HighAndDry: wasn't disagreeing with you

              • HighAndDry on 19/02/2020 - 11:25

                @Archi: Sorry, reflex… also did I mention a taxi driver having it is super bad?

                Also apparently because of Chinese pressure, Taiwan is being frozen out of Covid related WHO briefings.

  • donga100 on 19/02/2020 - 11:05
    +1

    No.

  • payton on 19/02/2020 - 11:08
    +15

    I am also Chinese so I am not racist against Chinese people

    You shouldnt even feel the need to write this, the sad state of Australia today when people need to pre-empt the moral police

    • Archi on 19/02/2020 - 11:11
      +24

      You shouldnt even feel the need to write this, the sad state of Australia today when people need to pre-empt the moral police

      i'm not racist… I hate everyone the same

      • wtfnodeal on 21/02/2020 - 15:16

        Damn you are humanist.

        • Archi on 21/02/2020 - 15:17

          usually its a person and not a race that irks me… sometimes I even hate my own people

    • kma on 21/02/2020 - 07:54

      Not the whole Australia, Ozbargain unfortunately.

  • HighAndDry on 19/02/2020 - 11:17
    +6

    YES

  • Bezoo on 19/02/2020 - 11:21

    I’m having the same problem. Meant to be going to japan on the 20th of March however we booked with China southern airlines last year and we have a 3.45 hour stop over in Guangzhou. Not sure how much of an issue this is going to be?
    On the way there but flying back on Jetstar via cairns. Everything we booked has no refundable cancellation

    • qazwsx on 19/02/2020 - 13:19
      +5

      Transit in China is the same as being in China as far as most countries are concerned, therefore likely to get blocked by immigration on the basis of prior visit to China, and then a subsequent quarantine back home on the same basis.

      China Southern should be cancellable as China has directed all airlines to offer refunds.
      https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/coronavirus-how-to-c…

      That way you should be able to rebook another flight to Japan to avoid a China stop, and continue with your trip.
      You could also try:
      Asking China Southern to rebook you through another route (i.e. different carrier), but I think that may be unlikely.
      Ask your travel insurance if they will help with additional costs of rebooking if the new flight costs more than CS (if you bought insurance); I would think unlikely though, but it is funny times now.

  • milobob on 19/02/2020 - 11:40
    +3

    You are more likely to get infected from the Flu. Just saying…

    Consider that there have been 581 flu cases in Australia this year and 15 Corona virus cases.

    Are you normally afraid of catching the flu? If so, then don't go.

    A private charter plane is probably better.. less people on board. Probably not a Bargain 🤣

    • gimme on 21/02/2020 - 07:58
      +1

      More likely to slip and die in the shower

    • 900dollaridoos on 21/02/2020 - 13:23
      +3

      Except that the flu is established in Australia. In china where the virus is still establishing itself it is already drastically more prevalent than the flu. China
      On top of that, the flu isn't going to get you denied by immigration. Japan is the next worse impacted, so it's not crazy to imagine it could experience a rapid increase like Mainland China did in the next two weeks before OP's trip.

      I'm all for calming down the fear mongering, but pretending it's just the flu is not helping anyone.

    • chubbychicken on 23/02/2020 - 08:58

      Corona is 3-4 times more contagious then the flu. If the Chinese government is to believed it has 2% mortality while the flu has 0.2%. In other words Corona will kill 200 people out of 10000 infections while the flu will kill 20. Corona will also infect 3-4 times the amount of people so this figure rises to about 600-800 deaths while the flu is still on 20 (assuming similar time frames etc).

      Saying your more likely to catch the flu is pointless/stupid & like the person above said doesn’t help anyone. If Corona virus establishes itself globally you are looking at death rates 10-40 times greater then the flu. This is also based on figures provided by the Chinese government (should probably be taken with a grain of salt).

      This is why governments around the world (including Australia) have travel bans in place directly to/out of China & a 14 day quarantine if you have traveled through it etc.

      • lostn on 28/02/2020 - 15:48

        More people have the flu than covid19.

        The CDC estimates that as many as 56,000 people die from the flu or flu-like illness each year.

        https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&c…

        If we divide that 56,000 people a year into 2 months, that's 9333 expected to die from flu in January and Feb of this year, compared to less than 3000 from covid19.

        0.2% is less than 2%, but the base number of people with flu is much higher than covid19.

        If jan + feb death rate from covid19 is maintained throughout 2020, we're looking at less than 18,000 deaths, compared to 56,000.

        When you compare "contagiousness" of flu and covid19, you are making the assumption that both are quarantined against equally, and that travel bans and lockdowns exist for flu which isn't true.

        • tenoclockfindu on 28/02/2020 - 15:53

          Do you really believe that only 3000 died from Covid-19 ? China's numbers are way higher than what they report.

  • GG57 on 19/02/2020 - 11:44
    +4

    This comment is not aimed specifically at OP, but to all those who have (or are considering) posting similar forum posts re trips and coronavirus.

    I'm not sure what you are expecting others to respond with.
    You all need to make your own decisions based on your own circumstances, itineraries, timelines, costs / refunds / insurance, etc.

    No-one on here can really give you any advice.

    • Bargain80 on 19/02/2020 - 12:08
      +3

      actually everyone is entitled to give advice.
      whether it's a good advice or not, that's a different story.

      • GG57 on 19/02/2020 - 12:56
        +1

        Of course you are correct, and plenty of people do give advice.
        But why would I seek the advice of an online bunch of strangers to decide, in my personal circumstances, if I should take a holiday I booked.

        Imagine if OP went and the worse case scenario eventuated; would OP just claim "but a lot of people on OzB said it would be ok".

  • kevsta on 19/02/2020 - 11:44
    +9

    Yes, cancel. You can always go later. Elderly parent's health is important, and at that age, don't take unnecessary risks.

    • nismo on 19/02/2020 - 20:32
      +1

      There's no mention in the post that the parents are actually going. I've read it 3 times. It's only mentioned that they want to cancel it. Are we supposed to assume the parents are also going?

      I will be going to Osaka…

      • tenoclockfindu on 19/02/2020 - 21:15
        +3

        My elderly parents will be going with me

        • lostn on 21/02/2020 - 00:21

          If you're paranoid, just cancel.

          Do know that worldwide infections excluding China add up to only a fraction of a percent of China's infections. Those odds are pretty good to me.

          I'm going to Japan in late April and my mother has urged me to cancel also, even though I have no cancelation cover and will be giving up 3.5k to do so. I will not be canceling though.

  • Caped Baldy on 19/02/2020 - 11:44
    +18

    Am I the only one that would be game to travel to Japan? Think about how unpopulated the touristy places are without all the Chinese tourists.

    • tenoclockfindu on 19/02/2020 - 11:49
      +6

      This is what I'm thinking :)

    • HighAndDry on 19/02/2020 - 11:59
      +1

      It's more the transport and transport hubs you'd have to transit through.

      • lostn on 21/02/2020 - 00:21
        +3

        the chinese won't be there either.

    • neonlight on 22/02/2020 - 14:47

      Mixed hot springs for you

  • dingdong3000 on 19/02/2020 - 11:51

    I cancelled my flight to Asia 24 hours before flying via agent and they waved the cancellation fee.. Guess it was better than nothing

    • chriise on 21/02/2020 - 09:08

      Could you give more info? Which country, any quarantine rules you'd have been facing? Which agent?

  • Cluster on 19/02/2020 - 12:16
    +8

    One common complaint heard in Japan, especially around the old parts of Kyoto, is that there are too many tourists now. I would say this is the ideal time to visit Japan. The main supply of tourists (from China) has slowed to a trickle.

    Go and enjoy the sights. I wouldn't cancel.

    • neonlight on 22/02/2020 - 15:17

      Seems like a lot of feelings against Chinese tourists. Can understand arguably likely due to rudeness , unpolite groups. Lack of courtesy.

      No matter how strong their economy are they cannot change their people and what they eat or hygiene

      11 years ago went to Kyoto it was peaceful

    • mezje on 23/02/2020 - 12:53

      +1 I am returning from a 24 day trip and most the busy tourist areas were significantly quieter than normal, now would be ideal.

      Japan has been screening for a long time now and there are less Chinese here than normal so it is relatively safe. You do feel a bit more racism than normal in Japan towards Chinese people, so if you are Chinese keep that in mind.

      Osaka is a China/Korea hot spot too.

  • DarthAntz on 19/02/2020 - 12:46
    +4

    Don't cancel. Your trip will be amazing with the lack of mainland Chinese tourists.

    I do understand and appreciate the Chinese tourists in Japan, as they bring in a lot of money and are very necessary for the economy, but it is night and day difference without massive swarms of mainland chinese tourists, especially in the Kyoto and Osaka region.

    Pack hand sanitiser (under 100ml) too. You're coming prepared, you have nothing to worry about.

  • Digitalco on 19/02/2020 - 13:45

    No enjoy your holiday

  • Cheap Charlie1 on 19/02/2020 - 14:59
    +1

    It's just a holiday. It's not that important. Can't you cancel and go to Japan next year?

    Remember to self quarantine or 14 days when you come back to Australia so we don't get sick if you have something.

    • lostn on 21/02/2020 - 00:23
      +1

      does that mean never leaving your house?

      I don't know how practical that is.

      • Cheap Charlie1 on 21/02/2020 - 02:53
        -3

        Just being sensible when hundreds of millions of people are living under travel restrictions because of a pandemic in the region.

        It's just a holiday. It's not important.

        • lostn on 21/02/2020 - 11:01

          you didn't answer the question.

          • Cheap Charlie1 on 21/02/2020 - 19:19
            -1

            @lostn: It's not a choice between never leaving your house or going on a holiday to a region where there is a pandemic. It's just a holiday. Not very important.

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