UPDATED on Aug. 18th: Chuck Waterman here: Just a hopefully helpful informational post about my process in getting back to the US this week.
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Got the two Pfizer shots as early as possible. (I’m in Group 2). That meant that the morning after I arrived here it had been two weeks after the second shot and I’m able to walk down the rsidential streets here without wearing a mask and associate with my close family (also vaccinated) without one. Only waving and saying hello to people in the neighborhood from the distance of acrosee the street, though, and everyone is still wearing masks in stores, but not in restaurants in MI.
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Got to the Rendaiji Clinic to get my PCR test at 9 AM (opening time) the day before my flight. Had to return at 6PM (normal closing time) to pick up my results. They gave me a bilingual PCR test results form with all the needed details and an ENGLISH signature by the doctor! Cost: 33,300 yen. 25,000 + extra fees for same day processing and bilingual form.
tinyurl.com/RendaijiClinic = Map 蓮台寺クリニック 3 Chome-4-3 Rendaiji, Nishi Ward, Kumamoto, 860-0055, Japan
Added 8/18: American Airlines has a downloadable app called Verifly. They asked for passport number etc and then asked me to scan or send a photo of my PCR test. After they received that they said, You’re ready to fly!
When I got to FUK, Skymark (an American partner) didn’t even ask to see my PCR paperwork, and they checked my luggage through to Detroit! At NRT, I had to show my PCR paper very briefly, and then got boarding passes for the last two flights. Except for the flight in Dallas departing one hour late and landing me in Detroit at 11:30 PM, the rest of the whole trip wqas very smooth and easy to deal with!
It was amusing to see this sign at the Dallas airport: Free Vaccinations: Go to Terminal C2.
