Jessica Reid | 27 May 2022
Japan to reopen to international travellers as part of tour groups
For the first time since the pandemic began, Japan is welcoming back foreign visitors from 98 countries, including the UK...
For the first time since the pandemic began, Japan is welcoming back foreign visitors from 98 countries, including the UK...
After more than two years of closure, Japan will begin welcoming back international travellers from selected countries as early as next month – but only if booked as part of a package tour.
This comes after a limited amount of tourists were allowed in this week on a trial basis as part of smaller tour groups.
From 10 June, visitors from 98 countries will be allowed to enter Japan. These countries include Britain, USA, Canada, France and Spain. To participate in an approved tour, visitors will need to be triple-vaccinated, according to the Japan Times.
Rice terraces at sunset in Maruyama-senmaida, Japan (Shutterstock)
Tour group leaders will be responsible for looking after tourists booked onto their trip, making sure they adhere to Japan’s COVID-19 guidelines, including wearing a face mask.
Independent travellers are not yet allowed to enter Japan.
Japan will also open up more airports to international flights, including New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido and Naha Airport in Okinawa. The government announced that by 1 June, they will double its entry cap of 10,000 visitors to 20,000.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan has had some of the strictest border restrictions, only allowing citizens and foreign nationals to enter. So this easing of border restrictions, although slow, is a positive sign for the country’s return to the travel industry.
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