Japan is still playing catch up with the rest of the world in terms of reopening for tourism. As reported by The Japan Times, the government is looking to further ease its strict border restrictions in the near future. Japan plans to remove the daily entry limit and at the same time remove the visa and package tour requirements for tourists.
According to the latest report by Nikkei Asia, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to make an official announcement in the next few days. While Japan is looking likely to accept free and independent tourists without the need for visa and travel agency bookings, they will still be expected to meet certain conditions such as showing proof of Covid-19 vaccination.
Restrictions have continued to ease over the last few weeks as the entry cap was recently raised from 20,000 to 50,000 people per day. Tourists are also allowed into Japan without joining a guided tour, but they must still apply for a visa and book their flights and accommodation via a travel agency. Now, the government is saying that they are planning to remove the visa requirement for certain countries including the US, and allow tourists to visit Japan freely without having to go through a travel agency.
The change is coming at an ideal time as Japan’s autumn and winter seasons are particularly popular with tourists. Japan's weak yen is also another incentive for international travellers.
This article was published on September 12 and updated on September 15.
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