Japan opens borders to foreign tour groups after two year closure

With the Coronavirus pandemic having seen the country closed to tourists for two years, the Japanese Government is opening its borders to visitors from 98 countries and regions.

Japan has announced it will end its pandemic closure and reopen to tourists from 98 countries and regions from 10th June, but travellers will only be allowed in as part of tour groups.

The decision comes after the Japanese Government last week said it would test allowing small group tours with visitors from the Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, France, Spain, Canada, the UK and the USA from this month.

The Coronavirus crisis saw Japan implement some of the world's toughest virus control regimes, with it banning foreign visitors from the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Travel restrictions had already been relaxed for foreign residents and business travellers, and the government recently raised the limit on daily foreign arrivals to 20,000 from 1st June.

Since mid-March international students have also been permitted entry.

From 10th June, tour groups will be allowed to enter the country. However, the nearly 100 countries and regions, will be divided into three risk categories - red, yellow and blue - which will determine whether or not visitors can bypass quarantine measures, according to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A major part of Japan's economy, tourist arrivals fell more than 90% in 2020 - nearly erasing inbound tourism.

Travel agencies have responded warmly to the news, with Zina Bencheikh, Managing Director of Intrepid Travel telling the BBC "we're continuing to see a lot of interest in visiting Japan despite it being off limits for nearly two years. I'm sure there will be a rush in bookings as soon as borders are fully open.”

Image: Mt Fuji seen from Tokyo. Credit: Japan National Tourism Organisation.