
Australian tourists visit Shirakawa-go village in Gifu Prefecture on May 26 during a government pilot program conducted before the official resumption of inbound tourism.
11:10 JST, June 10, 2022
Japan cleared the way for the arrival of the first international tourists in 26 months on Friday, excluding the visitors who participated in a pilot program conducted before the easing of COVID-related entry restrictions.
Only tourists traveling from low-risk countries and regions who have signed up for guided package tours are allowed to enter Japan.
Visa applications are being accepted for tourists from 98 countries and regions, including the United States, China, South Korea and Taiwan. Visitors from those countries do not have to take coronavirus tests or self-isolate upon arrival, regardless of their vaccination status.

Australian tourists visit Shirakawa-go village in Gifu Prefecture on May 26 during a government pilot program conducted before the official resumption of inbound tourism.
“We will work on the recovery of tourism while maintaining a balance between virus prevention, and social and economic activities,” Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Tetsuo Saito said Friday at a press conference.
Information such as passport numbers and accommodation details have to be registered on a government system by travel agencies or other entities in Japan before the tourists can apply for visas. As a result, not many tourists are expected to start arriving until later in the month.
The number of international arrivals is currently capped at 20,000 per day, and tourists will be included in the count.
The government hopes the arrival of international visitors will bring a welcome boost to regional economies, which have been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic.
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Japan’s Maglev Shinkansen’s Partially Completed Station Unveiled; Station Will Be Only Underground Stop Between Shinagawa, Nagoya
-
2025 Expo Osaka: Japan Pavilion Security Guard Headset Goes Viral on Social Media; Fans Delight at Similarity to Dragon Ball “Scouter”
-
2025 Expo Osaka: Yoshimura Asks Japan Expo Association to Consider Keeping Restaurants, Shops Open until Just before 10 P.M.
-
Fukuoka City School Lunch Menu with Only One Karaage Fried Chicken Draws Criticism; Mayor Vows to Improve School Meals
-
2025 Expo Osaka : Expo Venue Hit by Swarms of Chironomids; Organizers Cooperating with Pest Control Companies, Others to Deal with Outbreak
JN ACCESS RANKING
-
Visitors to Japan Hit Single-Month Record High in April
-
Aichi Rice Production Under Siege from Warming Climate; Record Heat Stunts Crop Growth, Causes Greater Pest Activity
-
Japanese Researchers Develop ‘Transparent Paper’ as Alternative to Plastics; New Material Is Biodegradable, Can Be Produced with Low Carbon Emissions
-
Japan’s Core Inflation Hits More than 2-year High, Could Force Year-End BOJ Hike
-
Japan’s Maglev Shinkansen’s Partially Completed Station Unveiled; Station Will Be Only Underground Stop Between Shinagawa, Nagoya