Starting In June, Japan Opens Up To 20K International Visitors Daily

Photo by Amy Tran on Unsplash

JAKARTA - The easing of border controls by Japan has affected the number of foreign visitors coming to the country. The number continues to increase.

Starting next June, Japan will be allowed to accept 20.000 people from abroad, a government spokesman said Friday, May 20, as quoted by Channel News Asia.

The government will also relax COVID-19 testing and quarantine rules for people arriving in Japan, dividing countries and regions into three groups according to the situation of infection.

Travelers from the "blue" group with the lowest risk will be released from testing upon arrival in Japan and quarantined at home, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno. But they still need to show a negative test result before departure.

About 80 percent of the participants are likely to be from countries and regions that fall into the group, Matsuno said, adding that details will be announced next week.

People arriving from countries and territories placed in high-risk "red" groups will be required to take a COVID-19 test when they enter Japan and stay for three days in quarantine facilities.

Those in the remaining "yellow" group will need to be tested for COVID-19 on arrival and stay for three days in a home or quarantine facility, according to the government. But this does not apply to people who have received their third dose of the vaccine.

"We are sure (the review) will make the entry of visitors smooth," he said.

Matsuno did not specify when Japan would start accepting foreign tourists again, only saying that preparations were underway to do so.

Japan has effectively closed its doors to non-resident foreign nationals to prevent a spike in infections driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus late last year. The move drew criticism at home and abroad for being too strict.

In recent months, the government has gradually increased the number of people allowed to enter Japan, with the current daily limit being 10.000.

Travelers to the UK are not required to show proof of a negative test result prior to departure or take a COVID-19 test on arrival.