Thursday, September 22, the Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida announced that starting from October 11, tourists will be able to travel freely in Japan again. It is reported by the Japan Times. The daily limit on the maximum number of people crossing the border will also be lifted on that day.
Travelers from all over the world will be able to enter Japan with a confirmed triple vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result.
Currently Currently, tourists are only allowed to travel within the country through government-accredited travel agencies.
Kishida made his announcement at a press conference in New York as part of the United Nations General Assembly.
First restrictions on travel to Japan came into effect on January 31, 2020, when foreign nationals from the Chinese province of Hubei were banned from entering. By the end of August 2020, the country expanded the entry ban to 159 countries and territories.
In March of this year, the country limited the number of foreigners entering the country to 5 000 people daily, then the limit was increased to 50,000 per day.
In 2019, a record 31.88 million foreign tourists visited Japan. In 2021, due to travel restrictions, their number has dropped to 250 000.
Interesting fact: The Wall Street Journal reports that one in three foreigners visiting Japan is from China, who still prohibits its citizens from international travel.