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Japan
This Week in AsiaHealth & Environment

Coronavirus: Japan expected to reopen to tourists by July, may scrap tests for vaccinated visitors

  • Japan is expected to double the number of people permitted into the country per day to 20,000 in June, may lift ban on foreign tourists the following month
  • Infection numbers have stabilised to about 50,000 daily cases, while bars and restaurants have recently been allowed to fully reopen after two years

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With reopening, Japan’s tourist authorities anticipate a rapid recovery in arrivals to the country, and have an ambitious target of 60 million arrivals by 2030. By June, the country is expected to double daily arrivals to 20,000. The government had tightened quarantine to Japanese people returning to the country after the omicron variant was found, but is easing restrictions. Photo: EPA-EFE
Julian Ryall
The Japanese government is expected to double the number of people permitted to enter the country per day to 20,000 in June, and talk is the ban on foreign tourists may be lifted the following month. This is the clearest indication yet that Japan is inching closer to the long-awaited return to normality as the coronavirus pandemic wanes.

There are also reports the government is considering scrapping coronavirus tests for people arriving at airports who are fully vaccinated.

Currently, just 10,000 Japanese nationals, permanent residents, businesspeople and foreign students are allowed to enter the country each day. Foreign tourists are banned entirely.

After more than two years, Japan’s bars and restaurants have only recently been permitted to fully reopen as restrictions ease on opening hours and the number of customers they were able to serve at one time. Photo: AP
After more than two years, Japan’s bars and restaurants have only recently been permitted to fully reopen as restrictions ease on opening hours and the number of customers they were able to serve at one time. Photo: AP

With infection numbers apparently stabilising to below 50,000 new cases per day, the government is gradually easing restrictions that have been among the most stringent in the world.

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Bars and restaurants have only recently been permitted to fully reopen after more than two years of restrictions on opening hours and the number of customers they could serve.

On Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said it was no longer necessary to wear a mask outside if people are following social distancing guidelines.

Restrictions eased on venues to save businesses

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