Japan will allow self-guided travel from all countries and double the number of daily entry quotas from September 7, as it relaxes some of the most stringent Covid-19 border controls among major economies.
The third-most-visited country in Asia had previously flagged in May that it would open its borders in line with other G7 nations.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that the daily entry cap will be increased from 20,000 to 50,000 beginning September 7. He also stated he intended to relax border restrictions to boost visits from people trying to take advantage of a cheap yen.
Beginning in June, the Japanese government has allowed a limited number of tourists to enter the country, only when they are part of a guided tour group.
Prime Minister Kishida said last week that foreigners who have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccination will no longer be required to undergo a screening upon entry.
Border controls in Japan, which have been criticized both at home and abroad, have been loosened gradually under Kishida’s watch in an effort to bring them in line with those of other G7 members.
Last year, Japan welcomed 353,119 foreign visitors, down from a record 31.9 million in 2019.
