Marcy MinianoAs you might have already heard — Japan is reopening for tourism in June. Earlier this month, it allowed a limited number of foreign tourists to enter on a trial basis. After several setbacks, it’s finally joining the list of countries riding the revenge travel wave.
On 26 May 2022, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that they’ll be accepting international visitors “in stages.” This is also in response to calls from business leaders to gradually ease border controls, in order to bring Japan on par with other G7 nations.
Latest updates on Japan tourism reopening in June
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Starting 10 Jun 2022, the country will allow select foreign tourists to enter Japan via guided package tours. This is in line with the government’s preparation for a full resumption of inbound tourism, while placing guidelines to reduce the potential spread of infections.
Such group trips to Japan will only be accepted from those that are part of its “blue list”. This includes 98 countries and territories, mainly in North America, East Asia, Europe and Oceania. As of writing, the Southeast Asian countries included are as follows: Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Timor Leste, and Myanmar.
Meanwhile, the daily cap of new arrivals will be raised to 20,000 beginning on 1 Jun 2022.
More flights coming your way
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With Japan reopening for tourism, more airports will be allowed to resume international flights. There are currently five airports in Japan open to overseas travellers: Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu Centrair, and Fukuoka. By the end of June, the New Chitose Airport in Sapporo and Naha Airport in Okinawa will also be an option for foreigner tour groups.
“We will continue to assess the situation, and intend to make a step-by-step return to accepting people as in normal times,” said Prime Minister Kishida in his speech during the Future of Asia conference in Tokyo.
Kishida also emphasised the region’s growing role in the international community, as reported by Nikkei Asia. “We now need a new international order originating from Asia,” he said. “This is because Asia now accounts for around 35% of the world economy and is the fastest-growing region in the world.”
Also read: 10 Best Airbnb Homes & Vacation Rentals in Japan for the Trip of a Lifetime
Clearly, there are lots of reasons to be excited about Japan tourism reopening. In the meantime, click here to get started on your vacation planning. After over two gruelling years, we’re more than ready to explore the Land of the Rising Sun again!
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