Japan will finally allow travel by country as part of tourist groups without a guide. The new rules will come into effect on September 7, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday. Japan is also increasing its daily arrival limit from 20,000 to 50,000 people.
Kishida promised that he would consider loosening border restrictions even further in the future. “International exchanges are growing all over the world. We need to get involved and benefit from the weakening yen, we will raise the maximum tourist arrival rate to 50,000 people from September 7, and we will also allow organized tourists from all countries to enter the country without further escort.
Thus Thus, tourists no longer need an escort, but only if they are accepted by a local travel agency in Japan.
On September 7, another rule comes into force to make life easier for tourists. The pre-departure testing requirement is waived for travelers who have received at least three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Tourists are now required to submit a negative test result taken within the last 72 hours at the border.
Japan continues to have some of the strictest border regulations in the region. At the same time, Thailand and Singapore are lifting testing and quarantine, giving foreign visitors more and more freedom.