Japan’s Tourism Reopening: What We Know So Far

It was something of a tourism miracle: in the 2000s, Japan went from a relative blip on the international tourism radar to being one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world. By 2019, following a concerted campaign by long-time prime minister Abe Shinzo and the build-up of Japanese pop-cultural might overseas, Japan topped the list of most popular international destinations for Chinese tourists [1]; Condé Nast Traveler named Tokyo the world’s “best big city,” and Japan became one of the most desired destinations for American holidaymakers. That year, 31.88 million international visitors made their way to Japan [2] – a number equivalent to about a fourth of the archipelago’s population. Inbound travel grew to such an extent that it was causing major over-tourism issues. Signs had to be posted around Kyoto warning tourists not to harass commuting geisha. Japan had become a global tourism hotspot.

Then, of course, it all came crashing down. With the spread of COVID-19 around the world came the shuttering of Japanese borders; borders which, generally speaking, have remained closed to newcomers for over two years. Japan had enacted the strictest entry policies out of the G7 nations. As a matter of course, international tourism collapsed; 2019’s nearly 32-million international visitors became a mere 4 million in 2020, mostly holdovers from before the travel ban. 2021 saw a measly 245,862 non-citizens arrive in the country. This represented a mere 0.77% of the aforementioned 2019 high, and included all those who came for the unlucky and delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Worse off were those non-tourists stuck overseas, waiting in limbo to reunite with loved ones or to start careers, schooling, or training.

Now, at long last, the Japanese government has seemingly announced a reopening of the borders. Coming on the heels of a long series of fits and starts, the Japanese government says that June will see Japan shifting border control to match the policies of other G7 members. International tourism, it seems, is finally back on the menu. But before you start packing your bags, there’s much to consider. Let’s take a look.

Is Japan Really Reopening for Tourism?

The announcement that Japan would begin a “partial lifting of the ban” on foreign tourism in June came down this past Saturday, May 7th. The exact nature of this sudden shift remains somewhat murky. The first type of tourism to be subject to this reopening will be “group tours”; that is to say, tourists will likely need to have confirmed packaged tour itineraries with a registered organization. (So, a far cry from a reopening to the average international tourist, and one likely to benefit certain larger organizations.) A gradual reduction of the strict border control policies currently in place will follow. [3]

This is likely not what many envisioned when Prime Minister Kishida recently spoke on the topic of shortly reopening the country. While in London this past week, Kishida said the following:

「６月には他のＧ７諸国並みに円滑な入国が可能となるよう水際対策を緩和する… 日本は世界にオープンだ。ぜひお越しください。」

“In June, we will ease our border controls in order to allow for smooth entry into the country along the lines of the other G7 nations… Japan is open to the world. Please come join us.”

Kishida Fumio, London, May 5th.

Further Restrictions

The reopening will also occur on a case-by-case basis, much like the recently eased entry for visa holders from 106 countries. Japanese governmental perceptions of the COVID situation in each country will likely determine the possibility of entry. We can expect the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to release a list of accepted countries of origin as we approach June.

There also exists the issue of the daily cap on entry into Japan. Currently sitting at 10,000 entrants per day, that number is now planned to be doubled to 20,000 in June. While this is a major increase, it falls far short of the number of people who entered Japan on the daily before the pandemic. More than that, it also includes those who are returning to Japan for non-touristic reasons; Japanese citizens, as well as non-citizen workers, family members, students, and more. Many of those who were stranded outside of Japan for the past years are only now receiving their visas and entering the country, so that 20,000 will not be made entirely of those coming to Japan solely for a good time.

What About Quarantine and Testing?

Until very recently, it was necessary for everyone entering Japan to undergo a strict period of self-isolation. For most coming from designated “dangerous countries,” this included three days at a government facility. This was followed by eleven days of self-quarantine at a hotel or one’s home; mobile apps made push notifications multiple times a day which prompted the new arrival to prove they were still in their designated quarantine location. Since March, the Japanese government made a major change to this policy: quarantine was waived for those who could prove they had received three vaccinations against COVID-19. (Provided these arrivals were from designated safe countries.)

Two-way PCR testing has also been also necessary; a document in the correct formatting showing a negative text within 72 hours was presented on arrival, followed by a second PCR test taken at the airport in Japan.

Now, the Japanese government is weighing doing away with both of these restrictions. Yesterday, on the 11th, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said that continued use of quarantine and testing measures would be put under consideration during the current examination of border control policies. [4] So, like so much here, exactly what form changes may take is still up in the air. Removing quarantine would, at least, get rid of the most major of the hurdles for a short trip to Japan. (Other than the current impossibility of securing a tourist visa itself.)

Familiar Faces Appearing in Japan

While all this is going on, some have noticed a few well-known celebrities making their way into Japan. One of these is Kanye West, recently embroiled in controversy regarding his divorce from Kim Kardashian. Kanye has supposedly been in the country since April; how exactly he was able to get in when so many cannot is perhaps a matter of speculation, although one can imagine it was under the guise of business.