Japan may remove the daily cap on international arrival numbers by October 2022 and look at scrapping other restrictions, such as visas and the requirement to travel on a package tour, at the same time, according to The Japan Times.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara told a Fuji Television show that the government would review restrictions and remove them in the “not-so-distant future” ahead of seasonal attractions in autumn and winter.
The news follows a gradual reopening process as Japan slowly relaxes its strict COVID-19 border controls for international visitors, including allowing guided group tours in July and announcing the reopening to package tourists and increasing the arrival caps in September.
Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that from 7 September 2022, tourists will now be able to visit Japan without any escort or guide arrangement.
The current daily entry cap on international arrivals was also increased from 20,000 to 50,000 visitors.
International visitors are still required to wear masks and obtain visas for short-term stays and leisure travellers can only enter on authorised package tours.
Pre-pandemic, Japan welcomed a record 31.9 million tourists in 2019 compared to just 246,000 international visitors last year.
Japan’s border control policy has been frustrating for Aussie travellers who are keen to return to the Asian nation with each announcement resulting in a significant spike in flight searches for Japan.
Inside Travel Group reported massive interest in Japan’s recent reopening news with more than 1,000 travellers booked with InsideJapan for the remainder of 2022.
Inside Travel Group Co-Founder Alastair Donnelly said: “We are anticipating a surge in demand across the board, which will bring challenges with capacity.”
“With Japan reopening to the world, in 2023 it will be quieter than it was pre-pandemic so there really has never been a better time to visit.”
