Japan reopens to foreign tourists in June 2022 – under specific conditions

June, 18th 2022

*This information is subject to change. Please refer to official government sources for the latest updates.

On June 10th, 2022, Japan allowed the first tourists in the country since the ban that was introduced about 2 years ago. The Japanese government plans to slowly introduce tourism back into the country, and they have specific guidelines that the first tourists need to follow.

During the first phase of opening, travelers coming from a select list of 98 countries, including the US, UK, France, Spain, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, will be allowed entry but only in a packaged tour. Visitors will be chaperoned by tour guides throughout their trip and required to wear masks. Also, travelers must take out medical insurance to cover costs if they contact covid-19 during their trip.

This may seem strict to those overseas, but it is all part of the plan for Japan. “Understanding of the guidelines and compliance will lead to the smooth resumption of inbound tourism and its expansion,” said Tetsuo Saito, Japan’s minister of land, infrastructure, transport, and tourism.

Japan also plans to double the daily cap on arrivals from overseas to 20,000. This number includes Japanese nationals as well as those traveling for business. Entries are expected to increase to 30,000 per day from sometime in July.

This is exciting news for those who wish to travel to Japan in the near future. Although there are still many restrictions, this is an important step to resuming tourism in a safe and controlled manner. Niseko has been a sought-after destination for overseas travelers and we can’t wait to welcome you back when the time comes!