On The Radar: Japan's borders

 From today [September 7], travel into Japan becomes easier. Well, slightly.

Japan has been notably cautious about its borders opening since the phase of post-pandemic travel began. To date, only residents, relatives, business travellers, and those on group tours have been granted access into the country – not general tourists. 

While an individual Kiwi wanting to tour Japan still can’t get in, as of today the rules around “group tours” have changed to be much less restrictive. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said, according to The Japan Times, the country will raise its daily arrival cap to 50,000, an increase from its initial cap of 20,000, and allow unescorted travellers through “package tours”. 

This means you don’t have to be part of a guided tour group to see Japan. 

Also today, Japan officially drops its pre-departure test requirement for travellers who received at least three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to Travel and Leisure magazine. Japan maintains some of the strictest border rules in the region with countries like Thailand and Singapore dropping testing and quarantine rules and allowing visitors to travel freely.

Stuff reports Japan is yet to restore its visa-waiver programme, which previously allowed visitors from several countries, including New Zealand, to enter without a visa. Eligible travellers have to apply for a visa before visiting – a time-consuming process.

According to Bloomberg, airlines, hotels and retailers in Japan are all eager to regain the business they lost. The small trickle of foreigners allowed into the country last year spent 120 billion yen (US$866 million). In 2019, they spent 4.8 trillion yen, or forty times more, according to the Japan Tourism Agency.

Nikkei Asia argues Japan is "wasting its big change" with this staged step back to tourism, as "even with cheap yen, few willing to put up with extra travel hassles". 

- Asia Media Centre