Japan To Ease COVID Restrictions, , Allow Limited Foreign Tourism.<br />In June, Japan will allow foreign tourists to visit the country for the first time since tight pandemic travel restrictions were imposed two years ago.<br />The Associated Press reports that Japan's prime minister said that only visitors who sign up for package tours will be allowed to enter at first.<br />The Associated Press reports that Japan's prime minister said that only visitors who sign up for package tours will be allowed to enter at first.<br />Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that Japan will allow tours with fixed schedules and guides beginning on June 10.<br />Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that Japan will allow tours with fixed schedules and guides beginning on June 10.<br />This week, Japan will begin hosting small, experimental package tours from Australia, Singapore, Thailand and the United States.<br />AP reports that the experiment will only involve about 50 people who were granted special visas. .<br />Japan currently allows up to 10,000 Japanese citizens, foreign students and some business travelers to enter the country each day.<br />Japan currently allows up to 10,000 Japanese citizens, foreign students and some business travelers to enter the country each day.<br />On June 1, that cap will double to 20,000 a day, which will include tourists with package tours.<br />Makoto Shimoaraiso, a Cabinet official in charge <br />of pandemic measures, said that it will be some <br />time before individual tourism is permitted.<br />In 2020, foreign tourist arrivals in Japan were <br />cut by over 90%, nearly wiping out the $31 billion <br />tourism market prior to the pandemic. .<br />Japan's prime minister said that the government plans to remain in line with other Group of Seven industrialized nations and slowly ease pandemic-related restrictions.<br />Japan's prime minister said that the government plans to remain in line with other Group of Seven industrialized nations and slowly ease pandemic-related restrictions
