Japan Moving To Allow Individual Foreign Tourists

Above, actress Shelley Sweeney and yours truly at a Tokyo Starbucks in 2006.

The Japanese government is moving toward allowing individual foreign tourists into the country without having to be a part of a group tour.

NHK World reported that this plan is likely to start in September.

They wrote:

The Japanese government is moving to start accepting overseas tourists who do not want to take guided tours in a bid to address a decline in the numbers of foreign travelers visiting Japan.

The country reopened to foreign holidaymakers in June with the easing of anti-coronavirus border controls. But all tourists are still required to join guided tours and obtain a visa.

The tourists also have to comply with anti-infection measures, such as wearing masks, set under guidelines by the Japanese government.

The government's decision to further ease anti-coronavirus border controls came as the number of foreign tourists entering Japan stood at about 7,900 in July, well below pre-pandemic levels.

There is a catch in the plan:

But the government will continue to deny entry to individual travelers who don't make arrangements through travel agencies.

Sorry, but this isn't good enough, at least for me.

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