After over two years of closed borders, one of the world’s most COVID-careful destinations is officially welcoming back foreign tourists. You’ll finally be able to visit Japan visa-free, and will no longer need to book through a travel agency. The country is also putting an end to its daily arrival cap. It all begins October 11, 2022.

"Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the US," said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. With Japan accepting tourists again, it will be a welcome boost to the government and local businesses, and comes as the Japanese yen has slipped to its lowest point against the US dollar in six months.

However, one restriction that Japan will keep is that all visitors must show proof of vaccination or recent recovery from COVID, which is similar to the current entry requirement for the US or Canada.

Set to begin on October 11th, the government will also launch a nationwide travel discount program that will offer discounts on travel, theme park prices, sporting events and concerts. Japanese residents and citizens will also be eligible for a 11,000 yen (2,900 baht) subsidy. Travel agencies have been urging the government to waive the visa requirement for tourists as it has been a major obstacle for those who want to travel to Japan.

A record of 31.88 million tourists visited Japan in 2019, but that number dropped to approximately 250,000 in 2021 due to the country’s closed doors. After a long, long wait, Japan is finally back to normal again—and we’re thrilled.