Japan COVID-19 travel restrictions

Japan’s struggling tourism sector sees a light at the end of the tunnel as “self-guided” tours make way for full travel.

Japan, which has imposed some of the toughest border measures amid the pandemic, continues its gradual reopening even as case counts soar.

Japan remains closed to international tourists and has not yet made plans to reopen despite a global trend to lift pandemic entry restrictions.

The limited reopening of borders is a welcomed relief, but the damage to Japan’s reputation could take years to repair.

The cautious easing of restrictions stirred both hope and worry for the roughly half-a-million foreigners locked out of Japan since early 2020.

The shift to a post-pandemic era is at the center of Kishida’s new economic stimulus package, but the spread of Omicron threatens to derail Japan’s recovery.

Many foreign residents have had their hopes to enter Japan dashed as new border controls make little impact. 

The Olympics will end up being a "net negative" for Japan, Hama predicts.

Expats stranded in limbo overseas have hope on the way with borders poised to reopen to all foreign residents, albeit at a staggered pace.