Japanese officials announced that international travelers would no longer be required to deal with COVID-related border restrictions, starting on May 8.
According to Japan’s National Tourism Organization, the country’s remaining coronavirus protocols will be lifted next month, with arriving tourists no longer needing to present a valid vaccination certificate or a COVID-19 negative test certificate.
Travelers heading to the island nation currently need to show proof of full vaccination or a negative test conducted within 72 hours of departure.
Japan has slowly reopened to international travel, first welcoming individual travelers last year through guided tour companies, but several rule changes led to confusion and stifled tourism’s rebound in the country.
In October, Japan reopened to visa-free travel from dozens of countries around the world, eliminating its daily entry cap on tourist arrivals and making it easier for visitors to plan their own getaway.
Last month, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare also eliminated mask mandates, but still recommends travelers and locals wear masks in appropriate situations, such as “crowded commuter trains and buses.”
In February, the country's leaders unveiled a plan to achieve a 10% increase in overnight stays in regional areas of Japan by 2025. The goals also include increased spending by those who visit the country with the aim of reaching about $1,500 per person over the next two years.
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