Japan Plans to Raise Daily Cap on International Arrivals to 20,000

According to public broadcaster NHK, Japan's government is arranging to double the cap on arrivals from overseas to 20,000 people per day in June, with quarantine measures for new arrivals currently under review.

Following the quarantine review related to airports' systems and pending the situation of the COVID-19 epidemic in Japan following the Golden Week string of national holidays, which ended last Sunday, the easing is expected to be green-lit, local accounts said.

Small-scale trial tours comprising overseas visitors may go into effect as early as this month, government sources were quoted as saying, with the number of visitors being granted access expanded in stages.

As Japan was experiencing a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, in late November, a ban on non-resident foreign nationals was imposed.

The lengthy ban, the strictest among Group of Seven (G-7) nations, however, was heavily criticized by institutions and business lobbies.

The strict border controls were thereafter eased in phases, with business people, students, Japanese nationals returning from overseas and foreign residents allowed to enter, although the restriction remained in place for tourists.

The daily cap on foreign arrivals was raised from 3,500 first imposed in November to 5,000. On March 1, it was lifted to 7,000 and on March 14. The cap at 10,000 has been in place since April 10.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during a visit to London last week that Japan would review its COVID-19 measures "in stages" after consulting with public health experts and then ease COVID-19 related restrictions, so that entry into Japan will be as smooth as in other G-7 nations.

Read: Japan to Lift Covid Entry Ban for 106 Countries

Xinhua