Japan allows tourists back into the country: but only if it is a group tour.

This was announced by Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in a speech. In a test phase, the country recently allowed travelers from four countries – Australia, Thailand, Singapore and the USA – to re-enter the country for pre-booked tours. From June 10th, entry should also be possible again for around 100 other nations, according to the Swiss travel portal About Travel reported.

In June, the daily upper limit of people who are allowed to enter the country per day will be raised to 20.000 and the quarantine regulation on entry will be relaxed. Visitors arriving from a blue country with a tour group are exempt from mandatory testing and quarantine on arrival, regardless of vaccination status. The list of blue countries includes Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy and France. Group trips are carried out in a 'travel bubble', depending on the tour operator's guidelines, vaccination may be mandatory for participation in a trip.

Depending on how the pandemic develops, the numbers are to be gradually expanded. However, it will be a while before individual travelers are allowed to return to Japan, said the Japanese cabinet.