Japan plans to ease COVID 19-related border restrictions by lifting its entry ban for foreign nationals from 106 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, on Friday.
Tokyo has been gradually easing pandemic-related restrictions, but this does not imply a complete reopening to tourists.
Foreigners from the 106 countries will not be denied entry to Japan starting Friday, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, but tourists will still be denied entry.
From the early days of the pandemic in 2020, Japan closed its borders to most foreign visitors, and only recently allowed a trickle of students and businesspeople in. Many other wealthy nations have reopened their borders to tourism.
According to another government statement, Japan will keep its borders locked to 56 countries after the anticipated lifting.
The government has announced that the daily quota for foreign visitors to Japan will be increased to 10,000 from 7,000 this month.
