Japan will waive pre-departure COVID-19 tests for vaccinated travelers, but daily entry caps will remain in effect, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday.
The requirement for tests will be lifted on September 7, according to Kishida. He added that no decision has been made on a reported plan to increase the daily cap on inbound travelers from 20,000 to 50,000.
“We will gradually relax these measures,” said Kishida, who spoke to reporters online while recovering from COVID-19 at his official residence.
Japan has maintained some of the most stringent pandemic border controls among major economies, requiring travellers to show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of departure.
Kishida stated in May that he wished to align Japan’s border policies with those of the other Group of Seven nations.
Japan opened its doors to tourists for the first time in two years in June, but the requirement that they apply for visas and stick to guided, package tours limited the number of inbound visitors.
