One of the World’s Strictest Countries Is Finally Reopening (Kind of, and It Might Not Be Worth It Yet)

A dream destination for many—2022 might be your year.

Photo Credit: Getty Images
Photo Credit: Getty Images

If you’re planning a trip this year, pay attention. It’s safe to say that travel is back, at least in most places that is.

Security lines are longer than ever and popular destinations from the resorts of Cancun to the narrow alleys of Rome are packed with people, many of whom are extra eager given all the time and opportunity that was taken away during the last few years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many places around the world are now open for tourism, with various testing and quarantine restrictions.

Earlier this year, we saw countries like South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Australia reopen, marking a huge move as they held some of the strictest restrictions in the world. One country that remained closed for the longest time, and is considered a favorite by people around the world, was Japan. The Japanese government announced that it’s finally opening to tourism again, but it’s not as simple as it sounds.

Starting June 10, foreign travelers can enter Japan. However, you can only visit through a tourist package or with a guided tour. The number of tourists allowed to enter will be capped, although the government plans on increasing that number as the months go on. Depending on where you’re traveling from you’ll be divided into three zones; red, yellow, and blue, all of which is based on the COVID risk of each individual country. You’ll still have to take a PCR test 72 hours before your departure. The tour groups will be arranged by Japan’s tourism board and you’ll have a fixed itinerary upon arrival. The first set of tourists that can visit starting June 10 must be from Australia, Singapore, Thailand, or the United States. In the following month, the government plans to open up to more countries based on the zone system.

At first glance, this might not sound like the Japan trip you were dreaming of. Luckily, this reopening plan is meant to serve as a trial run. The country’s tourism board said in a statement, “This venture will allow us to verify compliance and emergency responses for infection prevention and formulate guidelines for travel agencies and accommodation operators to keep in mind.”

Japan has taken a significant economic hit since the beginning of the pandemic, with tourism as one of the most affected areas. The Japanese yen has recently hit a 20-year low against the US dollar. Many tourism companies are suffering and while the trial run might seem like a sign of recovery, some think that it isn’t enough and that more action needs to be taken

. Anne Kyle, CEO of Arigato Travel and the admin of the Japan Foreign Tourism Professionals Facebook group, told Al Jazeera that although people are cautiously optimistic about the news, it’ll have no positive effect on the vast majority of people working in the industry.

While this trial run includes a myriad of rules, it’s still a major step taken by a country that hasn’t been open to visitors in over two years. I, personally, will wait until I can show up with no plan and wing it, but that’s just my style.