Japan to reopen border for individual tourist travel from 11 Oct. and abolish the daily arrival cap.

Japan will resume visa-free entry for individual travelers on Oct. 11, bringing its border rules close to pre-pandemic norms for the first time in about two and a half years, and will also abolish its daily arrival limit as of October 11. At present Japan only allows package tours, and requires visas for all visitors, in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19. Daily arrivals have been capped at 50,000.

Starting on Oct. 11, short-term visitors will no longer be required to apply for tourist visas. Before the pandemic, Japan allowed visa-free short-term travel from people from 68 countries and regions, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and the U.S.

A nationwide domestic travel program offering discounts for travel, entry to theme parks, and for sporting events and concerts is also set to start on Oct. 11. People who have been vaccinated three times or submit a negative test result will be eligible for the discounts

Follow all official instructions. Allow additional time for immigration and health screenings.