Japan has FINALLY reopened to Aussie travellers

This is a photograph of a beautiful serene koi pond in a Japanese garden outside of a restaurant in Kyoto, Japan.

The day is finally here! Japan has reopened to Australian and New Zealand tour groups for the first time in nearly three years.

This milestone marks one of the final and most eagerly anticipated reopening’s for international travel.

Wendy Wu Tours, which carries the largest number of tourist groups to Japan from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, will be one of the first companies with tour groups allowed back into Japan today.

“This is fantastic news for the travel industry and for everyone that has had to delay and defer their Japan travel plans over the last three years,” the tour operator’s founder, Wendy Wu said.

“We have been working hand in hand with the Japanese Government and National Tourist Board to prepare for the reopening and so it’s so exciting to finally welcome back visitors and reignite Japan’s place on the global tourism stage.

“With passengers unable to travel to Japan for nearly three years, and missing out on the spectacular Japan spring cherry blossom festival, as well as the magnificent autumn foliage colours, demand, particularly for tours in March and April 2023, is quite literally ‘through the roof’, so much so that we’ve added extra capacity for 2023 and 2024, which is selling out as quickly as it goes on sale.”

As it stands, entry to Japan for international tourists will only be allowed on escorted tour groups, following a prearranged and set itinerary.

Pre-departure testing is required and must be within 72 hours from the sample collection date to the flight departure time, however, regardless of vaccination status, on arrival tests, quarantine, and other measures are not required.


Featured image: iStock/Boogich

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