Japan to allow non-guided groups, solo travellers & raises entry cap

View of Mt. Fuji, Tokyo Tower and crowded buildings in downtown Tokyo.
By James Harrison


The Japanese government is looking to start accepting overseas tourists who want to travel to the land of the rising sun in non-guided groups and individually.

Japan reopened to international visitors in June, but tourists were only allowed to enter if they joined a guided tour and obtained a visa. This will change as of 7 September when non-guided tours and individual travellers will be allowed in Japan, as long as their visit is arranged through a travel agency. Travellers are expected to follow the country’s guidelines if COVID cases are confirmed, and entry will be denied to individual travellers if they don’t make arrangements through travel agents.

Alongside this travel update, Japan announced it will no longer require incoming travellers to show a negative pre-departure COVID test from 7 September, provided they are triple vaxxed.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the government will also lift the cap of daily entries from 20,000 to 50,000.

Kishida said that Japan aims to relax its COVID travel restrictions, which are criticised for being too strict, in line with other Group of Seven major economies. The current laws say that those who enter Japan have to show proof of a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of departure.

The government will change its detailed coronavirus reporting system, limiting it to elderly people and those at risk of developing severe symptoms as of 7 September.

Omakase Tour CEO, Takeshi Sakamoto, told the ABC, that foreigners had been enquiring about trips but were put off visiting Japan due to the country’s strict travel rules that require a guide.

“[It is] completely not sustainable and helpful. Due to those kind of rules, we have been losing a lot of business opportunities,” Sakamoto said.

“In an email, some American customers said ‘we don’t need a babysitter’ … so it’s really annoying for them.”

Smartraveller confirmed that individuals can travel to Japan, provided departure and arrival flights are organised, alongside accommodation for each night.

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