Border measures for the new coronavirus have been significantly relaxed from June 1st.
The maximum number of immigrants per day has been raised to 20,000, and immigrants from some countries and regions are exempt from inspections at the time of entry.
Preparations are underway at tourist destinations to resume accepting foreign tourists.
The government has resumed new entry of foreigners except for tourism purposes, and the maximum number of foreigners entering the country per day is 5,000 on March 1, 14 based on the infection situation at home and abroad and the quarantine system at the airport. The number has been gradually increased to 7,000 a day and 10,000 on April 10.
From June 1st, the maximum number of immigrants will be raised to 20,000 and the quarantine measures for immigrants will be relaxed.
However, the average number of people per day in 2019 before the spread of the infection was about 140,000, so it is still about one-seventh.
New quarantine measures
The countries and regions of the world are divided into three groups according to the positive rate of the tests at the time of entry so far, and the immigrants from 98 countries / regions of the lowest risk group depend on the presence or absence of vaccination. However, immigrants from 99 countries / regions in the next lowest group will be exempted from inspections at the time of entry and waiting measures at home, etc., subject to the third vaccination.
Furthermore, from June 10th, we will limit the countries and regions of the lowest risk group to tour guides and resume accepting foreign tourists for the first time in about two years.
A woman arriving from Thailand "I'm surprised that it's over soon"
On June 1st, when border measures were significantly relaxed, arriving people at Narita Airport welcomed the simplification of procedures.
A woman who arrived from Thailand, who was exempt from the inspection, said, "I was surprised that the quarantine was over soon. I wondered if my daily life was gradually returning."
Asakusa souvenir shop "Nothing but expectations"
In order to resume accepting foreign tourists, souvenir shops in Asakusa, Tokyo are purchasing products that are popular with foreigners and switching between sales floors.
At the souvenir shop in Nakamise Shopping Street in Asakusa, which has been in business for over 120 years, the stock of magnets for famous places such as Mt. I switched a part of to a magnet.
In addition, the Prajna Noh mask, which is preferred by foreign tourists, was purchased for the first time in about two years on the morning of June 1, and was immediately displayed in the case.
On the other hand, there are some products that cannot be purchased well due to the influence of Korona-ka, and the Japanese dolls made in China are still not available even though they were ordered a month ago.
According to the store, before the spread of the new corona, about 80% of the purchases were made by foreign tourists, so last year's sales fell to less than one-tenth of what it was before the spread of the infection. We welcome the resumption of acceptance.
Yuji Asahina, the owner of the shop, said, "Since the business has been quite difficult so far, resuming acceptance is nothing but expectations. To prevent the number of infected people from repeating the same situation, call attention to infection control in the shop. I want to do it. I'm glad that you finally came, and I think it would be best if foreigners were happy to come to Japan. "
Rickshaw staff resume English training
At the store that has been operating rickshaws for 25 years in Asakusa, we distributed textbooks in English to introduce famous places such as Kaminarimon and Sumida River to staff who pull rickshaws, and resumed English training among staff members from last month.
In both cases, the infection of the new corona spread and the number of foreign tourists decreased.
According to the store, due to the influence of the new corona, last year's sales decreased to about 30% compared to before the spread of the infection, so we are expecting a recovery in sales by resuming acceptance of foreign tourists.
Hidenori Fujiwara, the representative of the store that operates the rickshaw, said, "I have put up with it so far, so I will do my best while taking thorough infection control measures so that I can recover the two years I lost. I hope that the rickshaw will become a bridge to connect with people all over the world." I did.
Call for infection control with pictograms
Sakatsura Isozaki Shrine in Hitachinaka City, one of the tourist destinations in Ibaraki Prefecture, is said to have been visited by tourists from Taiwan and Southeast Asia on tour buses every day before the spread of the new Corona infection.
In order to resume the acceptance of foreign tourists, in addition to displaying English in the precincts, a "pictogram" is posted in the precincts to encourage them to wear masks and keep a distance between tourists, and they do not understand Japanese or English. We are taking measures so that people can also try to prevent infection.
In late last month, four people, including the owner of an American travel agency, visited with a tour conductor as part of the government's demonstration project to resume acceptance, but they worshiped after wearing a mask and disinfecting their hands. It means that I received a prayer.
On the other hand, in the demonstration project, infection of one of the participants who visited Oita prefecture from Thailand was confirmed, so the shrine will call for more notices and consider infection control according to the scale of tourists. I'm going to do it.
Mr. Akimasa Kudo of Sakatsura Isozaki Shrine said, "I would like to regularly review infection control measures so that foreigners can worship with peace of mind and improve them so that they can come into contact with Japanese culture." rice field.