Japan on Tuesday lifted entry restrictions imposed by the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, opening the country to tourists for the first time in 2.5 years.

Most of the restrictions that were in place for entry for business and educational purposes were lifted. For this purpose, the existing ban on tourist visas for individual tourists was lifted, and for 68 countries the permission for short-term visits to Japan without a visa was reintroduced.

Measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus have also been considerably relaxed: those entering the country need only show a certificate of three times vaccination with one of the vaccines recognized by WHO, or a negative PCR test taken not earlier than 72 hours before departure. Visitors to Japan are no longer required to undergo an entry test if they are asymptomatic, nor are they required to undergo quarantine. The current entry limit of up to 50,000 people per day is also cancelled.

Japan, whose economy has not yet recovered from the blow of the pandemic and is experiencing difficult times due to rising energy prices, is counting on the positive effect of the country's opening.