Japan urges Filipinos to visit country amid relaxed entry procedures

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko on Tuesday encouraged Filipinos to visit Japan after it relaxed its borders for tourists .

Kazuhiko said Japan has started to relax its entry procedures since the COVID-19 situation has improved.

“Since the COVID-19 situation has improved, we have started to relax the entry procedures. Now you can enjoy individual travel to our country,” Koshikawa said in a video on Twitter.

“As the autumn approaches, we invite you to Japan and experience the best of the season. Come and discover the many charms of Japan!” he added.

Japan reopened its doors to tourists Tuesday after two-and-a-half years of tough COVID-19 restrictions, with officials hoping an influx of travelers enticed by a weak yen will boost the economy.

In June, it began allowing tourists to visit in groups accompanied by guides, a requirement that was further relaxed to include self-guided package tours.

From Tuesday, visa-free entry resumed for travelers from 68 countries and territories. Japan is also lifting a cap on the number of arrivals and ending the package tour requirement.

Japan, meanwhile, received a record 31.9 million foreign visitors in 2019, but that plummeted to just 250,000 in 2021. —NB, GMA News