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Thai travellers check in for their trip to Osaka and Tokyo, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan province, Thailand. AP Photo
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Foreign travellers arrive in Tokyo after Japan opened its doors to tourists after two-and-a-half years, owing to travel restrictions sparked by the Covid-19 outbreak. Reuters
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Japan has fully reopened to vaccinated tourists after 30 months of restrictions. Photo: Unsplash / Alex Knight
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People wait for arriving travellers at Haneda International Airport. Reuters
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Passengers arrive at Haneda International Airport as Japan welcomes tourists again. Reuters
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International passengers arrive at Tokyo's Haneda Airport after two-and-a-half years of Covid-19 restrictions in Japan. AFP
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A traveller gets assistance at an information counter at the international terminal of Tokyo's Haneda Airport. AFP
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Unmasked people have food and drinks outdoors in Omoide Yokocho in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo. AFP
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Face masks are likely to remain in most indoor places in Japan. AFP
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People visit the Meiji Shrine, a popular tourist spot, in Tokyo. AFP
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Tourists walk at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. AFP
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Dancers perform in Asakusa, one of Tokyo's most famous tourist spots. Getty Images
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An employee waits for customers outside a restaurant in Tokyo. Getty Images
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Women in rental kimonos walk through the Asakusa area in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G4J7F4F26CCWSYDEVPPLBNOCAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e05b5fada0549da8f4f7c7c5b0201268a49bf5d343aa4ab901ba4c8ee56664a&width=400&height=225)
Thai travellers check in for their trip to Osaka and Tokyo, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan province, Thailand. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OC6VJSLTCQL5V4DJGHE5RVENSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1b8c8a83c433099f535560a8fd882d524a92c87df49f9b33e547108d150a2929&width=400&height=225)
Foreign travellers arrive in Tokyo after Japan opened its doors to tourists after two-and-a-half years, owing to travel restrictions sparked by the Covid-19 outbreak. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QPDKYVADYRGVDBVOBRBCFO5DDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=610e7b01915f990eaa4c86b4bebc2dbb6c5dff1c26c7ee28f914ad2057569d67&width=400&height=225)
Japan has fully reopened to vaccinated tourists after 30 months of restrictions. Photo: Unsplash / Alex Knight
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YOP6P7P7Q2AYY7EWPG5ZNVICIA.jpg?smart=true&auth=73bd5465e6ec22d6e05a248507f63954945e2078b1051f78e99f53bf60a4a112&width=400&height=225)
People wait for arriving travellers at Haneda International Airport. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HV2FWMCR3RKATGA4PPOJGLT67A.jpg?smart=true&auth=4d17e612a3327544e2eb8a5592cb472fc113a681dd090672adb54eb27d0c3d57&width=400&height=225)
Passengers arrive at Haneda International Airport as Japan welcomes tourists again. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NRWJB6AWMVROI2GDYZ7QJBQSAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=126685421b42fd15dea6f2317cfde7664150a4e38201ce4557515b40e2af0fe8&width=400&height=225)
International passengers arrive at Tokyo's Haneda Airport after two-and-a-half years of Covid-19 restrictions in Japan. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SOZDZR3J4OTXHSU5SDRPSV3ERU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a54b7ebacae2c95b015c55ceebeb4c7a8863f5ad8d31b33e257fbd06516ac52e&width=400&height=225)
A traveller gets assistance at an information counter at the international terminal of Tokyo's Haneda Airport. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HENGJT4WFYWJZ3HXKWFCSWU3YM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c246b177b9415485a8408f1ca0dd44d50531c455b867bb7e8561bcf597081758&width=400&height=225)
Unmasked people have food and drinks outdoors in Omoide Yokocho in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GUTHQYCAV3JUGKPIZBC2CQZXEI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8612aeba49b1ed06403f7532ada39a454a3b40c46bb2fcf2e12067643f28f993&width=400&height=225)
Face masks are likely to remain in most indoor places in Japan. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XJCXCN44XVVCBEE5TKC2IPF27A.jpg?smart=true&auth=4f763ad91938a3718734773390972549351a4a7767125d4f40ef35c1b4bf27ee&width=400&height=225)
People visit the Meiji Shrine, a popular tourist spot, in Tokyo. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/377SNHXIEJNC4DPVAFGZUSD3JE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4a177faa102f0403fd61ec71e1efcce99a0b84df26a40dd810757e6b4854db45&width=400&height=225)
Tourists walk at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A6ZN3EU5HNQGWPCSEGCG2KK5FU.jpg?smart=true&auth=755694637bca924476db3bd91d1fcab796713ae1a953b333a6b19c1e10d22692&width=400&height=225)
Dancers perform in Asakusa, one of Tokyo's most famous tourist spots. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I4ZBOVZAUBTDOSM7MSKPYT3MRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3d144a8eb5b6f9afc1d391993655bc872f8ccad9ae2a453b3ad44ad9698b6e4d&width=400&height=225)
An employee waits for customers outside a restaurant in Tokyo. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6Z46OQF2FOBEFFP6EUXVAVPKKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e3796aee0267189a3a7d1de245b9558feb74a3dd7584abac480ac71c39487d9&width=400&height=225)
Women in rental kimonos walk through the Asakusa area in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G4J7F4F26CCWSYDEVPPLBNOCAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e05b5fada0549da8f4f7c7c5b0201268a49bf5d343aa4ab901ba4c8ee56664a&width=400&height=225)
Thai travellers check in for their trip to Osaka and Tokyo, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan province, Thailand. AP Photo
Japan fully reopens to tourists: face masks, vaccinations and hotel staff shortages
After two and a half years, visa-free travel has reopened to tourists from 68 countries
![Hayley Skirka](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5aa171d9-e19e-4724-894f-afdab957726f.png?smart=true&auth=0060497e4d6de279036bf67ee0e69c23726110ddc9067f6419a245b2b05cf91d&width=70&height=70)
Hayley Skirka
11 October, 2022
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