Japan readies for tourists from abroad

Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad. Japan’s border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections began gradually loosening earlier this month. Before COVID, tourism was booming as a mainstay of Japan's economy, the world's third largest. After COVID struck, the government gradually imposed very restrictive limits on foreign arrivals, for a time excluding many foreign residents. As of June 10, Japan is allowing foreign tourists to visit, but in limited numbers and only on group tours, not as individual travelers. The Japanese yen has weakened this year against the U.S. dollar and other currencies, making visits something of a bargain.