Visitors to Japan will no longer need to show a negative COVID test from next month.

In a relaxation of its entry rules, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said travellers won’t need to test from 7 September, as long as they’ve been tripled jabbed.

Welcoming the news, Japan specialist InsideJapan said it removed another barrier to travel. “This is great for our Small Group Tours and private guided Exclusive Private Journey customers who will be travelling Japan on September trips,” said a spokesperson.

However, the operator is hoping that Japan also ditches the requirement for visitors to travel with approved guides. Further clarification is expected ‘in the coming days’, it said.

The Government will soon decide whether to raise the daily arrivals cap of 20,000, which includes returning Japanese, said Mr Kishida.

Before the pandemic, Japan had around 32 million visitors a year.