Over the past few months, Japan has been slowly easing its COVID-19 related border restrictions. In March, after almost two years, it started allowing in students, academics and business people. Then in April, parents and immediate relatives of foreign residents were allowed to enter the country.

But the borders are still closed to tourists, a broad category of people that includes everyone from leisure travelers to the unmarried partners of residents of Japan. This week on Deep Dive, Kanako Takahara joins to discuss when Japan might reopen to international tourism, and what form that reopening might take.

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On this episode:
Kanako Takahara: Articles | Twitter
Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram

Transcript
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Photo: Mount Fuji, one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions, in fall. | Getty Images