Japan to reopen to UK visitors next month

Simon King, co-founder of InsideJapan Jours parent Inside Travel Group, hailed the development as "the first major step towards reopening Japan’s borders to tourism".

“Although 20,000 international daily arrivals is still relatively small, the removal of testing requirements paves the way for a considerable increase in daily entry numbers that come with tourism," said King.

There are likely to be further statements from the Japanese government after test tours take place.

InsideJapan, King revealed, has almost 2,500 people waiting to travel this year.

“We believe that there is more significant easing of restrictions to come at the beginning of June and that Japan remains on track for a restart of inbound international tourism this summer,” added King.

“As a Japan travel specialist, this is hugely exciting and cannot come soon enough.”