Triple-vaccinated visitors from the United States, Australia, Thailand and Singapore will be allowed to take part in the "test tourism" initiative, The Guardian reports.

Tours will be strictly limited to those planned in conjunction with travel agencies and tour operators, and must be accompanied by tour conductors, according to Japan’s tourism agency.

During a visit to London earlier this month, Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida said the country would bring its border controls in line with other major democracies in June. No further details have yet been announced.

Simon King, co-founder of InsideJapan Tours and InsideAsia Tours parent Inside Travel Group, said while he was heartened by the latest development, specialists needed certainty about Japan’s plans.

"This was not the big announcement much of the world was waiting for, but it is another cautious step in the right direction," said King. “We expect further announcements soon with regards to the easing of border restrictions, and fully expect travel to Japan to be a reality from this summer onwards."

However, he added: “We still urgently call for Japan to publish a roadmap to reopening and hope announcements in coming weeks will reveal its plans.”

King revealed that following Kishida’s speech in London earlier this month on the imminent prospect of border measures and Covid restrictions being relaxed across south-east Asia, Inside Travel Group’s brands experienced their biggest sales surge since February 2020.

“The spike in enquiries, bookings and interest in Japan, and all our open Asian destinations, suggests people cannot wait to get out there for that next special trip," he said. "We are lucky east and south-east Asia still has that draw and never disappoints."