Japan to Reopen to Tourists After 2 1/2 Years of Mostly Closed Borders

Japan said it will reopen the country to regular tourism next month, hoping to use the cheap yen to attract visitors and boost its sluggish economy.

The move, set to take effect on October 11, belatedly brings Japan on par with other leading economies that have eased or removed pandemic-related restrictions and reopened to global travel. For more than 2½ years, Tokyo has generally banned individual tourists from visiting the country.