Japan is preparing to welcome back a small number of triple vaccinated travellers from Australia, Singapore, Thailand and the U.S. as part of a small group ‘tourism test’ program this month before it fully reopens to international travel. 

The Japan Tourism Agency said on Tuesday that it would begin allowing a limited number of small, highly curated group tours, ahead of a more complete international travel reopening later this year. 

The trial will allow the government a chance to trial and refine its health and safety protocols, infection prevention measures and emergency response, according to a spokesman for the country’s tourism agency. 

“This venture will allow us to verify compliance and emergency responses for infection prevention and formulate guidelines for travel agencies and accommodation operators to keep in mind,” the Tourism Agency shared in a statement with CNN. 

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According to the Japan Tourism Agency, participants must be triple-vaccinated, have private medical insurance and be part of a guided group tour with a fixed itinerary. 

Tour groups will be capped at four people and the trial is expected to permit a total of 50 participants. 

Japan Today reports that there will be no change to the current testing requirements, with visitors required to submit a negative COVID test taken 72 hours prior to departure and test again upon arrival.

Full details, including the tour destinations, length and timeframes have yet to be decided, although according to The Washington Post it’s expected to begin next week and continue until the end of the month. 

The trial was originally planned for late 2021, but delayed due to increased border control measures in response to the Omicron variant. 

Earlier in May, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced at a news conference in London that Japan was planning to relax pandemic-related border restrictions in line with other G7 nations like Canada and the UK, although he warned the changes were likely to happen slowly. 

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