Originally Posted by hailstorm

Personally, I don't see a spring reopening of international tourism in play.

First, as the Omicron variant requires a booster shot for maximum protection, there will be political pressure to allow the chance for everyone that wants the shot to get it before opening up. Logistically, based on the original rollout, I can't see that being done until April.

Then it will be "we need to be careful during Golden Week".

Then they will be extremely slow and cautious with the resumption of business and student visas, since they've already had to roll that back twice already, and Kishida is the "do too much instead of too little" prime minister.

So summer is more likely, and that's the best case scenario IMHO.