Japan re-opens for tourists this month – try sumo wrestling and stay in a temple
After years of blocking off its borders to foreigners to prevent the spread of Covid-19, Japan is set to re-open to holidaymakers this month.
Next week, on October 11, restrictions for foreign nationals into Japan will be dropped, authorities have confirmed.
Previously, holidaymakers who wanted to visit needed to be part of a package tour, but this requirement is no longer in force as of last month.
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So, if you’ve been holding off on visiting the island nation throughout the pandemic you can finally start getting stuck into the planning.
The good news is that there’s plenty to do in the country from high-tech cities to traditional villages.
With Halloween coming up, Japan’s Universal Studios has brought back its Halloween Horror Nights.
It features four haunted attractions and scare zones with the most zombies in history as well as creepy rides and shows throughout the park.
Meanwhile, the Kawasaki Halloween Parade has been celebrated since the 1990s and over 2,500 parade participants draw the crowds in.
If you’re looking to plan further ahead then a tour may be the option for you.
Tour firm Flash Pack has recently launched a 12-day trip to Japan and it’s one of those 'can’t-do-by-yourself' itineraries that lets you see the best of the country.
Guests can stay overnight at a Buddhist temple and join the monks for prayers and experience an authentic kaiseki meal hosted by an apprentice geisha, to immerse themselves in Japan's traditions.
You can also meet an atomic bomb survivor to hear their extraordinary stories and have lunch with a Sumo wrestler to discover more about the national sport.
You'll also head to Tokyo’s neon-lit Shibuya and Kyoto’s bamboo forest as well as master the art of making steaming fresh ramen.
Travellers will be invited to experience the meditative beauty of a matcha tea ceremony and enjoy sushi, sake and even karaoke.
The journey will take you from Osaka to Tokyo with stops in Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto, Koyasan, Lake Ashinoko and more.
Flashback is exclusively for people in their 30s and 40s, but other tour companies also run Japan tours.
Simply Japan runs from Tokyo to Osaka with zen gardens, castles, old towns, and fire ceremonies to enjoy.
While Intro to Japan – for 18 to 39-year-olds – visits Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
Always check the latest FCDO travel advice and restrictions before booking your holiday and going abroad at gov.uk.
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