Shinkansen bullet train and Kaiten sushi are welcoming travelers from abroad as pandemic restrictions are eased

The Tourism Bureau of the Japanese Government announced the estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in May was 147,000. The number greatly exceeded 10,035 in the same month of the previous year. Visitors to Japan for purposes other than tourism was allowed to enter the country from March under certain conditions. 

A demonstration project to accept tourists from abroad conducted by the Japanese government is also expected to contribute to increase the number of visitors further which exceeded 100,000 for the second consecutive month. By country, Vietnam increased significantly to 39,000 compared to 425 in the same month of the previous year. China increased to 17,600 from 1,823, South Korea to 8,800 from 950 and the United States to 8,100 from 958. 

The Japanese government has relaxed immigration restrictions to contend the infection of the new corona virus and the government has gradually raised its cap on entry numbers, most recently doubling it to 20,000 a day on June 1. Issuance of visas for sightseeing purpose began on June 10 to accept foreign tourists, taking the initial step toward increasing inbound tourism for the first time in around two years. 

Foreigners who want to travel to Japan and tourist companies whose revenue has plummeted due to the pandemic are aspiring resumption of the entry procedures to Japan. On the other hand, visitors to Japan whose entry restrictions are relaxed are still limited to guided tours since the country restarted visa procedures to accept some leisure visitors and they are asked to comply with the country's infection prevention guidelines, including wearing face masks. 

The government is considering further easing as the country’s biggest business groups and major foreign chambers of commerce are pushing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to further open Japan’s borders. A recent easing may appear for them to fall short of the pledge he has made. They want visa waivers for business travelers to be restored, individual tourist travel resumed and the cap on daily international arrivals eliminated.

Kaiten sushi restaurants with affordable menu which starts at just ¥100 a plate are preparing to accept foreign travelers

According to the Immigration Control Agency, there were an average of about 140,000 people per day entering the country in 2019 before the pandemic. Even after raising the immigration cap, it is still one-seventh of the level before the pandemic so there is mounting anticipation in the tourism industry for a further step towards normalization. 

Japanese business circles, particularly those in the tourism sector, have been unsettled by what appears to be overly cautious government policy toward resuming tourism from abroad. It is forecasted that the number of visitors to Japan will increase after the end of June considering the period required for visa issuance procedures. 

JTB president says that inquiries about travel to Japan from Europe, the United States and Australia are increasing day by day. The weaker yen will increase the country’s attractiveness boosting spending by tourists from abroad. 

One of those tourism destination which may take advantage of the weaker yen is Kaiten-sushi, also known as conveyor belt sushi. It is a convenient and affordable type of sushi restaurant characterized by the conveyor belt that winds through the restaurant. 

Kura Sushi, a major conveyor belt sushi bar restaurant chain, opened a new store in Kyoto city in May with Japanese-style interiors and decorations targeting foreign visitors to Japan in order to develop its new business. The interior was designed so that inbound visitors can enjoy Japanese culture at the sushi bar in anticipation of the recovery of the number of foreign visitors to Japan. The interior is made of white wood, a neon sign, a noren curtain for each seat, a giant ukiyoe, and decorations that imitate the rankings of sumo wrestlers. 

They are designed so that tourists can take commemorative photos with high-class interiors  to convey Japanese culture that are not found in ordinary  sushi bars. The chain thinks the appeal of eating out is to experience something extraordinary, so it hopes to offer memorable enjoyment to customers aiming to secure profits by broadening its customer base.

 

Central Japan Railways’ business which has Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka is recovering

Another bright spot emerging from the pandemic pain is railway industry. Six JR railway companies including Central Japan Railway Co., or JR Central, announced that they have a total of about 9.07 million people on their Shinkansen and express trains from April 28 to May 8 which is so called “Golden Week”, long holiday season period in Japan. It was about 2.5 times of that in the same period in 2021.  

This year's Golden Week was the first in three years with no restrictions to prevent infection so more people went out for travels and homecoming. The number of users of JR East was 2,971,000, 217% of the same period of 2019, and that of JR Central was 3,237,000, 271% year on year. JR West had 1,324,000 people, 285% year on year. 

All three companies are expected to secure profits in the consolidated earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2023. JR Central is expected to have a final profit of 146 billion yen, which is a significant improvement from the previous year's deficit of 51.9 billion yen. 

JR Central expects transportation revenue to recover to 65% of that before the pandemic in the first half and 80% in the second half. If the pandemic subsides, more people will use the Tokaido Shinkansen for sightseeing and business. 

The number of tourists will also increase thanks to the resumption of the "Go To Travel" campaign by the government. The weaker yen is also expected to help boost spending by tourists from abroad and thus contribute to a recovery in domestic consumption. Japan has bustling cities, beautiful beaches, snow-capped mountains and favorable exchange rates. It may be one of the best places in the world for foreign visitors.