According to a Japanese media earlier, the Japanese government is expected to lift visa restrictions on Chinese tourists even more in 2011 to attract more tourists to visit and shop in the country.

 

Reports in local media claim that the Japanese government is likely to allow middle-class Chinese families with certain income level and employment status to travel to Japan under an individual-scheme, without joining group tours. In 2009, Japan decided to allow Chinese citizens who earn CNY250,000 a year to make individual trips to the country. in July, 2009, Japan lowered the threshold annual income for an individual Chinese tourist to CNY60,000.

 

In addition, the Japanese government plans to issue multiple-entry visas to individual Chinese tourists, allowing them to enter Japan as many times as they wish during its period of validity.

 

Official figures that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan rose 43.4% year on year to more than 1.35 million during the period from January to November 2010.