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As COVID fears ebb, Japan readies for tourists from abroad

Shuso Imada, general manager for the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association Information Center, speaks in an interview with The Associated Press during a sake and shochu tasting event at the information center in Tokyo, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Imada said he has been feeling pretty lonely and is itching to tell foreign visitors about how to match the traditional Japanese rice wine with all kinds of non-Japanese food, even cheese and beef. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Megumi Nishimiya, a staffer for the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) Information Center, helps prepare glasses of alcohol beverage before handing out the drinks during a sake and shochu tasting event at the information center in Tokyo, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Shuso Imada, general manager at JSS Information Center, a sake and shochu showroom in downtown Tokyo, said he has been feeling pretty lonely and is itching to tell foreign visitors about how to match the traditional Japanese rice wine with all kinds of non-Japanese food, even cheese and beef. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Yusuke Koike, manager for the overseas operation division of the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS), prepares alcohol beverage during a sake and shochu tasting event at JSS Information Center in Tokyo, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Shuso Imada, general manager at the JSS Information Center, a sake and shochu showroom in downtown Tokyo, said he has been feeling pretty lonely and is itching to tell foreign visitors about how to match the traditional Japanese rice wine with all kinds of non-Japanese food, even cheese and beef. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) A Japanese woman and her daughter leave Daikichi kimono rental shop Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Tokyo's Asakusa area famous for sightseeing, before attending their family friend's wedding. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. Yusuke Otomo, who owns the kimono rental shop, can barely contain his excitement. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Yusuke Otomo, the owner of Daikichi kimono rental shop, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his shop Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Tokyo's Asakusa area famous for sightseeing. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. Otomo can barely contain his excitement. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Yusuke Otomo, the owner of Daikichi kimono rental shop, brings a traditional Japanese umbrella for a prop during a photo session of his customers at the shop Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Tokyo's Asakusa area famous for sightseeing. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. Otomo can barely contain his excitement. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Yusuke Otomo, the owner of Daikichi kimono rental shop, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his shop Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Tokyo's Asakusa area famous for sightseeing. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. Otomo can barely contain his excitement. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) A Japanese woman gets help to wear kimono at Daikichi kimono rental shop Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Tokyo's Asakusa area famous for sightseeing, before attending her family friend's wedding. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. Yusuke Otomo, who owns the kimono rental shop, can barely contain his excitement. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) A Japanese woman gets help to wear kimono at Daikichi kimono rental shop Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Tokyo's Asakusa area famous for sightseeing, before attending her family friend's wedding. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. Yusuke Otomo, who owns the kimono rental shop, can barely contain his excitement. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) A Japanese woman gets help on her hairdo for her kimono outfit she rented at Daikichi kimono rental shop in the Asakusa area famous for sightseeing, before attending her family friend's wedding in Tokyo, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. Yusuke Otomo, who owns the kimono rental shop, can barely contain his excitement. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) People shop around at an arcade lined with restaurants and souvenir shops in Tokyo's Asakusa area famous for sightseeing, adjacent to the famed Sensoji Buddhism temple Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Visitors including students on field trips line up before praying at the famed Sensoji Buddhism temple in Tokyo's Asakusa area famous for sightseeing, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) A rickshaw puller helps visitors take their photos as he promotes his business in front of the famed Kaminarimon gate of Sensoji Buddhist temple in Tokyo's Asakusa area famous for sightseeing, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) People visit Sensoji Buddhism temple in Tokyo's Asakusa area famous for sightseeing, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) A rickshaw puller carries his customers around Tokyo's Asakusa area famous for sightseeing, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Thai travelers Tidarat Margsree second from left to right, Rossarin Chanlekha, Sathaporn Maneephol, line up for check-in for their trip to Osaka and Tokyo, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn province, Thailand, Thursday, June 23, 2022. A group of eight young Thai travelers are excited to return to their favorite tourist destination. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. Visas are being given only to certain countries, including Thailand and the U.S., that are deemed to pose a minimal health risk, so people can enter without a quarantine. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Thai travelers, from left, Sorrasek Thuantawee, Kantpong Madeecharoenporn and Korranut Nuntanatamon check in for their trip to Osaka and Tokyo, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn province, Thailand, Thursday, June 23, 2022. A group of eight young Thai travelers are excited to return to their favorite tourist destination. In less than two weeks since the news of Japan reopening its door to international visitors. A group of eight young Thai travelers are excited to return to their favorite tourist destination. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. Visas are being given only to certain countries, including Thailand and the U.S., that are deemed to pose a minimal health risk, so people can enter without a quarantine. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) A staff member of a travel agent takes a photo of Thai travelers, from left to right, Sorrasek Thuantawee, Kantpong Madeecharoenporn, Tidarat Margsree, Korranut Nuntanatamon, Tiwasit Ruensorn, Rossarin Chanlekha, Jirawat Jaradwutthikul and Sathaporn Maneephol after check-in for their trip to Osaka and Tokyo, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn province, Thailand, Thursday, June 23, 2022. A group of eight young Thai travelers are excited to return to their favorite tourist destination. Japan is bracing for a return of tourists from abroad, as border controls to curb the spread of coronavirus infections are gradually loosened. Visas are being given only to certain countries, including Thailand and the U.S., that are deemed to pose a minimal health risk, so people can enter without a quarantine. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)