Australian tourists will be allowed into Japan under proposed plan after coronavirus

Japan is looking to reopen its borders to a very small number of tourists from overseas – and Australians have made the cut.

Japan is considering reopening its borders to travellers from selected countries that have low levels of coronavirus infections, as it begins to ease restrictions put in place earlier this year to control the outbreak.

As schools, cinemas, sports clubs and department stores reopened in Tokyo on Monday, media reported that the government is also planning to allow travellers from Australia, Thailand, Vietnam and New Zealand into the country in the coming months.

There was no immediate comment from the foreign ministry.

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Japan is keen to see tourists return and wants Australians to be among the first. Picture: iStock

Japan has had a total of around 17,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, with almost 900 deaths.

Since February, Japan has banned entry by foreigners to limit the spread of the virus from overseas visitors.

The government is considering allowing business travellers from the four countries to enter if they test negative for COVID-19 in two separate tests conducted upon departure from their home country and arrival in Japan, the Asahi Shimbun reported, citing unnamed sources.

Once permitted into the country, visitors’ movements would be restricted to areas including place of stay, company offices and factories, the newspaper said, adding that use of public transportation would be banned.

Australians and people from New Zealand, Vietnam and Thailand may be the first tourists to return to Japan when they are able. Picture: iStock

Along with Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand are members of the trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP-11), and have strong trade ties with Japan. Southeast Asia accounts for just 4.4 per cent of global COVID-19 infections, according to the World Health Organisation, much lower than the Americas or Europe, which each account for roughly 40 per cent.

Vietnamese youth are the fastest-growing group of foreign workers in Japan. Many arrive as part of a technical trainee program set up by the Japanese government, which is widely seen as a way to bring in blue-collar labour in immigration-shy Japan.