Chinese tourists allowed to travel to Japan without tour guides

Wednesday 08th July, 10:19 AM JST

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12 Comments

PepinGalarga at 01:14 PM JST - 8th July

First...

i know this is gonna be a big thread.

basically, Japan is looking at the　￥￥￥ from the Chinese tourists, since the locals are keeping their pockets stashed with cash.
japal4649 at 01:34 PM JST - 8th July

people taking pride in being 'first' to comment or post just make me laugh - get a life mate.

as for chinese tourists....I never realised they had to be on a tour to visit japan. Perhaps the communist government didnt want them rushing off to internet cafes so they could read all the websites that are censored / black listed back in China.
cooeecobber at 01:47 PM JST - 8th July

And the immigration laws have been revised just in time!

When I lived in China, the main reason students wanted to learn English, was so that they could get out of the country. Mainly to 'easy' places, like Canada and Australia.

I expect some tourists might overstay their visas here, but it wouldn't be the preferred destination. In many ways, it's actually not that different living here.
Terrikus at 02:01 PM JST - 8th July

the main reason students wanted to learn English, was so that they could get out of the country.

I live there now, and the main attraction of English is still largely job opporunities. Fluency in English and hooking up with some international trading company can equal great pay. I have several Chinese friends completely fluent in English and haven't even been abroad.

Regardless, this should not come as a surprise. As time passes, travel restrictions on Chinese will also begin to lessen. Get use to it. Besides, those of you that like to clamor about the 'brainwashed' Chinese, should be absolutely enamoured that Chinese can now visit your culturally and intellectually superior countries and bring back the wisdom to China. Right? Right?
cooeecobber at 02:08 PM JST - 8th July

Terrikus

If you look at visa application statistics at the Australian and Canadian gov websites, you will see that Chinese visas go up every year.

Nonetheless, I agree with you that there are obviously benefits to staying at home as well. Being independently wealthy is one way of removing oneself from the clutches of the Chinese government.

And I'm more than happy to see more and more Chinese travel, but not for any sense of superiority that others might assume.

It's a cliche, but travel really does broaden the mind - on both sides.
jackfish at 02:20 PM JST - 8th July

Isn't it the Japanese gov't who is issuing the new visas and now no long requiring tour guides? The way some of the comments are worded, people seem to think China issues visas for travel to Japan.
Or maybe I'm not understanding the article. It seems really shocking that in the past, Japan required Chinese tourists to have a guide. If Japan demanded that of western countries, they'd be ridiculed.
cooeecobber at 02:25 PM JST - 8th July

jackfish

Actually, until very recently, Australia also required tourists from China to be part of an organised travel group with guide.

It's because the Aust. Immigration Dept regard Chinese as high risk of overstaying their visas, based on experience with other Chinese visitors; for example, students.
usaexpat at 11:42 PM JST - 8th July

I can't believe Chinese were only allowed to travel with tour guides. Did this apply to any other visiting nationality? What a strange system but good that Chinese will be able to travel freely.
OssanAmerica at 12:04 AM JST - 9th July

It seems really shocking that in the past, Japan required Chinese >tourists to have a guide. If Japan demanded that of western countries, >they'd be ridiculed.

What western country has a population that's so eager to get out of their country that they'll do anything both legal and illesgal to get into and stay in Japan?
Stereofreak at 06:36 AM JST - 9th July

What's next, free speech and human rights? What's this world coming to...
sfjp330 at 08:46 AM JST - 10th July

With this change, in a near future, politics will change in China with how they view Japanese people. They will have first hand understandings in a postive way between two countries. They will go beyond constant negative WWII memories and develop a framework for better future relations.
jackfish at 02:46 PM JST - 10th July

Cooeecober: Given their record, I'm not entirely surprised that Australia was also requiring the same. Glad to hear its stopped. And since students are there for a long period, not just a tour, I fail to see the relevance of students overstaying their visas.