Japan has maintained some of the strictest border measures among major economies since the pandemic's onset, having effectively blocked entry to visitors for two years until it began a gradual reopening in June.
"COVID-19, of course, interrupted all of these benefits, but from October 11, Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the U.S., as well as resume visa-free travel and individual travel," he said.
Japan's insistence that visitors obtain visas to enter the country and then adhere to planned, package tours has been a major sticking point.
Prior to the pandemic, Japan had visa waiver agreements with nearly 70 countries and regions, including the United States, the European Union, and many Asian neighbors.
From October 11, Japan will restore individual tourism and visa-waiver travel to people from certain countries as long as they are vaccinated.