Japan's businesses brace for long-awaited return of tourists

Visitors are seen at the popular tourist spot of Meiji Shrine in Tokyo on Sept 23, 2022. - AFP

TOKYO (Bloomberg): Japan's tourism industry is opening for business again. From the streets of Kyoto to the slopes of Hokkaido, retailers, restaurants and hotels are seeking to recover the revenue they lost during the pandemic with the return of overseas visitors starting Oct 11.

One of the last remaining rich economies with tight border controls, and with the yen at quarter-century lows against the dollar, the archipelago is now an affordable and attractive destination for overseas visitors.