Japan is ready to open the door to groups of Chinese tourists beginning this spring by improving visa-issuing procedures, Transport Minister Toshihiro Nikai said Friday.
The Japanese government hopes to reach an accord with China by March on plans to give Chinese tour groups easy access to sightseeing spots in Japan, Nikai told a press conference.
With the introduction of the new measures, the first group of Chinese sightseers is likely to visit Japan as early as April, he said.