The Japanese government will allow wealthy Chinese individuals to visit, the Kyodo news agency reported today.

The Japan Tourism Agency plans to modify tourist visas for wealthy Chinese in March, the report said.

At present Japan only allows Chinese to travel in groups of between five to 40, or two to three family members with an annual income of above 250,000 yuan (US$36,634).

Up to the end of last year, only 10 people from four families had visa applications approved.

The agency said the definition of wealth was being discussed and air travel milage and credit card records might be considered as references.

However the cost of these trips would soar for these individuals, Zhou Yingfeng, a manager at the China Youth Travel Service Corp, said.

The Japanese government wants to attract 10 million tourists by 2010.

(Shanghai Daily February 12, 2009)