Four people from Australia have visited Kanazawa, central Japan, to take part in a government-sponsored test tour aimed at resuming the acceptance of foreign tourists.

The government is considering opening the country to foreign tourists from next month in stages. The Japan Tourism Agency started test tours this month, inviting small groups of people in the tourism industry from the United States, Australia, Thailand and Singapore.

On Wednesday, four people from Australia arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, and they traveled to Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, on the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train. After arriving in Kanazawa, they visited a popular tourist destination in the city.

Through the tests, officials from the agency ask participants about what anti-infection measures, such as measuring body temperature and disinfection, they have experienced, as well as their opinions on the measures.

The officials plan to work out guidelines for hotels and tourism firms on what steps they should take for foreign tourists.

A man who took part in the Kanazawa tour said he had been concerned about strict anti-coronavirus measures until he came to Japan. But he said he was able to travel from the airport to the destination easily. He also said he wants to convey to his customers the charms of Japan he has experienced.

Travel company Kinki Nippon Tourist organized the tour at the request of the Tourism Agency. Naramura Misato of the firm said it will take some time until the number of inbound tourists increases to the pre-pandemic level. She also said she wants to use the tests to consider how to balance accepting tourists and taking measures against infection.