Encouraged by the boost to the economy that Chinese tourists have been giving, Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada announced only last week that VISA restrictions will be eased to allow mid-level income earners from China to make the grade. Previously only wealthy Chinese could make it through immigration, but the necessary income level of VISA applicants is being cut from 250,000 yuan (36,000 U.S. dollars) per year to just 60,000, which the government believes makes a further 16 million Chinese eligible.

The problem though, as highlighted in a column in today's Japan Times, is that Japanese hotels are not only legally entitled to discriminate and bar non-Japanese, but many make false excuses to avoid foriegners of any sort staying in their premises. "Japanese only" signs appear not just in hotels, but at onsens (hot springs), bars, restaurants and entertainment venues too.

Despite this sometimes leading to (successful) lawsuits, including a famous case against Yunohana onsen in Otaru, Hokkaido by activist David Schofill in 2001, a government survey in 2008 found 27% of hotels did not want any non-Japanese staying with them. Schofield -- better known today by his Japanese name Debito Arudou and renowned for being an outspoken and sometimes controversial activist -- found excuses from hotel staff ranging from "In case of an emergency, how can we communicate with non-Japanse effectively to get them out of a burning building?" to not having western-style beds.

Most curious though, is the Toyoko Inn chain of hotels which has opened a 'Chinese-only' branch in Susukino, Sapporo. Perhaps they were encouraged by the news of the largest tour group ever to visit Japan -- 10,000 workers and families from Pro-Health, a Beijiing-based health product company. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, they'll reach Japan on Ocober 9th. Probably best to avoid the queues at immigration that day.