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This is how you can visit Japan as travel rules ease for fall

Sep 12, 2022 • 4 min read

Japan has relaxed its entry rules again © Getty Images

Travel to  Japan  has been heavily restricted since borders snapped shut two-and-a-half years ago. Up until now, it hasn't been easy for tourists to get there, with only organized group tours allowed into the country for much of 2022. But last week, the government announced that things are changing, and self-guided trips are back.

By self-guided trips, we mean that travelers no longer need to be accompanied by a guide during their trip. But unrestricted tourism is still off the cards. In order to visit Japan, travelers must book their flights and accommodation through a licensed travel agency. 

There are reports, however, that Japan could remove the daily cap of 50,000 arrivals by the end of the month and return to visa-free and independent travel. Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, said the government is considering ways to ease the current pandemic restrictions while "maintaining a balance between preventing the spread of infection and promoting social and economic activities".

In the meantime, if you've long dreamed of visiting the neon-bright neighborhoods of Tokyo or the once-in-a-lifetime attractions of Kyoto , and you're keen to do it as soon as possible, here's what you need to know about entry and visa rules for visiting Japan as a tourist.

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Japan's new entry rules

In June, tourists were allowed to return to Japan but as part of an organized group tour whereby they have to be accompanied by a local guide for the duration of their trip. But that rule was scrapped on September 7 in favor of a more relaxed policy that allows self-guided trips.

That said, you can't rock up after booking a flight online. You must book your flight and accommodation through a registered travel agency, so the government has a point of contact for you. That means the only route in is via package vacations, for now, guided or self-guided - whatever your preference.

You must wear masks and adhere to other COVID-19 measures. You'll also need to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of their departure date if you haven't been triple vaccinated and you must install the  MySOS app , where you can register your test results.

Before the pandemic, Japan offered visa-free entry to visitors from some 68 countries,s including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, and Malaysia, but for now, "everyone needs a visa," according to the Foreign Ministry, regardless of where they are coming from.

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How tourists can apply for a visa to visit Japan

The visa exemption scheme for Japan remains on hold for now, which means that anyone who wishes to visit must apply for and obtain a tourist visa first. You can apply for a certificate for registration to ERFS (Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System)  through the travel agency you've booked their trip with. Once that's processed, you'll receive a document you can take to your local Japanese embassy or consulate to obtain a visa or apply for the visa directly with the tourism agency. The turnaround time is generally five working days after the documents are received and accepted.

US and Canadian citizens can apply for an eVisa

A new eVisa scheme was introduced last month for US and Canadian citizens. The eVisa is available for tourist and business travelers and those visiting relatives. Applicants must hold a valid US or Canadian passport.

Before applying for the eVisa, applicants must obtain a certificate for registration to the  ERFS  through the travel agency they've booked their trip with. According to the Japanese embassy, those visiting relatives don't need to apply for an ERFS, but they must instead download marriage certificates or proof of kinship.

If you're looking to apply, you must have these forms in order, and then complete  the eVisa form online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You'll need passport information, travel documents, and supporting documents like ERFS to hand. A processing fee will also apply. Once the application is completed and approved, the eVisa will be issued by email.

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Japan's COVID-19 vaccination requirements

Japan categorizes countries into blue, yellow, or red based on their COVID risk. Travelers from blue countries have the option to show proof of vaccination or take a test before traveling. Blue countries include the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Argentina, Mexico, and more. The complete list of countries can be viewed here .

Travelers from yellow and red countries are subject to additional entry requirements, such as testing upon arrival and quarantine.

This article was first published Oct 13, 2020 and updated Sep 12, 2022.

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Tourists flock to Japan after pandemic border restrictions are lifted

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Eager to admire colorful foliage, eat sushi and go shopping, droves of tourists from abroad began arriving in Japan on Tuesday with the end of pandemic border restrictions that had been in place for more than two years.

“We got the news that we can finally come. We are really, really happy,” said Nadine Lackmann, a German who was among the crowd of tourists arriving at Tokyo’s Haneda airport.

Travelers like Lackmann are expected to deliver a sorely needed $35-billion boost to the world’s third-largest economy. And the flood of visitors is expected to keep growing.

A daily limit of 50,000 arrivals is gone. Airlines have added flights in response to the full reopening of borders. Visa-free travel is back for short-term business visitors and tourists from more than 60 countries.

David Beall, a photographer based in Los Angeles who’s been to Japan 12 times, has already booked a flight, planning to go to Fukui, Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo. The last time he was in Japan was in October 2019. But it’s everyday things the American is looking forward to, like eating Japan’s popular pork cutlet dish, tonkatsu.

“As cliched as it sounds, just being back in Japan after all this time is what I am most looking forward to. That of course includes hopefully meeting new people, eating the food that I’ve missed, like good tonkatsu, being in nature at that time of the year, riding the trains,” he said.

About 32 million tourists visited Japan in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Their return is welcome for good reason. Many will have more spending power because the Japanese yen has declined in recent months in value against the U.S. dollar, the euro and other currencies.

The only protocols left for entry are that you must be fully vaccinated with one booster shot or have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure. Virtually all visitors from the U.S., the rest of Asia, Europe and South America who fulfill those requirements won’t have to quarantine.

In August, during the most recent coronavirus surge in Japan, nationwide daily new infections topped 200,000. Both case numbers and deaths have dwindled since. Last week, daily deaths averaged eight nationwide. The government has provided free COVID-19 vaccinations, especially encouraging the elderly and the medically vulnerable to get inoculated.

Visitors may have to adjust to face masks, worn by most Japanese just about everywhere outside their own homes. Many stores and restaurants require customers to wear masks and sanitize their hands. Some establishments still close early, or have shuttered completely.

But bookings from abroad with Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways, or ANA, have already jumped fivefold compared to last week, while bookings of flights out of Japan have doubled.

Air Canada said bookings for Canadians traveling to Japan jumped 51% this month compared with September, while the number of travelers from Japan to Canada grew 16% over the same period.

The Japanese economy can use the influx of tourist spending.

Fitch Ratings forecasts that Japan’s economy will grow at a 1.7% pace this year and by 1.3% in 2023, supported by easy credit, a recovery for service industries and a gradual fix of supply-chain problems, which will boost manufacturing and exports.

Japan had basically shut its borders to tourists, but started allowing package tours in June. Many people opted to wait for open-ended individual travel before booking their tickets.

With declining nervousness about the risks of infections, Japanese also are traveling more — encouraged by discounts offered by airlines, bullet trains, “onsen” hot springs resorts and hotels to jumpstart the ailing travel industry.

Although Japan offers various attractions from the ski slopes of northern Hokkaido to the semi-tropical beaches of the Okinawa islands in the south, experts say these months are the best for enjoying what Japan has to offer.

The mountains are vibrant with brilliant autumn foliage; the weather is moderate, not freezing, sweltering or humid; seafood, grapes, chestnuts and other culinary delights are fresh and plentiful.

“Now we are all ready to welcome people from abroad,” said Shuso Imada, general manager at the Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center.

His job is to promote sake rice wine and shochu liquor made from barley, potatoes or other vegetables, domestically and abroad.

“Autumn is the best season to enjoy Japanese food with sake and shochu,” he said.

That’s why Javier Perez Toledo waited more than a year for his honeymoon.

“We are really passionate about the country,” he said, arriving from Spain. “We are so happy that we could come.”

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Japan to relax Covid travel restrictions and grant entry to independent tourists

NEW YORK — Japan’s strict border restrictions will be loosened next month, the prime minister announced Thursday, allowing tourists to easily enter for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

In a news conference at the foot of Central Park in New York, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said independent tourists would again be welcomed as of Oct. 11, not just those traveling with authorized groups.

A cap on the number of tourists who are granted entry — which has been gradually increased this year — will be nixed altogether. And visa requirements that were imposed in response to the pandemic will also be rescinded.

Japan’s tough Covid-19 restrictions have sent the number of visitors plummeting and its tourism industry reeling. Though foreign tourists were welcomed back in June after a pause of more than two years, the reopening has been confusing to many seeking to visit.

A previous announcement billed as an easing of the group tour rule turned out, for many tourists, to be anything but — introducing a convoluted process requiring obtaining clearance via a Japanese travel agent, often with hefty fees or commissions attached.

Now, the country appears to be returning to normal, in time for some to book travel for Japan’s fall foliage. Kishida said a campaign aimed at bolstering the tourism industry would be rolled out offering discounts.

“We hope that many citizens will take advantage,” he said as he wrapped up a trip to New York.

Until now, Japan persisted in pandemic travel rules that many other countries have long since dropped. Some tourists have shifted vacations to countries including South Korea and Thailand, which have had looser rules of late.

Kishida spoke on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. In other remarks, he called for reform of the U.N. Security Council and dismissed any skepticism about Japan’s increased military spending, saying it remained a “peace-loving nation.”

He also said Japan would “boldly take necessary steps” to combat excessive fluctuation of the yen, which has dropped to its lowest level against the U.S. dollar in more than two decades.

Japan reopens to tourists as authorities lift Covid travel restrictions

As Japan throws open its doors to visitors this week after more than two years of pandemic isolation, hopes for a tourism boom face tough headwinds amid shuttered shops and a shortage of hospitality workers.

Issued on: 11/10/2022 - 04:59

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From Tuesday,  Japan  will reinstate visa-free travel to dozens of countries, ending some of world's strictest border controls to slow the spread of COVID-19 .

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is counting on  tourism  to help invigorate the economy and reap some benefits from the yen's slide to a 24-year low.

Arata Sawa is among those eager for the return of foreign tourists, who previously comprised up to 90% of the guests at his traditional inn.

"I'm hoping and anticipating that a lot of foreigners will come to Japan, just like before COVID," said Sawa, the third-generation owner of the Sawanoya ryokan in Tokyo.

Just over half a million visitors have come to Japan so far in 2022, compared with a record 31.8 million in 2019. The government had a goal of 40 million in 2020 timed with the Summer Olympics until both were upended by the coronavirus.

Kishida said last week the government is aiming to attract 5 trillion yen ($34.5 billion) in annual tourist spending. But that goal may be too ambitious for a sector that has atrophied during the pandemic. Hotel employment slumped 22% between 2019 and 2021, according to government data.

Spending from overseas visitors will reach only 2.1 trillion yen by 2023 and won't exceed pre-COVID levels until 2025, wrote Nomura Research Institute economist Takahide Kiuchi in a report.

Flag carrier Japan Airlines Co 9201.T has seen inbound bookings triple since the border easing announcement, president Yuji Akasaka said last week, according to the Nikkei newspaper. Even so, international travel demand won't fully recover until around 2025, he added.

Ghost town 

Narita Airport, Japan's biggest international airport some 70 kilometres from Tokyo, remains eerily quiet, with about half of its 260 shops and restaurants shuttered.

"It's like half a ghost town," said 70-year old Maria Satherley from New Zealand, gesturing at the Terminal 1 departure area.

Satherley, whose son lives in the northern island of Hokkaido, said she would like to return with her granddaughter this winter but probably won't because the child is too young to be vaccinated, a prerequisite for tourists entering Japan.

"We're just going to wait till next year," she said.

Amina Collection Co has shut its three souvenir shops at Narita and is unlikely to reopen them until next spring, said president Sawato Shindo.

The company reallocated staff and supplies from the airport to other locations in its 120-shop chain around Japan as it refocused on domestic tourism during the pandemic.

"I don't think there's going to be a sudden return to the pre-pandemic situation," Shindo said. "Restrictions are still pretty strict compared to other countries."

Japan still strongly encourages that people wear masks indoors and refrain from loud talking. The Cabinet on Friday approved changing hotel regulations so that they can refuse guests who do not obey infection controls during an outbreak.

Many service workers found better working conditions and wages in other fields over the past two years, so luring them back may be difficult, said a consultant for tourism companies who asked not to be identified.

"The hospitality industry is very infamous for low wages, so if the government values tourism as a key industry, financial support or subsidies are probably needed," he added.

The Japanese government is starting a domestic travel initiative this month that offers transportation and accommodation discounts, similar to its Go To Travel campaign in 2020 that was cut short following a surge in COVID infections.

Tight labour market 

Almost 73% of hotels nationwide said they were short of regular workers in August, up from about 27% a year earlier, according to market research firm Teikoku Databank.

In Kawaguchiko, a lake town at the foot of Mt. Fuji, inns had difficulty staffing before the pandemic amid Japan's tight labour market and they anticipate a similar bottleneck now, said a trade group staffer who asked not to be identified.

That sentiment was echoed by Akihisa Inaba, general manager at the hot-spring resort Yokikan in Shizuoka, central Japan, who said short staffing during the summer meant workers had to forego time off.

"Naturally, the labour shortage will become more pronounced when inbound travel returns," said Inaba. "So, I'm not so sure we can be overjoyed."

Whether overseas visitors wear face masks and abide by other common infection controls in Japan is another concern. The strict border controls were broadly popular during most of the pandemic, and fears remain about the appearance of new viral variants.

"From the start of the pandemic until now, we've had just a few foreign guests," said Tokyo innkeeper Sawa. "Pretty much all of them wore masks, but I'm really not sure whether the people who visit from here on will do the same."

"My plan is to kindly ask them to wear a mask while inside the building," he added.

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Japan reopens to tourists on guided package tours from 10 June 2022. For more information, please check the page above.

Coronavirus (covid-19) travel restrictions.

Last updated: June 26, 2022

Table of Contents

Measures by the government of japan.

1. Areas subjected to entry ban

2. Denial of the re-entry from designated countries/regions in response to COVID-19 variants of special treatment on border measures

3. Quarantine measures

4. Suspension of visa validity

5. Suspension of visa exemption measures

6. Restrictions on airports/ports for arrival

7. Entry of foreign nationals with special exceptional circumstances

8. Fast Track

9. Visit Japan Web

10. Installation of apps and other requirements upon entry into Japan

All coronavirus-related information on this website is gathered from the government ministries and authorities responsible for handling COVID-19 restrictions and measures. Due to the regularly changing situation and the constant updating of information, it is essential that you always check for updates and follow the latest guidance from the relevant ministries and official bodies.

Information about entry into Japan

For the time being, foreign nationals who have stayed in any of the areas listed in the following table within 14 days prior to the application for landing are denied to enter Japan, unless special exceptional circumstances are found. Note that foreigners from the countries/regions where the entry bans do not apply are not denied to enter Japan, even when traveling via those countries/regions listed in the table for refueling or transit purpose. Those who entered those countries/regions are, however, subject to the entry ban.

Please see the following page for further information about the denial of landing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The re-entry into Japan of foreign nationals with status of residence who have stayed in designated countries/regions in response to coronavirus variants of special treatment on border measures within 14 days prior to the application for landing are denied for the time being, unless there are special exceptional circumstances.

The current quarantine measures are subject to change regularly.

From 12:00 am (Midnight/JST) December 2, 2021, as an emergency precautionary measure from a preventive perspective against coronavirus variant Omicron (B.1.1.529), validity of visas already issued by December 2, 2021 is suspended except for the status of residence of “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National”, “Spouse or Child of a Permanent Resident” or “Diplomat”. This measure does not apply to foreign nationals who departed from overseas before 12:00 am (Midnight/JST) on December 2, 2021 and arrive in Japan after the time.

As for visas already issued under “Business Track” or “Residence Track” and visas issued based on “New border measures (4)” , for the time being, validity of those visas has been suspended from 12:00 am (Midnight/JST) on January 21, 2021, based on the announcement of the Government of Japan dated on January 13, 2021.

Validity of visas listed below is suspended for the time being.

(1) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 8th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies or Consulates General in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and Republic of Korea

(2) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 20th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General in the following countries

(3) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 27th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General in the following countries

(4) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by April 2nd, 2020, by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General located in or accredited to the following countries and regions

As visa exemption measures with the countries/regions listed below are temporarily suspended, those who fall under the measures are required to obtain visas before visiting Japan. The measures will be in place for the time being.

(1) Visa exemption measures agreed with Japan and the following countries and regions

(2) The effect of Pre-Clearances (i.e. visa exemptions) granted by the Japanese Government to APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) issued by the following countries and regions is also suspended.

The Government of Japan announced some measures concerning arrivals at airports/ports.

These measures will be in place for the time being.

Currently, all foreign nationals who wish to newly enter Japan need to apply for a visa except for those with re-entry permit.

Foreign nationals who are entitled to enter Japan as those with special exceptional circumstances are required to apply for an appropriate visa at Embassies or Consulates or Consular Office of Japan (for Taiwan, Taipei Kaohsiung offices of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association) in your country/region.

Quarantine procedures at the airport could be pre-registered to save your time. You can register required documents such as Negative Test Certificate, Questionnaire with "MySOS" application. Fast Track is available for those entering from major airports, such as Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Chubu Airport, Kansai Airport, and Fukuoka Airport. Visit the  MHLW Fast Track website  for the latest information.

Visit Japan Web is a convenient way to register information for quarantine, immigration and customs procedures before you enter Japan. You can upload an electronic certificate of a negative COVID-19 test result for a test conducted within 72 hours of travel, and generate a QR code. The service is available in English and Japanese.

• Installation of MySOS, the Health and Location Monitoring App

(It will be used to confirm your current location, health condition, and accommodation)

• Setting up your smartphone to save location records
• Installation of COCOA, the COVID-19 Contact Confirming App

(It will be used to notify you of possible contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive)

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Official: Japan lifting all tourism restrictions from 11 October

From 11 October, Japan will scrap its arrival caps and visa requirement, and allow free-and-easy travel once again.

After months of speculation, Japan will finally lift its remaining restrictions on tourism from 11 October 2022,  as announced by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a visit to New York. 

The daily arrival cap will be removed, mandatory tourist visas will be scrapped, and independent travel will be permitted once more. No pre-departure or on-arrival testing is required for fully-vaccinated travellers, and it’s basically back to pre-COVID days. 

Japan lifts remaining tourism restrictions

From 11 October 2022, Japan will scrap its daily arrival cap of 50,000 people, and reinstate its visa-waiver programme for nationals from the following 68 countries and regions. 

Japan previously required tourists to purchase a pre-arranged package from a tour agency. This requirement will be removed from 11 October, and free-and-easy travel will be permitted once more. That’s great news for miles and points collectors, who can redeem award flights (assuming you can find space) and hotel nights. 

Testing regulations

Pre-departure

Japan has already scrapped the requirement for a pre-departure COVID-19 test for all fully vaccinated travellers . As a reminder, Japan defines “fully vaccinated” as individuals who have received at least three doses  of the following vaccines:

• AstraZeneca
• Janssen (only two doses required)
• Pfizer-BioNTech

Any combination of the above is acceptable as well.

From 11 October, CanSino, Sinovac and Sinopharm will be added to the list of recognised vaccinations.

Unvaccinated travellers are required to produce a negative pre-departure PCR test result, taken within 72 hours of travel. The cost of a test in Singapore starts from S$50.

Unvaccinated children under the age of 18 who travel with vaccinated parents/guardians will be treated as fully vaccinated (refer to the bottom of page 17 for the source)

On-arrival testing depends on an individual’s travel history. Singapore is currently classified as a Blue List country , which does not require on-arrival testing or quarantine, regardless of vaccination status.

Visitors from Yellow or Red List countries may be required to take on-arrival tests or quarantine, depending on their vaccination status. However, since the Red List is currently empty, a fully-vaccinated traveller is basically free from all pre-departure and on-arrival testing.

If your 14-day travel history cuts across various categories, the restrictions of the strictest one will apply. You can view the full list of countries by category here.

It may surprise you to know that Japan does not actually have a mask mandate.  The official stance is that masks are not required outdoors or indoors, assuming you can keep a minimum distance of 2-metres from others. However, the vast majority of locals continue to mask, and it’s safe to say the same will be expected of visitors. 

Likewise, there’s no requirement to wear masks on flights to or from Japan, although ANA and Japan Airlines continue to enforce the rule. Singapore Airlines passengers will not be required to mask, as per the airline’s latest global mask policy.  

What’s the award space situation?

October calls for 55 weekly flights between Singapore and Tokyo, operated by Singapore Airlines, Scoot, ANA and Japan Airlines.

Singapore Airlines operates the A350-900, B777-300ER and B787-10 on this route, which means redemptions across all four cabins are possible. 

However, bad news if you’re hoping to redeem KrisFlyer miles to Japan. Award space in Business and First Class has virtually vanished for the rest of 2022. At most, you’ll be able to find Economy Class awards, and even those are likely to disappear soon with the latest news. 

Not all is lost though. If you have Alaska Mileage Plan miles, Asia Miles, British Airways Avios or any other programme that can book Japan Airlines award space, here’s how you find award flights to Tokyo.

How to find award space to Tokyo on Alaska Mileage Plan

Japan will finally lift its remaining tourism restrictions from 11 October 2022, which means no more visa applications or tour groups. With pre-departure and on-arrival testing already not necessary for fully-vaccinated Singaporeans and nationals of most countries, visiting Japan effectively returns to pre-COVID conditions. 

Who’s heading to Japan?

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Hack: skip the immigration lines in kuala lumpur with priority pass, details: changi terminal 2 northern wing reopens, 25 comments.

No economical class seats for redemption till Dec even before this announcement 🙁

Did they also restore the validity of multiple entry visas issued before 2020?

Singapore never needed a visa to enter.

The question was whether japan would also lift the suspension on the visas they issued before 2020. In March 2020, they suspended two things: visa waiver for those countries listed above, and validity of visas issued on or before March. Now that the first one has been lifted, what about the second one? Gotta wait for them to release the official regulations document

You realise not every person living in Singapore is Singaporean, right?

It’s interesting to note that Indonesian passport holders now enjoy visa-free entry for 90 days. Pre-Covid they were required to apply for visa.

You need to register your Indonesian e-passport to enjoy your 15 days visa free as mentioned in table. If your visit more than 15 days, you need visa.

This applies since before covid days

Ah yes you’re right on the differential requirement of e- and non-e-passport. Indonesian embassy does not issue e-passport to its overseas resident and therefore I’m required to apply for visa.

There should be more seats for commercial and award bookings after the cap is removed.

Yes, make more award bookings available because the airlines must hate cash bookings. Smart.

My bet worked. Made both flight and hotel bookings back in Jul. Really miss the Jap menu on SQ

Just now I happen to Come across Business class advantage space on one of the days from TYO to SIN though.

but waitlisted right?

No, the one I saw last night was direct book for advantage award, wait list for saver award for the same space. 9 Nov, SQ631 from Haneda, it is still there as of now.

My bet worked!! Our trip for end March 2023 is now ON! First Class Award booking BKK-HND on JAL and then business award booking NGO-SIN-BKK on SQ (booked on 4/7/22 at the old miles rate too!). Just fabulous. Also have about half the accommodation booked at bargain basement prices too. AT LAST. Just wonderful news.

Not sure whether will I attract “stares” if I don’t don a mask outdoor in Ginza and Shinjuku?

No, have been doing that the past week, nobody cares.

People dont really do it lol.

Just a special rule for gaijins.

Useless China Passport.

I thought this day would never come! LOL

For the blue category, I think you don’t need a predeparture test before arrival according to the govt regulations page that you linked in the article.

unvaccinated travellers required PDT, regardless of category.

https://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/PDT_00001.html

(Note 1) For nationals of Indonesia (since December 1, 2014), visas are not required only for those who have registered ICAO-compliant ePassport to diplomatic missions of Japan in Indonesia (the embassy, consulates-general, or the consulate). Validity of the registration is three years period or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

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Japan to fully lift COVID-19 restrictions as infections slow

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Kishida on Wednesday announced plans to fully lift coronavirus restrictions on March 21 as new infections driven by the highly contagious omicron variant slow. (Stanislav Kogiku/Pool Photo via AP)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrives at a news conference in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Kishida on Wednesday announced plans to fully lift coronavirus restrictions on March 21 as new infections driven by the highly contagious omicron variant slow. (Stanislav Kogiku/Pool Photo via AP)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida listens to a reporter’s question during a news conference in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Kishida on Wednesday announced plans to fully lift coronavirus restrictions on March 21 as new infections driven by the highly contagious omicron variant slow. (Stanislav Kogiku/Pool Photo via AP)

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk on a street lined with bars and restaurants in Tokyo Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday announced plans to fully lift coronavirus restrictions on March 21 as new infections driven by the highly contagious omicron variant slow. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk on a street in Tokyo Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

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TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday announced plans to fully lift coronavirus restrictions on March 21 as new infections driven by the highly contagious omicron variant slow.

The COVID-19 restrictions currently in place in 18 prefectures, including the Tokyo area, will end on Monday as planned, Kishida said at a news conference on Wednesday, as his government seeks to cautiously expand consumer activity to help the badly hurt economy get back on track.

“This will be a transitional period so that we can return to our normal daily lives as much as possible by taking maximum precautions,” Kishida said.

It will be the first time Japan has been free of virus restrictions since early January. The plan will be formally adopted after an experts’ panel endorses it on Thursday.

Daily caseloads have steadily declined in Japan in recent weeks after surging to new highs exceeding 100,000 in early February. New cases have fallen by about half.

The lifting of restrictions will allow more domestic travel, as well as parties and larger gatherings for people with vaccination records and negative virus tests, Kishida said.

But Japan is not opening its border to foreign tourists yet.

Kishida on Wednesday did not mention further easing of Japan’s border controls. His government has eased border restrictions by increasing the limit on daily new arrivals to 7,000 in order to allow in foreign scholars, students, business people and interns after criticisms from inside and outside Japan that locking them out is exclusionist and unscientific.

While omicron causes mild symptoms in most people and the fatality rate remains low, the latest wave is the deadliest one so far in Japan because the total number of patients were many times higher than in earlier waves. Still, deaths in Japan total about 26,000 since the pandemic began two years ago, significantly lower than many other countries.

Most victims were elderly patients whose underlying illnesses rapidly worsened after contracting the virus, experts said.

Kishida has faced criticism that he delayed booster shots until all municipalities were ready, allowing the virus to quickly spread in the country.

His government has since opened mass inoculation centers to speed up the booster program. About 72% of people aged 65 or older have received their third jabs, but overall booster vaccines have reached only one-third of the population.

Experts urge caution after the lifting of restrictions due to the possibility of a resurgence of infections. A subvariant of omicron is gradually replacing the primary strain around the country.

In some areas, hospital bed occupancy rates still exceed 50%, and oral antiviral pills are not reaching as many people as expected. Although Kishida’s government has pledged to secure millions of doses of the two imported oral pills, they are not widely used. One is rather large and hard to swallow, and another cannot be combined with many other drugs.

The ongoing COVID-19 restrictions are largely limited to eateries, where shorter service hours are requested. The general public is also asked to work from home and avoid parties and large events, as well as to wear masks while in public places and follow other basic anti-virus measures.

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Japan to ease tourism restrictions and raise daily arrival cap to 50,000

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday that Japan will allow the entry of nonescorted visitors on package tours and raise the daily arrival cap to 50,000 starting Sept. 7 — a significant step toward the full resumption of tourism.

The prime minister also said he will consider easing restrictions further based on various conditions at home and abroad, aiming to put border measures on par with fellow members of the Group of Seven major countries.

Japan has been allowing foreign tourists into the country since June, but only on guided tours .

The government has not yet come up with details of what constitutes a package tour, but guidelines will be released in the coming days, a government official said.

But a tourism ministry official said that tourists will still need to have “sponsors,” or travel agencies in Japan that they can contact if they get infected with the coronavirus, meaning individual tourists, such as backpackers traveling without a sponsor, won’t be allowed in.

Still, the latest announcement will be welcome news for the country’s battered tourism industry , as the strict, guided tours have proven to be unpopular with foreign tourists .

In the two months through the end of July, only 8,155 foreign tourists visited Japan, according to the Immigration Services Agency.

In July, an online survey conducted by D2C X, a tourism marketing firm, showed that 72% of about 1,700 respondents said they would — or were likely to — give up visiting Japan if the current border controls remained in place.

Currently, foreign tourists need to reserve a guided tour and then apply for a visa — a time-consuming process that discourages visitors from coming to Japan.

Last week, Kishida said Japan will drop pre-arrival PCR tests from Sept. 7 if passengers have received three shots of an approved vaccine.

The daily arrival cap — the number of people able to enter Japan each day, including Japanese nationals and foreign residents — will be raised to 50,000, or 2.5 times the current figure of 20,000.

The number has been raised in stages over the past six months or so. In February, the figure was 3,500, but it was raised to 10,000 in April and then to 20,000 in June.

Om Prakash, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), welcomed the latest easing of border restrictions.

"The ACCJ believes these are important steps toward reviving the economy,” Prakash said in an email. “We highly encourage Japan to align travel policies with other G7 countries, and in order to restore Japan’s reputation as a welcoming and open place, the government should move quickly to restore visa waiver eligibility for business travelers and tourists from countries of origin previously eligible for visa-free entry."

Timeline of Japan’s COVID-19 border restrictions

Jan. 31, 2020: Japan bans the entry of foreign nationals arriving from China’s Hubei Province, the first entry ban imposed due to the coronavirus. The ban was gradually expanded to 24 countries through the end of March.

April 1: Less than a month after the spread of COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, Japan halts entries into the country by foreign nationals, including foreign residents of Japan, from 49 countries, including the U.S., the U.K. and South Korea, bringing the total number up to 73 nations.

May 14: Japan expands its entry ban to cover a total of 100 countries and regions.

Aug. 28: The entry ban is expanded further to cover 159 countries and regions.

Sept. 1: Japan lifts ban on re-entry of foreign residents.

Oct. 1: Japan lifts its ban on entry by foreign nationals planning to relocate to the country.

Dec. 28: Japan again implements a ban on the entry of nonresident foreign nationals.

Jan. 14, 2021: Japan suspends a business-track travel program with some countries and mandates that all people arriving in the country quarantine at home for 14 days.

Nov. 8: Japan opens its borders to foreign students, interns and other business travelers.

Nov. 30: Japan bans the entry of nonresident foreign nationals after the discovery of the highly contagious omicron variant.

March 1, 2022: Japan allows foreign nationals arriving for purposes other than tourism to enter the country.

June 1: Japan raises daily arrival cap to 20,000.

June 10: Japan allows entry of foreign tourists on guided tours.

Sept. 7: Pre-arrival PCR tests to be dropped for travelers who have received three shots of an approved COVID-19 vaccine. Japan will also raise the daily arrival cap to 50,000 and allow entry of foreign tourists on nonguided tours.

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JRailPass.com » Japan Travel Blog » Japan travel restrictions and requirements for 2023

Japan travel restrictions and requirements for 2023

May 15, 2023

When planning a trip to Japan, make sure you know if there are any travel restrictions in place and any entry requirements you need to follow.

Japan has now completely removed all COVID-19 entry restrictions . Immigration rules have returned to normal from May 8, 2023 .

If you are thinking about traveling to Japan, you can check this regularly updated page and find out what you need to visit the country.

Below you’ll find information about the reinstatement of visa exemptions , vaccine and testing requirements, and other coronavirus measures in Japan.

Can I Travel to Japan Now?

Yes , Japan’s borders are now open to all international tourist travel.

You can easily travel to Japan by air or by sea as long as you meet the standard entry requirements.

Japan has completely removed the entry cap on daily foreign arrivals. All the usual visa exemptions currently apply to eligible visitors. This means that citizens of around 70 countries, including Australia, the United States and all European Union nations, can once again visit Japan for 90 days visa-free simply by using a valid passport.

Once in the country, train services are running as normal. You can use your Japan Rail Pass to travel around the nation at your leisure.

Japan Standard Entry Requirements

If you’re not a national of a visa-exempt country , you’ll need a visa to travel to Japan.

You should also make sure you have a valid passport , and other necessary documentation to enter the country.

If you have an e-Passport, you can use the Electronic Customs Declaration Gates (e-Gates) when arriving in Japan to clear border control.

Public transportation restrictions within Japan

Public transport, including trains, is operating in Japan. Travelers are advised to refer to Japanese train status updates issued by each individual operator to check if a service they plan to use remains affected by temporary Shinkansen COVID-19 restrictions.

Face masks are no longer required on JR trains or in most other places. They are still common and recommended, but are ultimately optional .

Who can travel to Japan now?

Anyone who meets the normal entry requirements can now travel to Japan.

All travelers should ensure they have a valid relevant visa for Japan (unless visa-exempt), a valid passport, and other necessary documentation to enter the country.

North Koreans cannot currently enter Japan due to sanctions. Apart from this, there are no other travel bans in place.

For further information about visas and visa exemptions, please check with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs at https://www.mofa.go.jp/ .

Rules for tourists

Individual tourists can now travel to Japan. There is no longer any need to book a place on a package tour.

Although mask use is not obligatory outdoors in Japan, it is still recommended in crowds or when having a conversation at close quarters.

Quarantine measures when traveling to Japan

There are currently no quarantine measures in Japan.

For further information, please check with the Japanese Ministry of Health at https://www.mhlw.go.jp/

Countries and regions banned to enter Japan

Only citizens of North Korea are currently prohibited from traveling to Japan. This is because the Japanese government has imposed sanctions on North Korea.

All other nationalities are allowed to visit Japan with the proper documentation. All travel bans due to coronavirus have now been lifted.

Travel advisories

Check the up-to-date travel advisories for Japan regarding COVID-19 from your country below:

• New Zealand
• United Kingdom
• United States

Health advice when visiting Japan

There are no specific health requirements in place for traveling to Japan.

Visitors are advised to have health insurance and be up-to-date on standard vaccinations. Recommended vaccines include:

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Japanese encephalitis
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Japan’s Health Ministry has stated that the two most effective ways to curb the spread of illnesses like the coronavirus are to frequently wash hands and use a face mask when out in public:

• You should wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
• Face masks are recommended in public. The mask should cover your mouth, nose and chin, and be disposed of after a single-use.

If you are traveling to Japan with medication, make sure you bring copy of the prescription, a doctor’s note, and bring your medicine in the original container.

For the latest travel advisory and information about restrictions, please visit the Japan National Tourism Organization’s site .

The Japan National Tourism Organization has also set up a coronavirus hotline for tourist information available in 3 languages: English, Chinese, or Korean:

• From within Japan : 050 3816 2787
• If overseas : +81 50 3816 2787

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Japan welcomes foreign tourists after lifting pandemic border restrictions

Air canada says bookings for travel to japan jumped 51 per cent this month from september.

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Eager to admire colourful foliage, eat sushi and go shopping, droves of tourists from abroad began arriving in Japan on Tuesday, with the end of pandemic-fighting border restrictions that had been in place for more than two years.

"We got the news that we can finally come. We are really, really happy," said Nadine Lackmann, a German who was among the crowd of tourists arriving at Tokyo's Haneda airport.

Travellers like Lackmann are expected to deliver a sorely needed 5 trillion yen ($47.3 billion Cdn) boost to the world's third-largest economy. And the flood of visitors is expected to keep growing.

A daily limit of 50,000 arrivals is gone. Airlines have added flights in response to the full reopening of borders. Visa-free travel is back for short-term business visits and tourism from more than 60 countries.

• Cherry blossoms return to Japan, but the party's not the same this year

David Beall, a photographer based in Los Angeles who's been to Japan 12 times, has already booked a flight, planning to go to Fukui, Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo. The last time he was in Japan was in October 2019. But it's everyday things the American is looking forward to, like eating Japan's popular pork cutlet dish, tonkatsu.

"As clichéd as it sounds, just being back in Japan after all this time is what I am most looking forward to. That of course includes hopefully meeting new people, eating the food that I've missed like good tonkatsu, being in nature at that time of the year, riding the trains," he said.

Few protocols left

About 32 million tourists visited Japan in 2019, before COVID-19. Their return is welcome for good reason. Many will have more spending power because the Japanese yen has declined in recent months in value compared to the U.S. dollar, the euro and other currencies.

The only protocols left for entry are that you must be fully vaccinated with one booster or have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure. Virtually all visitors from the U.S., the rest of Asia, Europe and South America who fulfil those requirements won't have to quarantine.

• Japan to fully lift COVID-19 restrictions as infections slow

In August, during the most recent coronavirus surge in Japan, nationwide daily new infections topped 200,000. By now, both case numbers and deaths have dwindled. Last week, daily deaths averaged eight people nationwide. The government has provided free COVID-19 vaccines, especially encouraging the elderly and the medically vulnerable to get inoculated.

Visitors may have to adjust to face masks, worn by most Japanese just about everywhere outside their own homes. Many stores and restaurants require customers to wear masks and sanitize their hands. Some establishments still close early, or have shuttered completely.

But bookings from abroad with Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways Co., or ANA, have already jumped five-fold compared to last week, while bookings of flights out of Japan have doubled.

Traffic from Canada jumps

Air Canada said bookings for Canadian travel to Japan jumped 51 per cent this month compared to September, while the number of travellers from Japan to Canada grew 16 per cent over the same period.

The Japanese economy can use the influx of tourist spending.

Fitch Ratings forecasts that Japan's economy will grow at a 1.7 per cent annual pace this year and by 1.3 per cent in 2023, supported by easy credit, a recovery for service industries and a gradual fix for supply-chain problems, which will boost manufacturing and exports.

Japanese also travelling more

Japan had basically shut its borders to tourists, but started allowing packaged tours in June. Many people opted to wait for open-ended individual travel before booking their tickets.

With declining nervousness about the risks of infections, Japanese also are travelling more — encouraged by discounts offered by airlines, bullet trains, onsen  hot springs resorts and hotels to jump-start the ailing travel industry.

"Now we are all ready to welcome people from abroad," said Shuso Imada, general manager at the Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center.

His job is to promote sake rice wine and shochu liquor made from barley, potatoes or other vegetables, domestically and abroad.

"Autumn is the best season to enjoy Japanese food with sake and shochu," he said.

That's why Javier Perez Toledo waited more than a year for his honeymoon.

"We are really passionate about the country," he said, arriving from Spain. "We are so happy that we could come."

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Japan bans entry from US in expanded travel restrictions

Government to distribute masks to every household in country

TOKYO -- Japan will expand entry bans to cover foreign travelers from 73 countries and regions on Friday, including the U.S., U.K. and all of China, in an escalation of its fight against the new coronavirus.

To help combat the spread of the virus within Japan, Abe announced plans to distribute reusable face masks to all households through the postal service.

Coronavirus: Week of Mar. 28 to Apr. 4, Indonesia now has more deaths than South Korea

Is japan listening stay-home request heeded, but not by all, japan tightens entry from southeast asia as coronavirus cases jump, stay or go window closes for japan inc. to bring back expats, abe rival says japan should have banned china visitors earlier, in pictures: first weekend of tokyo shutdown to stem coronavirus, how the coronavirus is reshaping asia's borders, business and trade, from light touch to total lockdown: how asia is fighting coronavirus, thailand bans entry by foreigners in emergency decree, latest on coronavirus, malaysia and singapore put guard up as covid cases surge, china's delayed funeral data clouds extent of december covid surge, japan to shorten quarantine for covid infections to five days, sponsored content, about sponsored content this content was commissioned by nikkei's global business bureau..

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Travel Alerts and Disaster Updates

2024 noto peninsula earthquake.

In the afternoon of January 1, 2024, a strong earthquake caused widespread damage and the loss of many lives on the Noto Peninsula and surroundings.

The northern part of the Noto Peninsula was most affected. Particularly badly hit were the city of Suzu and the city of Wajima , where the earthquake did not only topple many buildings, but also caused a large fire, which destroyed a considerable part of the city center, including the site of the famous local morning market.

The intensity of the earthquake in the nearby cities of Kanazawa , Takaoka , Toyama and Niigata was also strong, but it caused no widespread damage.

Transportation

Service along many train lines in the region resumed within a couple of days of the earthquake, except on the peninsula itself, where the disruptions lasted longer. The last affected railway, the Noto Railway, resumed service along its entire length on April 6.

It will take several months for the Noto Peninsula to open to tourism again, especially the northern part. But also in Wakura Onsen further down the peninsula, almost all lodgings remain closed until further notice.

Outside the Noto Peninsula, tourism is much less affected. In Kanazawa , most tourist attractions reopened within four days of the quake. An exception was the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art , which suffered some damage, but reopened partially on February 6 and fully on June 22. Read our report from Kanazawa from early February .

Coronavirus Outbreak

Japan dropped all remaining COVID-related entry requirements (including the need of COVID testing/vaccination certificates) on April 29, 2023. With this, over three years of COVID-related border measures have came to an end.

Volcano Closures

No-entry zones are currently maintained at the following prominent volcanoes :

• Sakurajima (Level 3 - do not approach the volcano) Do not climb the mountain. Does not affect transportation and tourism.
• Aso (Level 2 - do not approach the crater) No-entry zone 1 km from crater. Closure of road and hiking trails.
• Shinmoedake (Kirishima) (Level 1 - potential for increased activity) Closure of hiking trails.
• Kusatsu-Shirane (Level 1 - potential for increased activity) Closure of hiking trails.