Japan: Authorities to lift all emergency measures in various areas from Oct. 1 /update 61

Event

Authorities plan to lift a state of emergency and quasi-emergency declarations in 47 prefectures in Japan from Oct. 1 due to lower COVID-19 activity. However, officials will still implement several restrictions in Tokyo and Aichi, Chiba, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saitama, Shiga, Shizuoka, and Tochigi prefectures for an additional 30 days. The central government will continue to request that restaurants and bars close by 20:00, with an extra hour possible for establishments adhering to antivirus protocols.

Nationwide measures remain in effect. Officials limit capacity at sports and entertainment venues to 50 percent, up to a maximum of 10,000 people. Companies must adhere to social distancing protocols. Some organizations have reduced capacity at facilities, established temperature checks, or encouraged telecommuting for employees. Sporadic rail and flight disruptions remain possible nationwide amid generally reduced demand, especially on routes to and from areas under state of emergency orders. Physical distancing requirements are in place on most long-distance transport services.

Flights from South Korea and China are only authorized to land at Narita International Airport (NRT) and Kansai International Airport (KIX). Transit flights for foreign nationals are only allowed through NRT. International passenger ferry services remain suspended.

Travel Restrictions
Japan continues to ban most foreign nationals from entering the country; however, foreigners with legal resident status are exempt. Officials may also permit some nonresident foreigners to enter under exceptional circumstances. The government has ended an entry ban for foreign nationals that visited Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka within 14 days before arrival. Officials require returning citizens and residents to present a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure. The government does not permit people who cannot undergo testing to board flights or enter Japan. In some circumstances, exceptions may be possible, but affected passengers must contact their local Japanese diplomatic mission before departure.

Inbound passengers with a negative test result can self-quarantine for 14 days. However, authorities mandate that travelers from some locations quarantine at government-designated facilities for three, six, or 10 days before entering self-quarantine for the remaining period. Individuals in quarantine must return a negative COVID-19 test result before departing government-designated facilities. For a complete list of affected locations and quarantine requirements, click here. Authorities will ease self-quarantine requirements to 10 days for passengers fully vaccinated with the AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, or Moderna vaccines and a Japanese-issued or recognized "vaccine passport" from Oct. 1.

Returning residents must complete a pledge to abide by quarantine orders, maintain location data on their mobile phones, and refrain from using public transport during the first 10 or 14 days in the country, depending on vaccination status. Entrants must also download the OSSMA, Skype, and COVID-19 Contact Confirming Application (COCOA) mobile applications. People who refuse may have to quarantine at designated facilities. Officials could publicly name citizens and foreign residents who violate quarantine orders; foreign nationals could also lose their residence status.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Postpone travel if affected by an entry ban. Allow additional time for immigration and health screenings. Consider delaying travel if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Confirm international flight reservations. Closely monitor national travel advisories, as additional restrictions to and from Japan are likely. Consider telecommuting options for staff. Make allowances for likely increased employee absenteeism and related business disruptions.

Resources

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Japan National Tourism Organization