Japan: Officials extend quasi-states of emergency for several areas, including Osaka, through March 6; ease entry requirements from March 1 /update 76

Event

Japan has extended COVID-19 quasi-states of emergency in Aomori, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Kagoshima, Kyoto, Nagano, Okayama, Osaka, Saga, Shizuoka, Tochigi, and Wakayama through March 6. Officials will also lift quasi-states of emergency in Oita, Okinawa, Shimane, Yamagata, and Yamaguchi as of Feb. 18.

Additionally, officials will allow foreign students and business travelers to enter Japan from March 1, though tourists remain prohibited. The government will also shorten the quarantine period for international travelers from seven to three days if they test negative for COVID-19 on arrival. Officials will lift quarantine requirements for passengers from low-risk countries who have taken three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, though the list of eligible countries remains unclear.

Domestic Measures
Officials allow up to 50-percent capacity at sports and entertainment venues. 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. While local governments may enforce measures according to disease activity, most establishments that adhere to antivirus protocols in areas including Tokyo, Osaka, and their surrounding prefectures can remain open with group size limits for dine-in services.

Quasi-states of emergency are in effect for Aichi, Aomori, Chiba, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Niigata, Okayama, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokyo, and Wakayama through March 6. Under the declarations, governors can implement various restrictions in specific municipalities, such as restrictions on alcohol sales, restaurant closing times, and gathering caps. Violations carry a fine of up to JPY 200,000.

International Travel Restrictions
Japan allows citizens, permanent residents, foreigners with legal resident status, diplomats, and people with humanitarian reasons to enter the country. Nonresident foreign nationals remain banned from 159 countries as of Feb. 18; officials will allow international students and business travelers to enter the country from March 1. Entrants must present negative results of 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. Exceptions may be possible in some circumstances, but affected passengers must contact their local Japanese diplomatic mission before departure.

Regardless of vaccination status, most permitted international arrivals must self-quarantine for seven days upon arrival. The government maintains enhanced quarantine requirements for dozens of designated high-risk African, Asian, and European countries, including Australia, Canada, France, India, and the US, due to COVID-19 variants. Entrants from such territories must undergo institutional quarantine for three or six days before completing the remainder of the seven-day quarantine period at home or pre-arranged accommodation. Individuals must take up to three COVID-19 tests while in the quarantine facility and return a negative COVID-19 test result before exiting it. For a complete list of affected locations and quarantine requirements, click here.

Arrivals must complete a pledge to abide by quarantine orders, maintain location data on their mobile phones, and refrain from using public transport for the first seven days in the country. 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.

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.

Officials may tighten or expand domestic and international restrictions at short notice in the coming weeks, depending on COVID-19 activity.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. 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