28 Dec 2022 | 02:15 AM UTC
Japan: Officials to tighten COVID-19 entry restrictions from Dec. 30 /update 89
Japan tightening COVID-19 measures for travel from mainland China from Dec. 30. Border reopened for tourist travel.
Event
Limited domestic COVID-19 curbs continue in Japan as of Dec. 28. The Japanese government will tighten entry rules for travelers from mainland China effective 00:01 Dec. 30. Individuals, regardless of nationality, entering via a direct flight from mainland China or with a travel history to mainland China within the past seven days must undergo on-arrival testing. Entrants without a vaccination certificate must continue to submit negative results of a pre-departure COVID-19 test. Passengers who test positive during the on-arrival test must quarantine at a designated facility for seven days; asymptomatic individuals may exit quarantine if a repeat test on the fifth day is negative. Officials will also limit flights from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau to the Chubu Centrair (NGO), Kansai (KIX), Narita (NRT), and Tokyo (HND) international airports. Authorities may introduce additional restrictions at short notice.
Domestic Measures
Officials do not require facemasks outdoors, provided social distancing is maintained. Companies must adhere to social distancing protocols. Some organizations have reduced capacity at facilities, established temperature checks, or encouraged telecommuting for employees. Officials allow up to 5,000 people or 50 percent capacity at sports and entertainment venues, whichever is larger. Physical distancing requirements are in place on most long-distance transport services.
Locally acquired symptomatic COVID-19 cases must self-quarantine for seven days; people can only exit quarantine 24 hours after symptoms improve. Asymptomatic COVID-19 patients only need to self-quarantine, except to make essential purchases, for five days but must return a negative test result before fully reentering the community. Close contacts of COVID-19 cases must self-quarantine for five days but may exit isolation on day 3 if they test negative on days 2 and 3 of quarantine.
International Travel Restrictions
Authorities permit travel from all locations, and visa-free arrangements have resumed for applicable countries. Passengers must complete a health form and obtain a QR code before disembarkation. Travelers who have received at least three doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine are exempt from pre-arrival testing requirements with proof of vaccination. However, travelers without three vaccination shots must present a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure. On-arrival testing is required for entrants from mainland China from 00:01 Dec. 30.
Advice
Follow all official instructions.
