Japan: Officials to ease border restrictions for international arrivals from June 1 /update 80

Event

Japanese officials will ease border restrictions from June 1. Authorities will divide countries and regions according to three categories depending on COVID-19 activity, with the following restrictions for international arrivals:

• Blue: Travelers are exempt from testing and quarantine requirements.

• Yellow: Unvaccinated passengers must self-quarantine for seven days. Individuals that receive a negative COVID-19 test result on day 3 may exit quarantine. Vaccinated travelers are exempt from testing and quarantine requirements.

• Red: Arrivals must undergo institutional quarantine for three days; individuals that test negative for COVID-19 on day 3 can exit quarantine. Fully vaccinated passengers can self-quarantine for seven days; travelers that undergo testing on day 3 and receive a negative result can exit quarantine.

The government will also double the daily maximum number of international arrivals to 20,000. Tourist travel remains banned but officials have started a trial project allowing some package tours to enter Japan from Australia, Singapore, Thailand, and the US.

Domestic Measures
Officials allow up to 50-percent capacity at sports and entertainment venues. Facemasks are not required while 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. Sporadic rail and flight disruptions remain possible nationwide amid generally reduced demand. Physical distancing requirements are in place on most long-distance transport services. However, officials have advised individuals to take antigen tests before large gatherings or travel across prefecture borders.

International Travel Restrictions
Japan allows citizens, permanent residents, foreign residents, diplomats, and people with humanitarian reasons to enter the country. International students and business travelers may also enter Japan. Tourist travel remains banned. Permitted 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; however, affected passengers must contact their local Japanese diplomatic mission before departure. While authorities have lifted an entry ban on travelers from 106 countries, the government continues to require visas for travel. Despite the official reduction in border controls, the decision effectively does not alter Japan's border measures. A list of permitted locations is available by clicking here.

The government has adjusted quarantine requirements for permitted entrants based on vaccination status and departure location, with reduced quarantine times for travelers that have received a booster vaccine dose. Authorities maintain enhanced quarantine requirements for designated high-risk countries due to COVID-19 variants. Entrants that are not fully vaccinated from these locations must undergo institutional quarantine for three days; individuals that test negative for COVID-19 on day 3 can exit quarantine. Fully vaccinated passengers from high-risk countries and travelers that are not fully vaccinated from low-risk places can self-quarantine for seven days; travelers that undergo testing on day 3 and receive a negative result can exit quarantine. Fully vaccinated travelers from designated low-risk locations can forego self-quarantine with a negative on-arrival COVID-19 test result. From June 1, officials will divide countries and regions according to three categories depending on COVID-19 activity, with varying testing and quarantine requirements. A complete list of affected locations and quarantine requirements is available 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. 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.

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 possible.

Resources

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