Mar 5, 2020, 5:17 pm
Last edit by: CPH-Flyer
This thread is for discussion of the coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to Japan. Non-Japan-related discussion should be taken either to the most relevant forum, the Coronavirus and Travel forum, or the OMNI forums.
UPDATE FOR TOURISTS LOOKING TO VISIT JAPAN AFTER COVID-19 BORDER RESTRICTIONS EASE
Japan does currently not allow entry for general tourism purposes. Most visa waivers are suspended, and travel to Japan for non resident foreigners generally require a visa. And quarantine as described for the countries and territories below.
UPDATE FOR PEOPLE WITH VISAS THAT ALLOW ENTRY INTO JAPAN
The quarantine requirements mentioned below will generally apply to entrants in Japan. As the conditions of who can obtain a visa for entry on exceptional circumstances are not clearly listed anywhere, it is necessary to confirm entry requirements with your local Japanese diplomatic representatives
Spouses and children of foreign permanent residents or Japanese nationals, can obtain visas for short term stays (up to 90 days) by applying in person or by mail at an overseas Japanese consulate. Required documentation includes application form, letter with reason for purpose of visit, bank statement and Koseki Tohon. Processing times have been reported as on the spot to up to one week.
From March 1st, business travelers, students and technical trainees can again enter Japan. There is a need to have a receiving organisation to apply for the visa. For business travelers, there will be one point of contact with the Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare. Though the full details are not published yet (as of typing on the 27th of February, please add them if you have seen them)
Business travelers must have a Japanese company or organization apply for a Certificate for Completion of Registration to the MHLW ERFS system. This is a two step process. The company must first register and then apply for the Certificate for the traveler. These can both be done online and completed in less than an hour.The website for doing this is https://entry.hco.mhlw.go.jp/.
After getting the certificate the traveler must apply for visa at the Japanese Consulate or Embassy with jurisdiction for where they reside. (They are quite strict about this. E.g. you can't apply while traveling in a foreign country.) The information on the Consulate pages state that you need Letter of Guarantee, Invitation Letter, etc when applying for the visa. In fact, however, if you have the EFRS certificate, all you need is the visa application, your passport and a photo. The Consulate will issue the visa within 5 days.
UPDATE JAPANESE CITIZENS AND RETURNING FOREIGN JAPAN RESIDENTS
All people travelling to Japan has to present a negative PCR test taking no earlier than. 72 hours before departure to be able to board the flight. The certificate has to meet the information requirements and test types from the Japanese government.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000799426.pdf
From the 7th of June, passport number, nationality, signature and stamp from the doctor/medical institution are no longer required.
The requirement for pre-departure test will be removed for passengers on flights landing after the 7th of September 00:00 provided that they have received a full bases vaccination and a booster vaccination. Accepted vaccines are Moderna, Pfizer, Astra, Zeneca, J&J, Novavax, Covaxin.
Uploading documents in advance via the mysos app or via the mysos website is required. For details please see https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/en/
The arrival process is as follows. Countries will be grouped in red, yellow, and blue.
Red countries:
Albania, Sierra Leone
Yellow countries:
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cook Island, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Macau, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Congo, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Vanuatu, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe
Blue countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentine, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Western Sahara, Zambia
For updates to the lists of countries and territories and changes to the rules check the website of the ministry of foreign affairs https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html and ask in the thread for clarifications and experiences of entering Japan.
UPDATE FOR TOURISTS LOOKING TO VISIT JAPAN AFTER COVID-19 BORDER RESTRICTIONS EASE
Japan does currently not allow entry for general tourism purposes. Most visa waivers are suspended, and travel to Japan for non resident foreigners generally require a visa. And quarantine as described for the countries and territories below.
UPDATE FOR PEOPLE WITH VISAS THAT ALLOW ENTRY INTO JAPAN
The quarantine requirements mentioned below will generally apply to entrants in Japan. As the conditions of who can obtain a visa for entry on exceptional circumstances are not clearly listed anywhere, it is necessary to confirm entry requirements with your local Japanese diplomatic representatives
Spouses and children of foreign permanent residents or Japanese nationals, can obtain visas for short term stays (up to 90 days) by applying in person or by mail at an overseas Japanese consulate. Required documentation includes application form, letter with reason for purpose of visit, bank statement and Koseki Tohon. Processing times have been reported as on the spot to up to one week.
From March 1st, business travelers, students and technical trainees can again enter Japan. There is a need to have a receiving organisation to apply for the visa. For business travelers, there will be one point of contact with the Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare. Though the full details are not published yet (as of typing on the 27th of February, please add them if you have seen them)
Business travelers must have a Japanese company or organization apply for a Certificate for Completion of Registration to the MHLW ERFS system. This is a two step process. The company must first register and then apply for the Certificate for the traveler. These can both be done online and completed in less than an hour.The website for doing this is https://entry.hco.mhlw.go.jp/.
After getting the certificate the traveler must apply for visa at the Japanese Consulate or Embassy with jurisdiction for where they reside. (They are quite strict about this. E.g. you can't apply while traveling in a foreign country.) The information on the Consulate pages state that you need Letter of Guarantee, Invitation Letter, etc when applying for the visa. In fact, however, if you have the EFRS certificate, all you need is the visa application, your passport and a photo. The Consulate will issue the visa within 5 days.
UPDATE JAPANESE CITIZENS AND RETURNING FOREIGN JAPAN RESIDENTS
All people travelling to Japan has to present a negative PCR test taking no earlier than. 72 hours before departure to be able to board the flight. The certificate has to meet the information requirements and test types from the Japanese government.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000799426.pdf
From the 7th of June, passport number, nationality, signature and stamp from the doctor/medical institution are no longer required.
The requirement for pre-departure test will be removed for passengers on flights landing after the 7th of September 00:00 provided that they have received a full bases vaccination and a booster vaccination. Accepted vaccines are Moderna, Pfizer, Astra, Zeneca, J&J, Novavax, Covaxin.
Uploading documents in advance via the mysos app or via the mysos website is required. For details please see https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/en/
The arrival process is as follows. Countries will be grouped in red, yellow, and blue.
- Group “Red”：On-arrival test is required. 3-day quarantine at a government-designated facility is required, however, those who obtain a valid vaccination certificate may have 5-day home quarantine (or 3-day home quarantine + negative result of a voluntary test) instead.
- Group “Yellow”：On-arrival test and 5-day home quarantine (or 3-day home quarantine + negative result of a voluntary test) are required, however, those who obtain a valid vaccination certificate are not required to have on-arrival test, home quarantine and other measures.
- Group “Blue”：Regardless of the vaccination status of the entrants/returnees, on-arrival test, home quarantine and other measures are not required.
Red countries:
Albania, Sierra Leone
Yellow countries:
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cook Island, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Macau, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Congo, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Vanuatu, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe
Blue countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentine, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Western Sahara, Zambia
For updates to the lists of countries and territories and changes to the rules check the website of the ministry of foreign affairs https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html and ask in the thread for clarifications and experiences of entering Japan.
Coronavirus impact in Japan [consolidated]
Feb 17, 2020, 2:09 am
#181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,439
Another 99 infected on the boat, bringing the total to 454. I have a feeling that everybody that remains aboard will catch it eventually.
That boat needs to be taken out into international waters and sunken, so that it can't hurt anyone else ever again.
That boat needs to be taken out into international waters and sunken, so that it can't hurt anyone else ever again.
Feb 17, 2020, 4:17 am
#182
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
The magic of internet edits has re-worded it somewhat but the original snippet is now cited https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/st...67918417285122 I hope they didn't find 40 Americans who tested positive still on the ship awaiting evacuation, in addition to the 44 positive cases already quarantined at Japanese hospitals https://www.npr.org/2020/02/16/80647...d-of-infection There's initial reports that perhaps 14 of the US evacuees tested positive while on the plane and placed in a containment area but I've learned my lesson - will wait for more confirmation by additional news outlets.
How are the evacuating countries running their tests, if Japan wasn't able to run them at a similar speed and volume?
How are the evacuating countries running their tests, if Japan wasn't able to run them at a similar speed and volume?
Nowhere seems to have the nationality breakdown except for some pretty old figures, which I suspect is leading to some confusing information (I read some seemingly reliable figures for Australian and British citizens who have tested positive, but unsure about others).
Feb 17, 2020, 8:33 am
#183
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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How soon is the Tokyo marathon? Will anything be done for recreational runners who have already paid for various travel expenses? If not, I would expect them to come to Japan anyway and just join the crowds of spectators for the race.
Feb 17, 2020, 10:04 am
#184
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: DL PM, 1MM, DL SC, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 2,416
https://www.khon2.com/coronavirus-2/...rlines-flight/
This is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to avoid.
This is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to avoid.
Feb 17, 2020, 10:52 am
#185
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
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Feb 17, 2020, 1:23 pm
#186
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
I'd prefer they turn it over for medical research and retrospectives first. All cruises are susceptible to communicable things like norovirus and flu and have ways of dealing with those known entities. There's plenty to armchair speculate on but basically, there's nothing which seems special about the ship's architecture or normal operating procedures. Older cruise ships do have slightly different cabin quarters than newer ones & larger refrigerated commercial food storage, especially mega ships, but generally non-passengers are still going to crew mess to eat.
Last edited by freecia; Feb 17, 2020 at 1:55 pm
Feb 17, 2020, 2:29 pm
#187
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Join Date: Jul 2011
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Posts: 20,439
Additionally, the gathering for the Emperor's birthday on the 23rd has been canceled.
Feb 17, 2020, 3:22 pm
#188
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
Despite all the increases, my main concern remains (and in fact has been strengthened) that more countries may impose an entry ban or quarantine requirements on those who have been to Japan if the number of cases keeps going up, not whether I'd catch it or not (I consider it unlikely, and there are things we can personally do to reduce the risk, e.g. avoid queues and crowded places).
I was just watching a JP vlogger review of a capsule hotel. They get more deluxe looking every time I look but the legal building requirements are pretty much the same - there's no sealed door to each capsule. I'd classify most as crowded spaces. Capsules have a higher space density than cruise ship passengers do and slightly more room than most business class airline seats.
Some first timer to Japan travelers who come upon this thread might have stays planned at capsule hotels. Please do think about it objectively without "instagram filters" Question about capsule hotels
I personally don't have a practical interest in staying in them as I prefer even an 9-10m^2 micro hotel room where I don't need to share a bathroom or hear others snoring/coughing. SuperHotel offers budget single, double, and triple with bunk rooms and there's other hotel chains which cater to the same market. Google "スーパーホテル宿泊レビュー - SUPER HOTEL" for a video review of Super Hotel (FT advanced not removing embeds so won't link it here). "Robbie Lounge" is a new to me JP YouTuber but a quick browse shows he has plenty of budget capsule and economy hotel room reviews in Japan. This forum can run towards recommendations for points redemption or aspirational stays, so just wanted to
something which I spotted to reduce potential risk for those set on visiting on a modest budget while so many things remain unknown about COVID-19.
Last edited by freecia; Feb 17, 2020 at 3:25 pm Reason: remove embeds
Feb 17, 2020, 4:05 pm
#189
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Join Date: Jul 2011
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Posts: 20,439
If, in the midst of all this, you still insist on visiting Japan, then please come prepared to do your part.
1. There are hand sanitizers just about everywhere now. Use them at every opportunity.
2. Bring face masks. At the first sign of a persistent cough, wear them wherever you go. Always practice proper etiquette when coughing and sneezing. Don't touch anyone any more than is necessary.
3. If you get a fever, stay in your hotel room. If it lasts for more than two days, call one of the local hotlines or your embassy/consulate for further advice.
1. There are hand sanitizers just about everywhere now. Use them at every opportunity.
2. Bring face masks. At the first sign of a persistent cough, wear them wherever you go. Always practice proper etiquette when coughing and sneezing. Don't touch anyone any more than is necessary.
3. If you get a fever, stay in your hotel room. If it lasts for more than two days, call one of the local hotlines or your embassy/consulate for further advice.
Feb 17, 2020, 6:18 pm
#190
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,961
https://www.khon2.com/coronavirus-2/...rlines-flight/
This is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to avoid.
This is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to avoid.
I would've thought it trivial to identify, with 100% accuracy, the passengers who most definitely did fly on that same flight
Feb 17, 2020, 8:04 pm
#191
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
If, in the midst of all this, you still insist on visiting Japan, then please come prepared to do your part.
1. There are hand sanitizers just about everywhere now. Use them at every opportunity.
2. Bring face masks. At the first sign of a persistent cough, wear them wherever you go. Always practice proper etiquette when coughing and sneezing. Don't touch anyone any more than is necessary.
3. If you get a fever, stay in your hotel room. If it lasts for more than two days, call one of the local hotlines or your embassy/consulate for further advice.
1. There are hand sanitizers just about everywhere now. Use them at every opportunity.
2. Bring face masks. At the first sign of a persistent cough, wear them wherever you go. Always practice proper etiquette when coughing and sneezing. Don't touch anyone any more than is necessary.
3. If you get a fever, stay in your hotel room. If it lasts for more than two days, call one of the local hotlines or your embassy/consulate for further advice.
5. Bring allergy medication if you get hay fever and/or are allergic to pollen and are visiting during the spring. Hopefully reduced nasal drip and sneezing will keep hands away from one's face. Please be aware that Pseudoephedrine should not be imported and can be found in Japan OTC from a pharmacy/Donki medicine section as part of rhinitus medicines Is there a lot of allergy meds at the convenience stores?
Feb 17, 2020, 9:24 pm
#192
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 44
4. Pack an additional 14+ day supply of necessary medications as a precautionary measure in case of quarantine.
5. Bring allergy medication if you get hay fever and/or are allergic to pollen and are visiting during the spring. Hopefully reduced nasal drip and sneezing will keep hands away from one's face. Please be aware that Pseudoephedrine should not be imported and can be found in Japan OTC from a pharmacy/Donki medicine section as part of rhinitus medicines Is there a lot of allergy meds at the convenience stores?
5. Bring allergy medication if you get hay fever and/or are allergic to pollen and are visiting during the spring. Hopefully reduced nasal drip and sneezing will keep hands away from one's face. Please be aware that Pseudoephedrine should not be imported and can be found in Japan OTC from a pharmacy/Donki medicine section as part of rhinitus medicines Is there a lot of allergy meds at the convenience stores?
Feb 17, 2020, 9:41 pm
#193
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
The general belief is that too much medicine is not good. We do not have tons of medicine advertisements here. People often try to use lifestyle to deal with medical issues.
Feb 17, 2020, 10:40 pm
#194
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
In any case, while I find it unlikely they'd make a big issue about a personal travel allowance of pseudoephedrine during Tokyo 2020 year, ignorance is probably not a good defense in a country where they have the right to detain for 23 days without charge, especially if you don't have Japanese co-workers, friends, or family who will notice and care if you're missing. At least quarantine is currently only 14 days and they provided iDevices to Diamond Princess https://www.businessinsider.com/japa...sengers-2020-2 so passengers could communicate with doctors.
Feb 17, 2020, 10:54 pm
#195
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
[QUOTE=freecia;32084437]...
In any case, while I find it unlikely they'd make a big issue about a personal travel allowance of pseudoephedrine during Tokyo 2020 year, ignorance is probably not a good defense in a country where they have the right to detain for 23 days without charge, ....
Not even a remotely reasonable finding in light of cases of arrest and widespread awareness of this prohibition. At the very least you would be detained and made to apologize to the Nth degree. The wise choice is to bring no pseudoephedrine in case they randomly select you for a more detailed examination of your bags. Ssmall chance people get searched to that extent, but if you were and they did find it, you would have a bad day.
In any case, while I find it unlikely they'd make a big issue about a personal travel allowance of pseudoephedrine during Tokyo 2020 year, ignorance is probably not a good defense in a country where they have the right to detain for 23 days without charge, ....
Not even a remotely reasonable finding in light of cases of arrest and widespread awareness of this prohibition. At the very least you would be detained and made to apologize to the Nth degree. The wise choice is to bring no pseudoephedrine in case they randomly select you for a more detailed examination of your bags. Ssmall chance people get searched to that extent, but if you were and they did find it, you would have a bad day.