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]
Sep 10, 2020, 11:57 pm
#2416
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,713
Narita outbound immigration today was a 1 minute affair during which I showed the email printout and was cleared and told I could return any time (with the negative test result form completed as instructed for the pre departure test).
Narita feels more empty than when I flew in June. NH F lounge finally decided to serve ICE again, as well as pour your own limited booze. Finally. Food still abysmal but made to order is nice. What’s not nice is kettle J fliers in the F lounge since the C lounge is closed. Three screaming babies here now, lounge is at about 40% capacity. Non-Japanese are more evident than ever in the F lounge. Hard to find Japanese.
A few Narita stores are open pre and post security. Restaurants too but very few. Strangely high end stores like Burberry are open. 50% off sales and no customers.
Narita feels more empty than when I flew in June. NH F lounge finally decided to serve ICE again, as well as pour your own limited booze. Finally. Food still abysmal but made to order is nice. What’s not nice is kettle J fliers in the F lounge since the C lounge is closed. Three screaming babies here now, lounge is at about 40% capacity. Non-Japanese are more evident than ever in the F lounge. Hard to find Japanese.
A few Narita stores are open pre and post security. Restaurants too but very few. Strangely high end stores like Burberry are open. 50% off sales and no customers.
Last edited by armagebedar; Sep 17, 2020 at 1:51 am Reason: edited to remove racial remark
Sep 11, 2020, 12:39 am
#2417
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,234
Narita outbound immigration today was a 1 minute affair during which I showed the email printout and was cleared and told I could return any time (with the negative test result form completed as instructed for the pre departure test).
Narita feels more empty than when I flew in June. NH F lounge finally decided to serve ICE again, as well as pour your own limited booze. Finally. Food still abysmal but made to order is nice. What’s not nice is kettle J fliers in the F lounge since the C lounge is closed. Three screaming babies here now, lounge is at about 40% capacity. Non-Japanese are more evident than ever in the F lounge. Hard to find Japanese.
A few Narita stores are open pre and post security. Restaurants too but very few. Strangely high end stores like Burberry are open. 50% off sales and no customers.
Narita feels more empty than when I flew in June. NH F lounge finally decided to serve ICE again, as well as pour your own limited booze. Finally. Food still abysmal but made to order is nice. What’s not nice is kettle J fliers in the F lounge since the C lounge is closed. Three screaming babies here now, lounge is at about 40% capacity. Non-Japanese are more evident than ever in the F lounge. Hard to find Japanese.
A few Narita stores are open pre and post security. Restaurants too but very few. Strangely high end stores like Burberry are open. 50% off sales and no customers.
Immigration was quick, and they confirmed the same thing, as long as I have the permit and the negative test, I can return at other dates or airports.
Last edited by armagebedar; Sep 17, 2020 at 1:51 am Reason: edited quoted post
Sep 13, 2020, 4:01 am
#2418
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: BA Silver, ANA Mileage Club
Posts: 155
Sorry if this has been answered however my situation is - I would like to travel to Italy next month from Japan. I've been in country for about two months now (since returning back from America, see about 30 pages back...) and have a valid visa / zairyu card until 2022.
What I believe a need:
(1) PCR test within 48 hours of scheduled departure time
What else? I've been reading a lot about note one needs? Thanks.
What I believe a need:
(1) PCR test within 48 hours of scheduled departure time
What else? I've been reading a lot about note one needs? Thanks.
Sep 13, 2020, 5:17 am
#2419
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,648
Most of the answers to your questions are already up there.
Sep 13, 2020, 10:16 am
#2421
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
I flew out a week ago or so from Narita as well. Similar experience to all here, although they did NOT say I can return anytime with a negative test - it was complete confusion and they just made me sign a paper that things are confusing and I’ll have to contact them ahead of travel. Flight was about half full (JFK). NH agents had no idea if I’d be allowed into the US or not and made me promise I won’t hold them responsible if I end up in quarantine (I had an onward connection). All in all, hilarious.
Sep 15, 2020, 9:13 am
#2422
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,713
I flew out a week ago or so from Narita as well. Similar experience to all here, although they did NOT say I can return anytime with a negative test - it was complete confusion and they just made me sign a paper that things are confusing and I’ll have to contact them ahead of travel. Flight was about half full (JFK). NH agents had no idea if I’d be allowed into the US or not and made me promise I won’t hold them responsible if I end up in quarantine (I had an onward connection). All in all, hilarious.
Sep 15, 2020, 9:23 am
#2423
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
Nope, no email printed. Yes, resident card. I did say I’m not coming back for a few months, so they lost interest (but they did staple a paper to my passport saying I need to contact the embassy before travel if restrictions are still in place).
Sep 15, 2020, 6:27 pm
#2424
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,440
Spent over a week in Karuizawa, subsidized by Uncle Abe. One of my best and cheapest vacations ever, corona or not. Pretty crowded, especially on the weekends, but there were no foreign tourists, just Japanese nationals and a few foreign residents that all seemed to be with the program, so pretty much everyone but small children were all wearing masks and taking proper precautions, even outdoors. It all felt really comfortable, just like the utopia that ainternational prophesied way back in the original post of this thread.
It will be a sad day when the floodgates reopen.
It will be a sad day when the floodgates reopen.
Sep 16, 2020, 12:52 am
#2425
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,713
Spent over a week in Karuizawa, subsidized by Uncle Abe. One of my best and cheapest vacations ever, corona or not. Pretty crowded, especially on the weekends, but there were no foreign tourists, just Japanese nationals and a few foreign residents that all seemed to be with the program, so pretty much everyone but small children were all wearing masks and taking proper precautions, even outdoors. It all felt really comfortable, just like the utopia that ainternational prophesied way back in the original post of this thread.
It will be a sad day when the floodgates reopen.
It will be a sad day when the floodgates reopen.
Sep 16, 2020, 1:45 am
#2426
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
Spent over a week in Karuizawa, subsidized by Uncle Abe. One of my best and cheapest vacations ever, corona or not. Pretty crowded, especially on the weekends, but there were no foreign tourists, just Japanese nationals and a few foreign residents that all seemed to be with the program, so pretty much everyone but small children were all wearing masks and taking proper precautions, even outdoors. It all felt really comfortable, just like the utopia that ainternational prophesied way back in the original post of this thread.
It will be a sad day when the floodgates reopen.
It will be a sad day when the floodgates reopen.
Sep 16, 2020, 4:03 am
#2427
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,440
And it's not like it's gonna last forever anyway...
Last edited by hailstorm; Sep 16, 2020 at 4:08 am
Sep 16, 2020, 9:06 pm
#2428
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,648
Sep 16, 2020, 9:50 pm
#2429
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
This is Flyertalk not the American electorate.... Probably best to leave it there rather than risk....
Sep 17, 2020, 12:30 am
#2430
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,440