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 7, 2020, 6:53 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,436
Speaking of the flu, seems that the cases in Japan are about half of what they were last year.
One of the reasons is apparently because so many people are trying to protect themselves from the new coronavirus.
When all is said and done, it may end up saving more lives than it takes...
One of the reasons is apparently because so many people are trying to protect themselves from the new coronavirus.
When all is said and done, it may end up saving more lives than it takes...
Feb 7, 2020, 2:04 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: Avios
Posts: 438
Hard to tell what Jpn is thinking, why they're not approaching this situation like some of the countries are.
Jpn only has the 2nd highest incidence of this virus.
Their policy of screening only China pax with symptoms does not make sense when it has been made abundantly clear that it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to develop after infection and that asymptomatic transmission has been occurring.
I see that JAL has suddenly ramped up its flight suspension, making the flight suspension effective immediately for a couple of China flights and then adding few more routes to the suspension list effective 17 Feb.
Jpn only has the 2nd highest incidence of this virus.
Their policy of screening only China pax with symptoms does not make sense when it has been made abundantly clear that it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to develop after infection and that asymptomatic transmission has been occurring.
I see that JAL has suddenly ramped up its flight suspension, making the flight suspension effective immediately for a couple of China flights and then adding few more routes to the suspension list effective 17 Feb.
Feb 7, 2020, 4:56 pm
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,405
What’s happening on Tokyo escalators? Are they still pushing the “Let’s all grab a handrail” campaign?
Feb 7, 2020, 6:06 pm
#49
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
Feb 7, 2020, 6:13 pm
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,436
The important thing is not to touch things, then inadvertently touch your nose or mouth, the gateways of infection (another thing wearing a mask helps prevent)
I'm on a shinkansen as I type this. I cannot recall the last time I've gone through the station and sat on a bullet train without hearing any language other than Japanese such as today.
I'm on a shinkansen as I type this. I cannot recall the last time I've gone through the station and sat on a bullet train without hearing any language other than Japanese such as today.
Feb 8, 2020, 1:08 am
#51
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Pls post your deplaning, immigration & customs experience
For those flying out of / into Jpn, please keep us updated with your deplaning, immigration & customs experience.
(deplaning procedure, anything at health checkpoint, queue - how long?, etc)
(deplaning procedure, anything at health checkpoint, queue - how long?, etc)
Feb 9, 2020, 4:22 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Thanks for the Memories !!!
Posts: 10,657
Impact ? If anything it has made places which are normally overrun, not ! Good for the locals who would like a break , bad for the businesses that depend heavily on the tourists turning up.
A big "Boo" to all the locals that are hoarding masks, alcohol wipes, and other 除菌cleaning products
!
A big "Boo" to all the locals that are hoarding masks, alcohol wipes, and other 除菌cleaning products
!
Feb 9, 2020, 6:32 am
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,405
They were shooed away by the coastguard, but a group of jet skiers turned up at Yokohama today and put on, from what I heard, a heck of a display, thrilling all those inmates of the Princess Diamond cruise ship who could look out away from the Terminal.
May not have been officially sanctioned (quite the opposite in fact) but, from my point of view, that is Omotenashi at its most glorious.
Brought a tear to my eye when I heard about it.
Never saw the display, was discussed in today’s update by the most well known British correspondent; David Abel.
ETA: just found some footage
May not have been officially sanctioned (quite the opposite in fact) but, from my point of view, that is Omotenashi at its most glorious.
Brought a tear to my eye when I heard about it.
Never saw the display, was discussed in today’s update by the most well known British correspondent; David Abel.
ETA: just found some footage
Last edited by LapLap; Feb 9, 2020 at 2:32 pm
Feb 9, 2020, 7:08 pm
#54
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: TYO
Programs: UA MM *G, NH Plat/SFC, HH Diamond, GE
Posts: 238
Feb 9, 2020, 7:27 pm
#55
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,961
Here in SG a portion of the local populace is wiping out supermarket stocks of toilet paper, canned food, rice, instant noodles, diapers and milk powder. Really really annoying cos I can't even do my regular grocery and supplies shopping without either 1. finding out the shelves are empty, or 2. needing to queue for an hour or more just to check out a small grocery basket.
Anyway back to topic, it doesn't seem that the virus has affected Sakura season all that much. I'm still seeing sky high hotel prices across the board for late March / early April ...
Feb 9, 2020, 7:37 pm
#56
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Join Date: Jul 2011
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Posts: 20,436
Also, it's been a rather warm winter, so I think the sakura will bloom quite early this season.
Last edited by hailstorm; Feb 9, 2020 at 8:30 pm
Feb 9, 2020, 7:50 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Thanks for the Memories !!!
Posts: 10,657
Feb 9, 2020, 9:15 pm
#58
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Good to know that Japanese are only hoarding masks and wipes.
Here in SG a portion of the local populace is wiping out supermarket stocks of toilet paper, canned food, rice, instant noodles, diapers and milk powder. Really really annoying cos I can't even do my regular grocery and supplies shopping without either 1. finding out the shelves are empty, or 2. needing to queue for an hour or more just to check out a small grocery basket.
Anyway back to topic, it doesn't seem that the virus has affected Sakura season all that much. I'm still seeing sky high hotel prices across the board for late March / early April ...
Here in SG a portion of the local populace is wiping out supermarket stocks of toilet paper, canned food, rice, instant noodles, diapers and milk powder. Really really annoying cos I can't even do my regular grocery and supplies shopping without either 1. finding out the shelves are empty, or 2. needing to queue for an hour or more just to check out a small grocery basket.
Anyway back to topic, it doesn't seem that the virus has affected Sakura season all that much. I'm still seeing sky high hotel prices across the board for late March / early April ...
Feb 9, 2020, 11:11 pm
#59
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: KUL
Programs: Salaryman One World Sapphire
Posts: 236
Good to know that Japanese are only hoarding masks and wipes.
Here in SG a portion of the local populace is wiping out supermarket stocks of toilet paper, canned food, rice, instant noodles, diapers and milk powder. Really really annoying cos I can't even do my regular grocery and supplies shopping without either 1. finding out the shelves are empty, or 2. needing to queue for an hour or more just to check out a small grocery basket.
Anyway back to topic, it doesn't seem that the virus has affected Sakura season all that much. I'm still seeing sky high hotel prices across the board for late March / early April ...
Here in SG a portion of the local populace is wiping out supermarket stocks of toilet paper, canned food, rice, instant noodles, diapers and milk powder. Really really annoying cos I can't even do my regular grocery and supplies shopping without either 1. finding out the shelves are empty, or 2. needing to queue for an hour or more just to check out a small grocery basket.
Anyway back to topic, it doesn't seem that the virus has affected Sakura season all that much. I'm still seeing sky high hotel prices across the board for late March / early April ...
Now I am tempted to take trip to Japan since I was forced to clear off some balance leave
Feb 11, 2020, 10:33 am
#60
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,438
Sapporo Snow Festival which just ended on 11th, the organizer announced that this year's number of attendees at the snow festival was 2,021,000 which was 716,000 short of last year's attendees of 2,737,000 which is 26.6% decline in number of visitors compare with last year. Officials do believe coronavirus had a large impact on decline in visitors and will likely had impact on local economy in Sapporo also.
Numbers for this January and February are not out yet but no doubt number of visitors from China has deceased tremendously. Initially local may enjoy the relief and quietness but will have impact on local economy for sure, then people will have mixed feeling about the situation.
P.S.
KISS Fukuoka, popular restaurants and shops complex frequented by non-Japanese tourists near Fukuoka Airport has seen huge decline in number of visitors. KISS Fukuoka has started to layoff workers this week.
Numbers for this January and February are not out yet but no doubt number of visitors from China has deceased tremendously. Initially local may enjoy the relief and quietness but will have impact on local economy for sure, then people will have mixed feeling about the situation.
P.S.
KISS Fukuoka, popular restaurants and shops complex frequented by non-Japanese tourists near Fukuoka Airport has seen huge decline in number of visitors. KISS Fukuoka has started to layoff workers this week.
Last edited by AlwaysAisle; Feb 11, 2020 at 10:45 am