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]
Mar 29, 2020, 8:39 am
#1141
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,958
It is. In SG where we are almost lockdown but not quite, certain F&B sectors (banquets/weddings, tour group restaurants, restaurants in the CBD) are already raising the white flag. It's even worse over the border in Malaysia where restaurants can only do delivery and take-out. Vast majority of these businesses would never curtail their sales willingly.
Mar 29, 2020, 12:06 pm
#1142
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TYO
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,744
Does anyone really believe Japan had this contained?
Seems very suspicious that while it spread like wildfire in every country, Japan somehow dodged it by taking no measures at all until suddenly the Olympics got postponed and now cases are spiking, two months later.
I fear Abe has made some very poor decisions that are going to cost the Japanese people and economy dearly.
Seems very suspicious that while it spread like wildfire in every country, Japan somehow dodged it by taking no measures at all until suddenly the Olympics got postponed and now cases are spiking, two months later.
I fear Abe has made some very poor decisions that are going to cost the Japanese people and economy dearly.
Mar 29, 2020, 1:40 pm
#1143
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,369
Does anyone really believe Japan had this contained?
Seems very suspicious that while it spread like wildfire in every country, Japan somehow dodged it by taking no measures at all until suddenly the Olympics got postponed and now cases are spiking, two months later.
I fear Abe has made some very poor decisions that are going to cost the Japanese people and economy dearly.
Seems very suspicious that while it spread like wildfire in every country, Japan somehow dodged it by taking no measures at all until suddenly the Olympics got postponed and now cases are spiking, two months later.
I fear Abe has made some very poor decisions that are going to cost the Japanese people and economy dearly.
Mar 29, 2020, 2:10 pm
#1144
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,426
Does anyone really believe Japan had this contained?
Seems very suspicious that while it spread like wildfire in every country, Japan somehow dodged it by taking no measures at all until suddenly the Olympics got postponed and now cases are spiking, two months later.
I fear Abe has made some very poor decisions that are going to cost the Japanese people and economy dearly.
Seems very suspicious that while it spread like wildfire in every country, Japan somehow dodged it by taking no measures at all until suddenly the Olympics got postponed and now cases are spiking, two months later.
I fear Abe has made some very poor decisions that are going to cost the Japanese people and economy dearly.
The big mistake was before the three day weekend, when they started signalling that things would start returning to normal, and issuing guidelines to restart school. That loosened everyone's guard, and lots of people started going out and doing things like a normal three day weekend. We're seeing the results of that now in infection rates more than double that projected.
This time it may be too late to save it without drastic measures.
Mar 29, 2020, 6:53 pm
#1145
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 1,658
That said, what puzzles me about Tokyo is this - fine, I get that the government can't force people to stay home without a major emergency legislative overhaul. But can't they work with the businesses to shut the restaurants / parks / gathering places? That would remove a "destination" for people to go to, and if there's nowhere to go to, they would stay home, wouldn't they? Japan doesn't strike me as the kind of place where people would aimlessly walk around, so if the destinations are closed, this might help? Though I guess that means businesses have to collaborate, and it's collective financial suicide for them if they all shut down, so I guess that kind of kills that idea.
On the news this morning, there was a bit about how authorities are having a hard time finding out how people got infected - if they ask restaurants or bars about things, the answer is "nobody here is sick" followed by "don't visit our restaurant / bar."
Mar 29, 2020, 7:20 pm
#1146
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,426
Comedian Ken Shimura has died from COVID-19.
Mar 29, 2020, 7:25 pm
#1147
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,375
Pro tip: take their kibbitzing with a grain of salt. (and the irony with Yiddish is intended
)If in fact there was one way to solve the problem I rather suspect many nations would have employed it. The (global) constant harping on each other of "I know better and why aren't you doing it my way?" is getting old to be honest.
Mar 29, 2020, 7:39 pm
#1148
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,434
Mar 29, 2020, 8:27 pm
#1149
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,369
So sad man.
They kept saying no changes with his condition.
Then this.
RIP.
They kept saying no changes with his condition.
Then this.
RIP.
Mar 29, 2020, 9:06 pm
#1150
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
I hate to click like for something like this. I'm a bit younger and a foreigner, but loved his skits. Always reminded me of Benny Hill that I grew up on.
Mar 29, 2020, 9:45 pm
#1151
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,501
Does anyone really believe Japan had this contained?
Seems very suspicious that while it spread like wildfire in every country, Japan somehow dodged it by taking no measures at all until suddenly the Olympics got postponed and now cases are spiking, two months later.
I fear Abe has made some very poor decisions that are going to cost the Japanese people and economy dearly.
Seems very suspicious that while it spread like wildfire in every country, Japan somehow dodged it by taking no measures at all until suddenly the Olympics got postponed and now cases are spiking, two months later.
I fear Abe has made some very poor decisions that are going to cost the Japanese people and economy dearly.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20.../#.XoFqwogzaUk
Mar 29, 2020, 10:58 pm
#1152
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: next to HAM
Programs: LH M+M
Posts: 960
Back in Germany.. after LH also cancelled the 716/717 pair on very short notice (no idea, why) the NH203 midnight flight to FRA was PACKED.
Stay safe - waiting for the leg home and then bunker in!
FRA is a desert...
Stay safe - waiting for the leg home and then bunker in!
FRA is a desert...
Mar 30, 2020, 12:03 am
#1153
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Yokohama (near HND, TYO)
Programs: meltdowngraded from "F" and "C" , Accor Plt, BW Dia, ihg G, UA 0.9999MM
Posts: 1,569
R.I.P. Ken Shimura.
He was seen flying HNDCTS.
He was seen flying HNDCTS.
Last edited by O Sora; Mar 30, 2020 at 12:33 am Reason: Typo
Mar 30, 2020, 2:50 am
#1154
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,426
Governor Koike will hold an emergency conference at 8pm today, likely to say please, please, please follow my vague request, or you'll leave me no choice but to say please yet again.
Mar 30, 2020, 2:53 am
#1155
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: next to HAM
Programs: LH M+M
Posts: 960
I think I'll do an trip report about this one. Scary pics (empty halls) you won't see often.
Was some amazing two weeks in Tokyo, everybody stay safe and healthy!
Was some amazing two weeks in Tokyo, everybody stay safe and healthy!
