Mar 5, 20, 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 1, 20, 5:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,688
Coronavirus impact in Japan [consolidated]
PLEASE SEE THE WIKI ABOVE FOR THE LATEST UPDATES FOR THOSE SEEKING ENTRY INTO JAPAN DURING AND AFTER COVID-19
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Anyone else enjoying the sudden lack of mainlander tourists in Tokyo, which has been very noticeable this weekend in Ginza, Shinjuku and Shibuya, especially in department stores. Nice to have a little bit of peace and quiet for a change and more Japanese etiquette than that which tourists bring in - and I don’t limit that to Chinese, but all tourists!
Reminds me of Tokyo 10 years ago. I miss this. Too bad it won’t last.
Have you noticed any changes relative to the pandemic?
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Anyone else enjoying the sudden lack of mainlander tourists in Tokyo, which has been very noticeable this weekend in Ginza, Shinjuku and Shibuya, especially in department stores. Nice to have a little bit of peace and quiet for a change and more Japanese etiquette than that which tourists bring in - and I don’t limit that to Chinese, but all tourists!
Reminds me of Tokyo 10 years ago. I miss this. Too bad it won’t last.
Have you noticed any changes relative to the pandemic?
Last edited by ainternational; Oct 8, 20 at 6:05 pm
Feb 1, 20, 5:41 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
Was in Ginza several days last week and didn't notice a difference, to be honest. As per usual I heard more mainland Chinese than Japanese being spoken.
My understanding is that only group tours have been stopped.
My understanding is that only group tours have been stopped.
Feb 1, 20, 4:20 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
I was talking to a friend who lives in Tokyo and asked about the sold out mask situation. He said it seemed like normal numbers, but later after noticing that it did seem like a lot more people were wearing masks than usual.
Feb 1, 20, 11:14 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,688
- More folks wearing masks overall. Almost half. White people still tend not to. Lol
- Indeed still plenty of Chinese, but less and less crowded. Not by 75%, maybe 25%. Department stores are more noticeable. Outside GINZA also more noticeable (ex: Isetan Shinjuku yesterday).
- Group tours account for almost all of the Chinese tourists in places like Ginza according to my local travel agent, but no clue if he has accurate data.
No matter what, from what I read online (lol), the virus will peak fairly soon and all this will be over. Let’s see if that’s indeed true...
Feb 2, 20, 1:23 am
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Between Seas
Posts: 4,217
If the contagion does abate as assumed, mainlanders may well be back in force later in the year. It would be nice if CCP leaders follow the more pessimistic scenarios for longer...
Feb 2, 20, 5:45 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,688
Feb 2, 20, 7:34 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 5,917
Count me as another who would much rather enjoy Tokyo with less...er...tourist group activity.
Feb 2, 20, 11:52 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,273
I do think coronavirus will have economical impact in Tokyo especially in tourist industry. Chinese visitors has become major part of tourist industry in Japan, not just in Tokyo. I think effect will be short term, which will end way before Tokyo Olympics. Hotels, tour companies, bus companies, all are reporting in the media that they are experiencing cancellation from China.
When bubble economy busted and ended in Japan around 1990-1991 many Japanese stopped patronize upper scale shopping such as department stores, and Japanese has not returned to shopping at Department store since. After bubble economy ended in Japan department stores recovered due to Chinese visitors, not because of Japanese returning to upper scale shopping such as department stores.
I do think effect of coronavirus will be short term, not entire year, but I do think there will be effect on economy.
When bubble economy busted and ended in Japan around 1990-1991 many Japanese stopped patronize upper scale shopping such as department stores, and Japanese has not returned to shopping at Department store since. After bubble economy ended in Japan department stores recovered due to Chinese visitors, not because of Japanese returning to upper scale shopping such as department stores.
I do think effect of coronavirus will be short term, not entire year, but I do think there will be effect on economy.
Feb 2, 20, 12:34 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Between Seas
Posts: 4,217
I plan to visit late spring, hopefully.
it is probably for the best that you must go and soon. The news can only worsen before trends improve.
From what I've heard, many locals would heartily agree.
it is probably for the best that you must go and soon. The news can only worsen before trends improve.
From what I've heard, many locals would heartily agree.
Feb 2, 20, 1:01 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,344
China-Jpn flights
So far, as far as I know, zero restrictions on flights between China and Jpn, outside of Hubei province.
JAL and ANA still operating all China flights other than Wuhan, with no announcement as of yet to suspend/reduce any services.
What is Jpn thinking? What do they know that other countries (and their carriers) taking much more proactive measures do not know?
Or are they just unable to be decisive as per usual?
This situation could dissipate sooner than many fear. That's what we all hope. On the other hand, there are many features of this virus that are so atypical and potentially scary and there're so many things we don't know yet (not the least of which is accurate info from Chinese government). So there's also the potential that this could turn out to be a bad long-term situation.
JAL and ANA still operating all China flights other than Wuhan, with no announcement as of yet to suspend/reduce any services.
What is Jpn thinking? What do they know that other countries (and their carriers) taking much more proactive measures do not know?
Or are they just unable to be decisive as per usual?
This situation could dissipate sooner than many fear. That's what we all hope. On the other hand, there are many features of this virus that are so atypical and potentially scary and there're so many things we don't know yet (not the least of which is accurate info from Chinese government). So there's also the potential that this could turn out to be a bad long-term situation.
Feb 2, 20, 4:31 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,344
As of morning of 3 Feb (2 Feb in USA):
Australia:
- NO arriving flights from China allowed.
- Qantas: Suspends all flights to/from China.
US:
- AA/DL/UA: all flights to China suspended.
- Advisory to avoid travels to China
Singapore:
- SQ: All flights to China suspended.
Korea:
- Korean Air: On 31 Jan, announced extension of Wuhan flight suspension through 27 March, announced reduction of China flights by roughly 50%.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Japan:
No restrictions applicable to China except for Hubei province. No announcement by NH/JL to reduce/suspend services to rest of China as of yet. Only restrictions by NH/JL at this time are suspension of Wuhan flights through Feb.
Australia:
- NO arriving flights from China allowed.
- Qantas: Suspends all flights to/from China.
US:
- AA/DL/UA: all flights to China suspended.
- Advisory to avoid travels to China
Singapore:
- SQ: All flights to China suspended.
Korea:
- Korean Air: On 31 Jan, announced extension of Wuhan flight suspension through 27 March, announced reduction of China flights by roughly 50%.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Japan:
No restrictions applicable to China except for Hubei province. No announcement by NH/JL to reduce/suspend services to rest of China as of yet. Only restrictions by NH/JL at this time are suspension of Wuhan flights through Feb.
Feb 2, 20, 6:26 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 916
But who will decide that the corona virus is controled and its time to drop these restrictions ?
Japan wants to keep a Happy Face for the Summer Olympics , I hope that works and the Games are not effective
Japan wants to keep a Happy Face for the Summer Olympics , I hope that works and the Games are not effective
Feb 2, 20, 7:48 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,344
wanting to keep a happy face might just be one of the reasons Jpn can’t pull the trigger on restrictions similar to those of US and others. But that’s a really dumb reason. As someone from the US government said, there’s a lot of unknowns right now and it’s much better to overreact than to underreact. Why Jpn can’t see it that way is beyond me.
Feb 2, 20, 8:03 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,454
I wonder if all this will subside by the Olympics. In the worst case, the China team won't come and that'll be a huge chunk of participation gone.
