At present, all tourists and businesspeople are barred from entering the country. Japan has tightened restrictions due to the new Covid-19 variants. They are still hoping to hold the Olympics this summer. Here are all the details on travel restrictions, flights, hygienic hotels, outbreak information and safe travel tips.

Situation Summary

Last update: March 8, 2021 (this page is updated every Monday)

• At present, all foreign nationalities are barred from visiting Japan now as tourists.
• Covid cases and mortality have been declining in Japan for the last few weeks.
• Greater Tokyo is under a state of emergency, while the state of emergency has been lifted for all other prefectures.
• The G7 nations have expressed unanimous support for holding the Olympics this summer in Tokyo.
• Vaccinations have started in Japan.
• We will update this page weekly on Mondays, Japan time.
• For Tokyo Olympics information, see our weekly updated page Tokyo Olympics 2021: What We Know So Far on our sister site TrulyTokyo.com

Latest Japan Coronavirus News

• Japan Times: Weekly COVID-19 Updates and Bulletins Roundup – March 6
• Japan Times: Japan Expands Border Control Measures
• Japan Times: Tokyo Extends State of Emergency
• Japan Times: IOC and Organizers Meet to Discuss Spectators at Olympics
• Japan Times: Six Prefectures Lift State of Emergency
• Japan Times: G7 Expresses Support for Tokyo Olympics
• Japan Times: JAL to Cover Medical Costs of those Infected with Covid-19
• Japan Times: Details on New Variant-Related Restrictions
• Japan Times: Japan Considering Ways to Reopen to Tourists

Is Japan Open for Travel Now?

At present, almost all non-Japanese are barred from visiting or transiting Japan. In early October, Japanese media carried reports of a plan to reopen to tourists in April, in preparation for the Olympics (see this Japan Times report for details), but details are unclear.

On October 30, Japan lowered travel restrictions for Australia, Brunei, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. However, due to the rise of the new variants, these programs have been temporarily suspended. This ban is slated to be in place until March 7, but may be raised earlier if conditions improve. Please check the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) page for the latest details. Because that page is quite confusing, you may also want to call the Japanese embassy or consulate nearest you.

Passports and visas

Japanese Government Visa and Travel Restriction Pages

Details on current Japan visa and travel restrictions can be found on the three Japanese government sites below (the first is the most user-friendly).

• JNTO Coronavirus and Travel Page
• Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Visa and Travel Restriction Page
• MOFA Phased Business Travel Reopening Page

What Will You Need to Enter Japan?

Although Japan has not formally announced how and when they will reopen to tourists, we can guess about what a reopening will look like based on how they’ve been reopening to foreign residents and business people. Based on this information, you can start to make some sensible preparations for the time when Japan does actually open its doors again. Here are some key points:

• A negative COVID test will likely be necessary within 72 hours of boarding your flight to Japan. You’ll almost certainly be asked to show proof of this when you check in for your flight, and you’ll have to show it to Japanese immigration upon arrival. At this point, there are two acceptable tests: the PCR test and the CLEIA quantitative antigen test. You might start researching where you can get such a test on this timetable, including airports where such testing services are available.
• You’ll probably be required to install an app for monitoring on your phone while in Japan. It appears that Japan will use the LINE messaging app. You could always install this now just to be ready.
• The Japanese government websites are confusing and self-contradictory regarding COVID-related issues. You may do better by calling your local Japanese embassy or consulate to find out the latest details.
• We are not sure if Japan will require proof of COVID vaccination to enter the country. We will keep you posted on that.

We will continue to monitor developments around opening closely. As soon as Japan announces the details, we will publish them here. We aim to give full details on entry requirements, application procedures, and actual experiences with entering Japan, so check back frequently.

Flights to Japan Currently Operating

Here are cities with direct flights to Japan and the airlines that operate them. Most flights to go Tokyo (Narita or Haneda), but a few flights from Asia also go to Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto). Most flights here are not daily, but a few times a week.

At present, this information is only relevant to Japanese citizens and permanent residents due to travel restrictions. We expect this situation to change soon and we will update every Monday.

Japan Airlines planes at Narita International Airport: EQRoy / Shutterstock.com

North America

• Vancouver: Air Canada, ANA, Japan Airlines
• San Francisco: United, ANA, Japan Airlines
• Los Angeles: United, American, ANA, Japan Airlines
• Chicago: United, American, ANA, Japan Airlines
• Dallas/Fort Worth: Japan Airlines
• New York: United, American, ANA, Japan Airlines

Europe

• London: British Airways, ANA, Japan Airlines
• Paris: Air France, ANA, Japan Airlines
• Frankfurt: Lufthansa, ANA
• Helsinki: Finnair, British Airways, Japan Airlines
• Istanbul: Turkish Airlines, ANA

Oceania

• Sydney: ANA, JAL

Asia

• Bangkok: Thai, ANA, Japan Airlines, Peach, ZIPAIR
• KL: Malaysia, Japan Airlines
• HCMC: no direct flights at present
• Hong Kong: Cathay, Hong Kong Express, ANA, Japan Airlines
• Taipei: China Airlines, EVA, ANA, Japan Airlines
• Singapore: Singapore Airlines, ANA, Japan Airlines
• Seoul: Korean Air, T’way, Zipair Tokyo, ANA

Here are links to Japanese airlines COVID-19 countermeasures pages:

• JAL COVID-19 countermeasures
• ANA COVID-19 countermeasures

Hotels Emphasizing Safety and Hygiene in Japan

If you stay in a hotel before flying to Japan and then stay in a hotel after arriving, you are likely to notice a huge difference, particularly if coming from North America. In Japan, all staff will be wearing masks, hand sanitizer will be widely available, social distancing will be clearly enforced, and your temperature will likely be taken when you check in. The fact is, they’ve got this stuff down to a science in Japan. But even with all hotels instituting good health practices, there are some that really stand out (click the links for the details on their COVID-19 countermeasures):

Mandarin Oriental Tokyo guest room

Kyoto

• Four Seasons Kyoto
• Old Kyoto Machiya (traditional home rentals)

Tokyo

• Peninsula Tokyo
• Mandarin Oriental Hotel
• Marunouchi Hotel

Japan Coronavirus Information

At the time of writing, Japan has been experiencing around 1000 new cases a day, according to the Japan COVID-19 Tracker. Japan has had around 3469 ncases per million people, which is a fraction of the case numbers seen in North America and much of Europe.

Here is a useful link for the latest coronavirus numbers on Japan:

• Japan COVID-19 Coronavirus Tracker

People wearing masks in Kobe: Hinochika / Shutterstock.com

Tips for Safe Travel in Japan

Here are some useful tips to ensure a safe trip during these unusual times.

• Masks are available at drug stores, supermarkets and some department stores. You can also pick them up at airports in Japan. If you can’t find them, you can simply ask someone: “masuku arimasu-ka?” (Do you have masks?) or show them this: マスクを探しています。
• Hand sanitizer is available at most places that sell masks (see above).
• If you want as much distance around you as possible on trains, consider green cars, especially on the shinkansen.
• Many restaurants in Japan offer private rooms, which are called “koshitsu.” Your hotel concierge can help you locate such restaurants and reserve them for you.
• Consider visiting popular destinations early in the morning or just before they close in the late afternoon. Or, consider visiting off-the-beaten-track destinations.
• Avoid crowded areas. Here are some tips on how to avoid the crowds in Kyoto.