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Covid-19 restrictions are ever-changing and it can be hard to keep track of new information on Japan’s border restrictions. To bring you up to speed on the latest rule changes, we’ve answered some of the most common questions regarding Japan's current border restrictions.
The following information is based on the government's recent decision to ease border restrictions, effective June 1 2022.
Who can enter Japan?
On March 1 2022, the government reopened borders to foreign residents, business travellers and foreign students.
If you’ve been waiting to visit Japan on holiday, bear with us! While Japan has not reopened to tourists yet, the government is planning to incrementally resume tourism from June 10, starting with visitors travelling via package tours.
Note: spouses and children of Japanese nationals as well as of foreign nationals who hold Long Term Resident status are categorised as having ‘exceptional circumstances’, which allows them to re-enter Japan regardless of the current travel restrictions. See the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information on who can enter Japan under exceptional circumstances.
What do I need to enter Japan?
All travellers, regardless of vaccination status or port of departure, must have a negative Covid-19 test certificate acquired within 72 hours of departure.
Japan divides countries and regions into three categories: red, yellow and blue (see below for more information). Upon arrival, you may be asked to do any of the following, depending on your category:
- Sign a Written Pledge (only for those who are required to quarantine)
- Submit a completed questionnaire administered digitally by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (only for those who are not registered on Fast Track)
- Submit a Covid-19 vaccination certificate (you don’t have to be vaccinated in order to enter Japan, but arrivals in the red and yellow categories can reduce their quarantine period by submitting a valid vaccination certificate)
- Download the MySOS health monitoring app
- Take a PCR Test (Travellers in the blue category and fully vaxxed travellers in the yellow category will be exempt from on-arrival testing)
You may expedite some airport arrival procedures via Fast Track (see our guide here).
For more information on entry requirements, see the official website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
How many people can enter Japan?
As of June 1, arrivals are now capped at 20,000 people per day.
What are the quarantine requirements for overseas arrivals?
Starting June 1, countries and regions will be split into three categories – red, yellow and blue. These groups will determine the quarantine measures travellers must follow upon entering Japan.
Travellers arriving from countries listed in the red category must take an on-arrival Covid-19 test and spend three days in quarantine at a designated government facility regardless of their vaccination status.
The rules for those in the yellow category are the most complex. If they have not received a Covid-19 booster vaccine, travellers coming from countries and regions listed in the yellow category must take a Covid-19 test on arrival and spend seven days in home quarantine. However, if they take a voluntary Covid-19 test on day 3 of quarantine and get a negative result, they will be allowed to leave quarantine. Arrivals from the yellow group who can show a vaccination certificate as proof they have received three doses of an approved Covid-19 vaccine will be exempted from on-arrival testing and quarantine entirely.
Travellers coming from countries and regions listed in the blue category will not be required to test on arrival or spend any days in quarantine, regardless of their vaccination status.
Places listed in the blue category include the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, France and Italy. The yellow group includes Turkey, Portugal and Peru, while the red category currently covers Fiji, Albania, Pakistan and Sierra Leone. You’ll find the full list of countries and regions in each category here.
What are Japan’s other Covid-19 restrictions?
While the Japanese government is still urging people to take precautions, such as avoiding crowded places, face masks are no longer recommended outdoors as long as people are able to maintain a safe distance from others.
This article was originally published on February 25 and updated on May 31. Check the Mofa website for the latest updates.
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