Japan Eases Travel Restrictions, Open For Tourists From June 10

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on Thursday that Japan will open its borders to foreign tourists from June 10 for the first time since imposing strict Covid-19 travel restrictions roughly two years ago. However, for the time being, Japan will only allow tourists with package tours.

This means that from June 10, Japan will allow international tourists to enter but only those who have booked tours with fixed flight itineraries, bookings, and guides.

The decision comes after the Japanese Govt announced last week that small group excursions with visitors from the United States, Australia, Thailand, and Singapore would be tested beginning this month.

Revised Border Controls

Japan has also lowered its travel warning for 36 nations and places, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Hong Kong, due to the coronavirus epidemic on Thursday, no longer advising Japanese nationals to avoid unnecessary journeys to the areas.

The Foreign Ministry of Japan reduced its travel advisories for seven nations, which also include Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia, from the third-highest Level 2 on a four-point scale to Level 1, advising Japanese citizens going to those areas to “stay fully alert.”

In addition, advisories for another 15 countries and locations were reduced from Level 3 (avoid all travel) to Level 2. Seven are from the Middle East and Africa, six from Europe, and two from Latin America.

Quarantine Measures

Based on the New Border Measures, beginning at 0:00 a.m. (JST) on June 1, 2022, the on-arrival test, self-quarantine period, and place of accommodation after entry into Japan may be changed based on the grouping (“Red,” “Yellow,” and “Blue” categories) of the countries/regions in which the entrants stayed within 14 days before the day of return to Japan or the day of application for landing on Japan and whether they obtain a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate.

For grouping of the countries/regions and the respective measures, please see 3 (2) From June 1, 2022: Measures in response to Omicron variant / New Border Measures (28)

Entry of Foreign Nationals

According to the New Border Measures, beginning June 10, 2022, foreign nationals who apply for a new entry into Japan based on one of the following categories mentioned below are considered to have “special exceptional circumstances” and are allowed to enter Japan in principle if receiving organizations in Japan complete prescribed applications in the Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System (ERFS).

• Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a short-term stay (less than three months) for purposes including business and employment (continued from March 1)
• Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a short-term stay for tourism (only when a travel agency among others organizing the trip serves as the receiving organization of the entrants) (start from June 10) (New)
• Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a long-term stay (continued from March 1)