COVID Travel Restrictions in Japan

Travel

(Updated – 11/Oct/2022)

I will keep this post updated with the latest information on the travel restrictions imposed in Japan for travelers seeking info on what it’s actually like going around Japan right now.

Please note the information here is based on my knowledge as a Japanese local and catering to International travelers at my work place. I do not work for Government bodies or the travel industry. Please use the info listed here as a rough guide line and do not treat it as professional advice.

Quick Update

  • Quarantine measures have been reviewed and have mostly been lifted from 11/Oct/2022.
  • Quarantine measures have been reviewed and will apply from 7/Sep/2022.
  • Border Restrictions have been eased from 1/Jun/2022 but still restricted heavily.
  • Japan opened up to Foreign Nationals for Guided Tourism from 10/Jun/2022.

Useful links (English)

General guidance

  1. COVID-19 General Info in Japan (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan)

Who can enter Japan

  1. Current Japanese Boarder Measures (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan)
  2. Current Japanese Boarder Measures in more detail (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)
  3. Restrictions on New Entry of Foreign Nationals (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)

Preparation before leaving your country

  1. Documents and Procedures Required to to enter Japan (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan)
  2. Negative COVID test result certificate before departure (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan)
  3. Vaccination Certificate Requirements (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan)

MySOS app – Fast track the entry process

  1. MySOS app (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan)

Who can enter Japan

As of 11 October 2022, those who can enter Japan is limited to the below circumstances.

Japanese National / Foreign Residents

No specific limits or measures exist as of 11 October 2022. A valid vaccination certificate or a valid certificate of negative test result taken within 72 hours prior to departure is required.

Foreign Nationals

As of 11 October 2022, previous restrictions imposed on Foreign nationals entering Japan has been lifted. A valid vaccination certificate or a valid certificate of negative test result taken within 72 hours prior to departure is required.

Visa exemption arrangements that were previously suspended has now resumed.

You can check out the official details from the below link.

Border Restrictions upon entry to Japan

Preparation before leaving your country

As of 11 October 2022, all entrants to Japan will be required to submit a valid vaccination certificate (3 shots) and fill in a questionnaire prior to departure.

If you DO NOT have a valid vaccination certificate you will be required to obtain a Negative COVID inspection test 72 hours prior to departure from the foreign country.

Requirements to enter Japan as of 11 October 2022

See the links below for the official requirements for each document.

Make sure to download the MySOS Fast track app and upload all necessary documents through the app to ensure smooth entry in to Japan.

Vaccination Certificate (3 times vaccinated)

As of 11 October 2022, All travelers will be required to submit a valid vaccination certificate.

A valid vaccination certificate must satisfy the 3 criteria’s below:

  1. The certificate must be issued by a government or public institution
  2. The items must be indicated in Japanese or English
  3. The certificate must clearly show that you have received 3 doses of any of the following vaccines (vaccine name/major manufacturer):
Vaccine nameMajor manufacturer
 COMIRNATY intramuscular injection COMIRNATY RTU intramuscular Injection Pfizer BioNTech Fosun Pharma
 Spikevax intramuscular injection Moderna
 Vaxzevria intramuscular injection AstraZeneca
 Covishield Serum Institute of India
 JCOVDEN intramuscular injection Janssen
 COVAXIN Bharat Biotech
 Nuvaxovid intramuscular injection Novavax
 COVOVAX Serum Institute of India
 Covilo
 BBIBP-CorV
 Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell)
 Sinopharm/Beijing Institute of Biological Products
 CoronaVac
 COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated
 Sinovac
 CONVIDECIA CanSino Biologics

For the full details on the requirements for a valid vaccination certificate please see the official guidelines below.

Certificate of Negative test result

All entrants who are unable to provide a valid vaccination certificate will be required to provide a certificate of negative COVID test result taken 72 hours prior to departure.

The negative test result certificate must include the following items:

  1. Name
  2. Date of birth
  3. Testing method for COVID-19
  4. Sample
  5. Specimen collection date and time
  6. Result
  7. Name of medical institution
  8. Date of issue

Click on the embedded links above to find out the details for each item on the official government website.

Questionnaire

A simple questionnaire is required to be filled by all entrants coming in to Japan. This form is available on the MySOS Fast track app. If you do not have access to the app, fill in the form and bring it with you prior to departure.

Download and upload the documents on the MySOS app

You can prepare all necessary documents prior to departure by downloading the Government border app “MySOS”. Currently the usage of this app is near essential to ensure you have cleared all required steps prior to entering Japan.

See more details on this in the MySOS app section below.

Quarantine upon arrival

Quarantine measures have been abolished from 11 October 2022. No quarantine is required and you may use public transport after entry to Japan.

MySOS app – Fast Track Process

You can prepare most of the documentation and submit this for review via an app (“MySOS” released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan) prior to departure.

MySOS app can be used to fast track the following process by simply showing the app screen upon arrival:

  • Confirmation of MySOS app download
  • Filling in the questionnaire and Pledge
  • Confirmation of vaccination certificate
  • Confirmation of test result certificate for test taken less than 72 hours before departure

Details on how to install the app is covered in their official website.


Further details on the entry process will be updated as new information is released from the Ministries.

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