Latest updates on border rules for tourists visiting Japan, effective 11 October 2022
last update: 20 Mar 2023
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has officially announced the resumption of visa-free/individual tourism effective from 11 October 2022.
Before booking a flight ticket and packing your luggage, here are some highlights on the latest border rules that you may want to know.
※Important Update (Apr 2023)
・Quarantine measures for unvaccinated travellers
Despite vaccination history, those who are entering Japan on or after May 8th, 2023 will NOT be required to present a valid vaccination certificate or pre-departure inspection certificate.
Please refer to the latest update from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan here:
COVID-19: Current Japanese Border Measures
※Important Update (Apr 2023)
・Quarantine measures for travelers and returnees who have stayed in China
After 00:00 JST on April 5th, 2023, all those who are entering Japan via a direct flight from China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau) are required to obtain either a valid vaccination certificate OR a certificate of pre-departure test as per the previous measures.
Please refer to the latest update from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan here:
For those who are entering Japan from China starting April 5th, 2023
・Who are eligible for visa-free travel to Japan?
All cross-border independent travelers from the listed 68 countries and regions (period of stay varies) (check the list here)
For tourists from China, Russia, CIS countries (including Georgia), the Philippines and Vietnam, prior travel visa application is still required before visiting Japan. Check here for details.
The former red-yellow-blue country classification scheme will be no longer applied, and tourists need not to go through a travel agency for flight and accommodation bookings anymore.
・Do I need a negative COVID-19 PCR test before/after entering Japan?
For travelers who have stayed in China or Macau within 7 days prior to the entry, please refer to the 2023/1/12 update above.
For those who came from other countries, please refer to below:
Pre-departure test: Not required for those who have completed 3 vaccine doses with valid vaccination certificate (*Pre-departure PCR test is still required for those who have not yet completed 3 vaccine doses.)
For details of accepted COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination certificate please refer to the information here.
On-arrival test: Not required in principal. However, health screening procedures still applies at the airport, and travelers who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will be requested to take a PCR test upon arrival.
・What else do I need to do before entering Japan? ※2023/1/12 updated
The Japanese government strongly recommends you to upload your Covid vaccine status and/or your negative Covid test status using the “Fast Track” service via a system called "Visit Japan Web" before boarding on your flight to Japan.
Please refer to this page for details of the system: Visit Japan Web
・Do I need to have self-quarantine or isolation after arrival?
No, quarantine nor refraining from use of public transportation are no longer required, regardless of their vaccination status.
・What is it like in Japan right now?
Although COVID-19 vaccination is not compulsory in Japan, up to the date over 3-hundred-million doses of covid-19 vaccines have been administered nationwide and over 80% of the population has been vaccinated. (source: Our World in data)
After more than two and a half years of days under the pandemic, despite some slightly changed of Japanese’s day-to-day life, most of them has already adopted well into the “new normal” life – you can still see people wearing face masks on the street, although it is not a compulsory request from the government.
For the latest border rules, please check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Further information about COVID-19 from the Kyoto prefecture.