On Thursday, Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister, announced that Japan will open its borders to foreign tourists starting June 10, as a first step since the imposition of strict Covid-19 travel restrictions two years ago. Japan will allow tourists on package tours for now.
Japan will now allow international tourists to enter the country starting June 10. However, only those who have booked fixed-flight itineraries, bookings, or guides can do so.
This decision follows a Japanese Govt announcement last week that small groups of visitors from the United States, Thailand, Singapore, and Australia would be tested starting this month.
Revised Border Controls
Japan also reduced its travel warning for 36 countries and places due to the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday. It is no longer advising Japanese citizens to avoid unnecessary trips to these areas.
The Foreign Ministry of Japan has reduced its travel advisory for seven countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore, from the third-highest level 2 on a 4-point scale to Level 1. This advises Japanese citizens to “stay fully awake” when they travel to these areas.
Advisories for 15 additional countries and locations have been reduced from Level 3 to Level 2. Seven of the advisories are from Africa and the Middle East, six from Europe, and two from Latin America.
Quarantine Measures
Based on the New Border Measures that began at 0:00 AM (JST) on June 1, 2022, the entry to Japan’s on-arrival check, self-quarantine period, and place of accommodation may be modified based on the grouping (“Red,” Yellow,” and Blue categories) of countries/regions where the entrants have stayed within the 14-day period before their return to Japan or the date of application for landing in Japan. It also depends on whether they receive a valid COVID-19 vaccine certificate
Please see 3 (2) for grouping the countries/regions with the relevant measures.
Entry of Foreign Nationals
The New Border Measures provide that foreign nationals applying for a new entry to Japan based upon one of the following categories are permitted to enter Japan in principle if they complete the prescribed applications in the Entrants Returnees Follow Up System (ERFS).
For purposes of a business, employment, and other purposes, foreign nationals who are new to Japan may enter for a brief-term stay (less than three months).
For a short-term tourism stay, foreign nationals can enter Japan from abroad.
For long-term stays, foreign nationals are permitted to enter Japan (continued since March 1)
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