Location: Japan
Date: May 29, 2021
State of Emergency Extended
On May 28, the Government of Japan announced that the state of emergency declaration covering Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, Aichi, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Okayama, and Hiroshima will be extended through June 20. The state of emergency declaration in Okinawa is also effective through June 20, as previously announced. Though COVID-19 infection rates have fallen from their highs of a few weeks ago in the Kansai and Tokyo areas, other areas including Okinawa are seeing record high case numbers. Furthermore, hospital and medical infrastructure remains strained, and the Government reports record high numbers of seriously ill patients. U.S. citizens are strongly urged to monitor local news resources and comply with all local and national COVID-19 mitigation guidance.
Availability of Consular Services
The U.S. Embassy and consulates are open for routine services, but appointment availability remains limited. To schedule an appointment, visit our website for instructions. If you are renewing your passport, for faster service please renew by mail by following instructions on our website.
U.S. Mission Japan personnel continue to follow practices endorsed and requested by the U.S. and Japanese governments to prevent the spread of COVID-19. United States Forces Japan bases have instituted a number of restrictions based on local conditions in response to their declared Public Health Emergency. Many restrictions are specific to individual bases or areas. For more information, please contact base command officials.
COVID-19 Vaccination Updates in Japan
The Japanese government continues to vaccinate front-line medical personnel and citizens age 65 and over. Some prefectures have established mass vaccine sites in order to increase the speed of the vaccine rollout.
The Japanese government published an English language website about the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, NHK published English language information on the vaccine rollout and inoculation process on its website.
Municipalities are providing the vaccine with the guidance of the central government. The Japanese government has publicly committed to including foreign residents in its vaccination program. U.S. citizens are urged to review carefully the available information and monitor news for further updates, including the opening of mass vaccination centers. For assistance regarding vaccine appointment scheduling, please contact your municipal government offices. The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare has also established a multilingual vaccine call center: 0120-761770.
The U.S. government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.
COVID-19 Testing for Travel to the United States
All air travelers to the United States are required to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days prior to boarding their flight. U.S. citizens are subject to this rule. Any travelers, including U.S. citizens, who do not show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 will not be permitted to board their flight. A list of some COVID-19 testing facilities can be found on the Embassy website. This list is not comprehensive.
U.S. military and SOFA status travelers should consult with their chains of command prior to commencing travel.
Being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 does not exempt any traveler from the requirement to receive a negative PCR test no more than three days before boarding a flight to the United States.
Continued Restrictions for Travel to Japan
Vaccination status has no impact on an individual’s eligibility to travel to Japan, and Japan’s quarantine restrictions apply regardless of vaccination status.
The Government of Japan continues to enforce strict travel regulations that bar most new foreigners from entering the country. Foreign tourists and non-resident foreign business travelers remain prohibited. Japanese citizens and foreign residents with a reentry permit are generally allowed to reenter Japan but must comply with strict pre- and post- travel testing requirements and quarantine upon arrival. Regardless of the international point of origin, all travelers entering Japan remain subject to a 14-day quarantine upon arrival and are prohibited from using public transportation to include domestic flights, taxis, and rail. Travelers arriving from certain areas may be required to quarantine for a period of time in a government-designated location. Travelers arriving without proof of pre-travel COVID-19 testing completed no more than 72 hours in advance of the departure of their international flight may be denied entry into Japan.
The Government of Japan designated Tennessee, Florida, Minnesota, and Michigan as areas with confirmed spread of COVID-19 variants. Travelers who have been present in these areas for the 14 days preceding their arrival into Japan will be required to quarantine in a Government of Japan-provided facility for at least three days before being permitted to finish their self-quarantine period at home.
U.S. military and SOFA status personnel should speak with their command about upcoming travel, COVID-19 testing, and any restriction of movement (ROM)/quarantine requirements.
All travelers inbound to Japan must receive a negative PCR test within 72 hours of flight departure. These tests must be presented in the prescribed format and must comply with very strict requirements. For information, please see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Failure to complete the prescribed form as required by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare may result in being denied entry to Japan.
Travelers seeking to transit Japan en route to onward international destinations may continue to do so without quarantine as long as the transit occurs within the same airport and no overnight stay is required.
For information on Japan’s updated travel restrictions, please see these websites:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Phased Measures for Resuming Cross-Border Travel
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Application for Visa for Foreign Nationals Eligible for Phase Measures toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Border Enforcement Measures to Prevent the Spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Ministry of Justice: Information Related to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) from Immigration Service Agency
The U.S. Embassy strongly urges any U.S. citizens considering travel to Japan to review carefully the information available from the Government of Japan.
Please note: These complex regulations are subject to change with little notice. The U.S. Embassy’s ability to intervene on behalf of travelers denied boarding at their point of embarkation or denied entry upon arrival to Japan is extremely limited, and those travelers denied entry at Japanese ports of entry will likely be immediately reboarded on flights back to the United States.
For questions regarding the government of Japan’s travel restrictions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides contact information in Section Five of this website.
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Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Tokyo
Telephone: 03-3224-5000, After-Hours: 03-3224-5000
Email: TokyoACS@state.gov
https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/ - U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe
Telephone: 06-6315-5900
Email: AOK@state.gov - U.S. Consulate Nagoya
Telephone: 052-581-4501
Email: AOK@state.gov - U.S. Consulate Fukuoka
Telephone: 092-751-9331
Email: FukuokaACS@state.gov - U.S. Consulate General Sapporo
Telephone: 011-641-1115
Email: SapporoACS@state.gov - U.S. Consulate General Naha
Telephone: 098-876-4211
Email: NahaACS@state.gov - State Department – Consular Affairs 888-407-4747
State Department – Consular Affairs 888-407-4747