States of Emergency to be Lifted as of October 1
The Government of Japan has announced that, effective October 1, the states of emergency currently in place in 19 prefectures and the quasi-states of emergency currently in place in eight prefectures throughout Japan will be lifted. However, local and prefectural governments may maintain certain restrictions, including those curtailing the operations of restaurant/nightlife establishments. U.S. citizens are urged to continue to observe COVID-19 safety measures and to follow CDC and local guidance.
Restrictions for Travel to Japan – Shortened Quarantine for Vaccinated Travelers
Entry ban for most foreigners
The Government of Japan continues to enforce strict travel regulations that bar most non-resident foreigners, including tourists and non-resident business travelers, from entering the country. Japanese citizens and foreign residents with reentry permits are generally allowed to reenter Japan but must comply with strict pre- and post-travel testing requirements and quarantine upon arrival.
U.S. military and SOFA status personnel should speak with their command about upcoming travel, COVID-19 testing, and any restriction of movement (ROM) or quarantine requirements.
Pre-flight PCR test
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 details, 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 denied entry to Japan. 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.
Quarantine requirement
The Government of Japan has announced that, as of October 1, the quarantine period for fully vaccinated travelers will be reduced to 10 days, subject to a negative PCR or antigen test on the 10th day of quarantine. Travelers who have received two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, or AstraZeneca vaccine at least 14 days prior to travel are eligible for the reduced quarantine period.
Acceptable forms of proof of vaccination include the CDC white card or a vaccine certificate issued by the following jurisdictions: Louisiana, Northern Marianas, New York, Philadelphia, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Washington. Acceptable forms of proof of vaccination for those vaccinated in Japan are the following: vaccine certificate for overseas travel (海外渡航用の新型コロナウイルス感染症 予防接種証明書); vaccine certificate issued by Japanese local authorities (日本の地方公共団体より発行された、新型コロナウイルスワクチン予防接種済証); and vaccine certificate issued by Japanese medical providers (日本の医療機関当により発行された、新型コロナウイルスワクチン接種記録書). For a complete list of acceptable evidence of vaccination, please consult this online site.
For complete information regarding the 10-day quarantine option, please consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website and the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare website. Currently, this information is only in Japanese. These websites are subject to change and are updated frequently.
All other travelers remain subject to the full 14-day quarantine period.
Travelers entering Japan are prohibited from using public transportation, including domestic flights, taxis, and rail services for the duration of their applicable quarantine period.
In addition, unvaccinated travelers arriving from certain areas may be required to stay in a government-designated location for the first three days of their quarantine period. Fully vaccinated travelers will be exempt from this enhanced quarantine measure. Travelers should check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website before traveling, as the list of areas requiring enhanced quarantine measures may change with little notice.
Travelers seeking to transit Japan en route to onward international destinations may continue to do so without quarantine if the transit occurs within the same airport and no overnight stay is required.
Important 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.
- 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
COVID-19 Vaccination Updates in Japan
The Immigration Services Agency of Japan recently issued guidance on vaccination vouchers for foreign nationals living in Japan. For assistance regarding vaccine appointment scheduling, please contact your municipal government offices or the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare’s vaccine call center at 0120-761770.
The U.S. government does not provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Anyone considering traveling to the United States for a COVID-19 vaccine should visit the vaccines.gov website for information.
The U.S. Embassy and consulates do not issue certificates for vaccinations, nor are we aware of any entity in Japan that will issue a vaccine certificate for those who received a vaccine overseas. We encourage those who need a vaccination certificate to continue to talk to their local city hall or Ward Office for clarification. When traveling internationally, people who received their vaccine in the United States should travel with their white CDC vaccination card. Those who received their vaccine in Japan and wish to apply for a vaccine certificate should contact their Ward Office for additional information.
COVID-19 Testing for Travel to the United States
All air travelers, including U.S. citizens, to the United States are required to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days prior to boarding their flights. 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 flights. 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 travelers from the requirement to receive a negative PCR test no more than three days before boarding a flight to the United States.
Availability of Consular Services
The U.S. Embassy and consulates throughout Japan 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 the instructions on our 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