Tag: COVID-19

This is it! After almost three years, Japan finally fully opened its doors to all visitors, including foreign tourists and other arrivals on October 11th, 2022. Short-term visitors will no longer be required to apply for tourist visas as well as with no need to book tours through travel agencies. It’s exciting news for all Japan lovers who have been waiting for visiting or coming back to Japan! 

In this guide, we will be introducing what you need to know before you visit Japan during the post-pandemic. *Please note, the last update of the following information is on October 13th, 2022. Please be sure to check the latest information through Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website regarding entries of international travelers. 

Entering Japan│What to prepare？

Triple-vaccinated travelers are able to freely visit Japan, without any restrictions and are subject to the same conditions as before the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you have NOT been vaccinated with WHO-approved vaccines at least three times, you will need to submit your negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure. Check here for the certain testing methods and certain requirements of the vaccination certificate that Japan recognizes.

And this is the only requirement remaining. 

Travel etiquette in Japan during post-pandemic

Even though it is not against the law to take off your mask outdoors while not talking with others, the majority of people in Japan still continue to wear masks in public spaces in order to prevent infections or spreading the disease. It is good to stay cautious and protect everyone, not only just Covid-19 but also flu or other viral diseases, especially during winter times.

Also, most of the public indoor facilities, such as hotels, restaurants, stores, and museums require visitors and customers to sanitize their hands upon entrance, and usually, there will be hand-sanitizing liquid placed at the entrance, so please be cooperative and show consideration toward others by following those rules. 

FAQ of Entry to Japan

Q1. Will I need to book a guided tour?

No, you can travel as an independent traveler. 

Q2. Will I need to be vaccinated to enter?

No. But if you have not received at least three shots of a vaccine recognized by the WHO, you need to obtain a certificate confirming the negative status of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure for Japan from your country of origin.

Q3. Do I need to quarantine? 

No. Travelers to Japan will no longer be required to quarantine upon arrival.

Q4. Do I need to wear a mask?

Yes. Though the government relaxed its guidance on mask usage, Japanese people still continue to wear masks while going out, especially while riding crowded trains or buses, and entering restaurants and hotels.

Q5. Are there any Apps that I need to download beforehand?

Japanese government recommends using “Fast Track” to speed up the entry procedures at the airport before entering Japan. Also, download the “MySOS” app and register your account and password, and then you can submit your passport, vaccination certificate, and other documents that are required for entry. 

BORDERLESS HOUSE hopes you enjoy your travel experience to the fullest in Japan!

Safe travels!

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on travel. This blog is to provide updated and relevant information for foreign nationals who are going to enter Japan from aboard, including all the mandatory preparations before departure.

(1) Certificate of negative PCR test result within 72 hours before departure

The PCR test must be performed at a hospital in your country, and the test must be taken within 72 hours before the flight takes off (holidays will be counted as usual).

Required information in the result report (must be in English)
① Name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, gender
② Testing method and test results
③ Time of the test (to confirm if it is within 72 hours before the scheduled takeoff time)
and date and time of inspection results, date and time of delivery of inspection certificate
④ Name of medical institution and doctor’s name, address of the medical institution, the seal of the medical institution, and doctor’s signature
⑤ All the information must be written in English.

You can check the details of the Certificate of Testing for COVID-19 for the entry or re-entry of foreign nationals and download the specified format form for PCR test from here: http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001337717.pdf

This is the official format from the Japanese government, so you can take them directly to your doctor to fill out.

(2)Submission of a Written pledge

The written pledge has to be submitted by people with a new visa. It usually requires a company, a specific organization, or a school to guarantee the submission of information and an estimated itinerary to the government and to comply with the company’s and school’s regulations.

The main contents of the Written pledge

1.Refrain from taking public transportation (trams, cab taxis, buses, domestic lines, shinkansen, long-distance ferries, etc.)

2. 14 days for self-quarantine, and go out as little as possible for non-essential purposes.

After signing the pledge, foreigners who violate the regulations will be subject to mandatory restrictions on entry and visa cancellation.

Feel free to download the Written pledge from here: https://reurl.cc/KxD3On

(3) Download the designated app beforehand

It will take at least 3 hours to enter Japan if you did not download the App beforehand.
If you cannot set it up or download it with a smartphone, you need to rent one at the airport. After renting one, you must also download the designated app and set it up. before you leave the airport.

From March 18, all airport arrivals will be subject to a mandatory inspection of the app.

You will receive a paper after entering the country, so be sure to complete all the steps early. Make sure the email address is the same as the one on the Written pledge, and try to see if you can receive it beforehand. (The contents may vary, but they are generally the same)

You can check here for the Apps settings from here: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000755137.pdf

(4)Respond to the questionnaire

Open this link to check the details before entering the country and follow the steps to fill out the form. https://arqs-qa.followup.mhlw.go.jp/#/

Click “Japanese” in the Language section to switch to other languages.

There will be a QR code after filling out the form, so please take a screenshot (recommended) or print and save it beforehand.

It is recommended that you fill out the form before the flight!

For the next article, we will be giving you detailed immigration procedures at the airport, please stay tuned. We hope to see everyone arrive in Japan safe and sound!

Hope you are all well! This is Ting from Borderless House.

As you may know, the entry ban has caused a severe impact on foreign residents of Japan who are stuck overseas. One good news, the Japanese government has begun accepting applications from these foreign residents seeking re-entry to Japan, allowing them to come back to Japan gradually.

This month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan just announced that the government will allow foreign nationals to re-enter Japan from August 5th. We are happy to see some workers and international students who have been locked out of the country will be permitted to come back to Japan. We finally see the first step toward reopening the border gradually since the pandemic.

Who will be permitted to re-enter Japan

According to the report from the Japanese government, there are about 100,000 foreigners with valid residency statuses have been waiting overseas for coming back to Japan. And about 88,000 of them who left the country before the travel ban will be given priority to come back to the country. These individuals are international students who have already enrolled in the study abroad programs, businessmen, researchers, technical interns, and residents with working or other valid statuses.

The measure only applies to those who left the country before April 2nd and have not been able to return to Japan due to entry bans implemented to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Unfortunately, foreign residents who departed Japan after April 3rd or who have new plans to move here will be given lower priority for entry to Japan. Also, it does not cover people who are currently living in Japan who want to go overseas for non-essential purposes.

There are only a few exceptions, the government has allowed re-entry to foreign nationals who have special reasons to leave Japan, such as attending a family funeral or undergoing a medical operation, and summons from a foreign court to appear as a witness.

Specific conditions for re-entry

Those foreign residents who want to re-enter Japan will have to take necessary procedures at the local Japanese Embassy or consular office in their countries. They must obtain the documents confirming their re-entry permission from their local Japanese Embassy.

These individuals will be required to take PCR tests at the time of their departures to confirm they are not infected with the coronavirus and provide proof that within 72 hours before their flight that they have undergone a PCR test. They will also have to take another PCR test upon entering Japan.
*PCR test= polymerase chain reaction test

Other than the test, a 14-day observation of one’s health condition prior to their arrival is also required. And if the tests are negative, they must self-quarantine for another 14 days upon their arrival.

As the limited capacity of conducting PCR tests at quarantine stations at airports remains a problem. The Japanese government aims to set up “PCR Centers” at three main international airports in Japan: Narita, Haneda, and Kansai airports by September. The government is expected to increase inspection capacity to 10,000 people per day. Meanwhile, to prevent the coronavirus from crossing the border, they would set a quota of 500 re-entries per day for the moment.

Next stage & Keep being BORDERLESS

“It is important to gradually resume international movement of people,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. The Japanese government will start negotiating with some countries and regions, including New Zealand, Australia, Cambodia, Singapore, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Laos, and Taiwan, to ease travel restrictions for business people.

Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, it has become difficult for everyone in many ways. For us, as one of the concepts at Borderless House is to keep the ratio of 50% of Japanese and 50% of non-Japanese to live together in one house, however, we haven’t been able to have more foreign residents to move in Borderless House in the past few months. Being able to live with people from various countries has been the greatest value of living in Borderless House, we will keep our value and protect “BORDERLESS HOUSE” in this difficult time.

We keep working on developing amazing services to our residents and we will continue creating great opportunities to connect with people from all over the world. Of course, we won’t stop promoting Borderless House to more people actively!

Stay safe and we look forward to seeing you again at BORDERLESS HOUSE!

▼▼▼Check our updated blogs regarding COVID-19 & Share House▼▼▼

Regarding our policies in prevention of spreading of COVID-19(2020.07.20)

【Tenant’s Story】Greater Connections with Housemates during COVID19

Surviving Coronavirus in a Tokyo Sharehouse