Latest Travel Requirements to Japan (2023)

Who is currently allowed to travel to Japan?

Entry to Japan is open to travellers from 98 'low risk' countries for independent travel or group tours arranged by a licensed travel company such as InsideJapan Tours.

The Japanese government has separated all countries into 'red', 'yellow' and 'blue' categories, based on covid safety levels. The98 “low risk” countriesare categorized as “blue” - this includes Australia, Britain, most of Europe,the US and Canada. Travellers from these areas do not need to self-isolate or test upon arrival, those who are triple vaccinated do not need to test before departure either.

What is required to travel to Japan and what about visas?

From September 7th, 2022, to enter Japan tourists simply need to:

• Book a trip operated by an approved tour operator such as InsideJapan Tours.
• Have stayed in a Group Blue country for 14 days prior to arrival.
• Apply for the short-term tourist visa –our travel consultants can help you through this processto make sure you get your visa as smoothly and painlessly as possible. If you are keen to travel with us but need more information on visas, you cancontact us.
• Optional but recommended: Download theMysos App,to fast-track you through arrivals when you get to Japan. Using this app, you can upload documentation of things such as a negative covid test and vaccination certificates. The relevant documents must be uploaded to the MySoS app at least 6 hours before your flight's departure.We recommend that this is done at least 2 or more days in advancein case of any technical issues, but pre-registration of your information is possible from 2 weeks prior to your trip so you can get the ball rolling even sooner if you like.
• Have a travel insurance plan that covers covid-related medical expenses and disruptions.

For more information on entering Japan, you can refer to the Japan National Tourism Organization’s (JNTO) website :General Checklist For Traveling to Japan

Do I need to be vaccinated to go to Japan?

There isno vaccination requirement to enter Japan. However, if you are triple vaccinated then from September 7th 2022, you do not need to do a pre-departure Covid test.

Children under 18 travelling to Japan with vaccinated parents/guardians -Children under the age of 18 do not need to have vaccination certificates and nor will they need have negative Covid test certificates if they are travelling with parents or guardians who have been vaccinated and have vaccination certificates.

Do I need to do a pre-departure Covid test?

From September 7th 2022, triple vaccinated visitors do not need to do a pre-departure test.

The requirement for a pre-departure test is still in place if you are not triple vaccinated. We can advise further if you are unsure.

Do I need to download any tracing apps in Japan?

Besides the Mysos App, which is designed as a Fast Track App, there is no requirement to download any apps to enter Japan.

What measures are in place when I arrive in Japan?

Japanese are travelling in their country and life in Japan is back to normal with restaurants and sights welcoming back visitors.

The Japanese government has established a set of etiquette guidelines for tourists and locals. You’ll quickly notice most people will be wearing masks and there will be no shortage of hand sanitizer in public places. Japan still uses markers on shop/ store floors to encourage social distancing and digital thermometers at entrances plus plenty of “please wear your masks signs” throughout the country.

The Japan Tourism Agency has put together a nice set of graphics to illustrate the current travel etiquette guidelines:

Will I need to wear a mask in Japan?

For now, yes – mask wearing is still required to a certain degree although in Japan, all Covid "requirements"are actually advisory rather than set in law.

Starting in May, the Japanese government has slowly been easing restrictions on mask wearing, allowing more leeway to take masks off when outdoors or in places that have good ventilation, proper social distancing, or a general lack of conversation. It was already normal to wear a mask if you were feeling under the weather even before Covid, and now wearing a mask has almost become a form of politeness in Japan. While walking around you will notice that many people are choosing to continue wearing masks regardless of the rules.

While official rules have been changing, after two years of mask wearing many are still reluctant to take masks off in public settings. The current guidelines on wearing masks can be seen here.

Can I use public transport in Japan?

Yes! Just be sure to wear a mask.

Are there any restrictions on where tourists can travel?

No - There are no restrictions in this regard.

What happens if I get Covid during the trip?

Should you contract coronavirus during your travels, you will have either your tour leader or our 24/7 customer support team available to assist you. We have protocols in place to ensure that any testing, self-isolation, or doctor visits will be conducted to ensure everyone’s trip is as smooth and safe as possible.

Return air fares (international flights)

What about the requirement for the authorized tour agency to book my international flights?

The requirement is that the organizing authorized agency (e.g., InsideJapan Tours) is required to put in place an arrangement whereby they have the full details of your return air tickets. If we have booked flights for you, then we already have this information. If you have booked your own flights, we simply need to have your return air information in advance of providing the documents needed for your visa application.

More information

To learn more about how InsideJapan is preparing for when travel resumes, head to our Travel with Confidence page.

We have summarised the current government advisories of various countries below. To find out more, click on each header to visit the website for your location.

UK FCO Travel Advice - Japan

No quarantine, testing or locator forms are required for entrants from the UK, regardless of vaccination status.

U.S. Department of State - Travel.State.Gov

Earlier this year the U.S. Department of State changed their travel advisory for Japan from a Level 4: “Do not travel” to Level 3: “Reconsider Travel,” which advises US citizens against travelling to Japan unless necessary.

Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs now advises that you need only exercise normal safety precautions while traveling in Japan.

Government of Canada - Official Global Travel Advisories - Japan

The Canadian Government allows fully-vaccinated travellers to travel freely and avoid quarantine on return. Japan's risk level has been revised to "Exercise Normal Security Precautions" and vaccinated returnees to Canada will simply have to provide evidence of a negative PCR test within 72hrs and submit travel plans to ArriveCAN prior to their arrival. Please note that you may still be subject to random medical screenings on return to Canada. 

To find out more about how specific airlines are operating their flights and their terms and conditions, visit the pages below:

British Airways - COVID-19 Travel and Service Updates

United - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

Qantas - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Updates

American Airlines - Travel Updates

Delta Air Lines - Coronavirus Updates

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