When will Japan’s entry restrictions be relaxed?

It has been decided that the stricter entry restrictions in Japan, which were set to remain in place until the 31st of December due to the arrival of the Omicron strain in Japan, will remain in place for the time being.

Those returning from countries where the infection has spread will be required to stay in near-isolation accommodation. Of course, all relaxed restrictions on the entry of businesspersons and students have been suspended, and the entry of new foreign nationals has again been banned until further notice.

Strict entry restrictions extended to allow Omicron stock to land

The Omicron strain of the new coronavirus has been spreading rapidly around the world since the end of November 2021.

Since October, when the state of emergency was lifted, the number of new infections in Japan has fallen sharply, and on the 8th of November the country relaxed its entry restrictions for business people and allowed foreign students to enter, albeit on strict conditions. However, from 30 November all relaxation measures were suspended, and in just three weeks the ban was lifted again

The Government had planned for this measure to last for one month, but Prime Minister Kishida announced at a press conference on the 21st of December that the measures to strengthen the waterfront, including the suspension of new entry for foreigners from all over the world, would be extended “for the time being”.

In the most severe measure, those returning from countries where the Omicron strain is spreading rapidly will be obliged to wait in near isolation in accommodation controlled by airport censors.

Because the infection is spreading so quickly, the waiting period is being extended or shortened every day and new countries are being added. So anyone who is thinking of returning home or traveling abroad is advised to check the following websites daily.

On the 31st of December 2021, Hawaii and most of the popular European destinations are destined to be under quarantine when they return home, and quarantine in a small room after a long flight is a painful way to blow away all the healing power of travel. Three meals are served in the accommodation, but they are cold-packed lunches, and those who have been in quarantine strongly recommend that you pack a quarantine kit with hot tea, miso soup, and other hot foods that can be prepared with hot water.

Japan’s entry restrictions (waterfront measures) to date

Restrictions on entry to Japan were imposed due to the spread of the new coronavirus. However, in November 2020, there were some limited moves to ease.

The restrictions, including a partial exemption from the 14-day self-waiting period, which was the biggest barrier to entry into Japan, for “government-approved business travel”.

However, the number of variants of the new coronavirus increased one after another, starting in the UK, and at the end of December 2020, Japan suspended entry to the country from the areas where the variants of the virus had spread in the region at that time.

Then, on the 13th January 2021, the then Prime Minister announced stricter restrictions on entry into Japan.

Until then, Japan’s entry restrictions had been very strict for foreign visitors, prohibiting new arrivals from abroad and suspending short-stay visas for travel and other activities, but in fact, there were “many loopholes” for returnees. However, there were many loopholes for returnees and the same conditions were applied to foreign residents. I was worried.