Coronavirus (Covid-19) Updates 
Last updated: July 25th, 2020
Follow our latest updates on the coronavirus (Covid-19 disease) situation in Japan:
In summary
- Coronavirus in Japan: Find out about travel restrictions, entry bans, temporary closures, cancelled events and postponements like the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
- Japan's New Normal: Japan now embraces a 'new normal' with social distancing and rigorous hygiene measures now commonplace, as it attempts to stave off a second wave.
- Planning an upcoming trip? We recommend checking your local authority's latest travel and health advisories, as well as the current flight status of your airline.
- After-Covid: Find a variety of related articles about post-Covid travel in Japan.
Table of contents
- Travel updates
- Temporary closures
- Cancelled events
- Coronavirus: guidance, tips, what to do
- Travel advisories
- Official resources
While every effort has been made to keep the info listed here complete and accurate, we advise to always check the official website for any place to get the most up-to-date info
Travel Updates
Re-Entry Permitted to Foreign Nationals Stuck Overseas
Policy change will allow Japan's foreign residents who may be stuck overseas, like Permanent Residence holder or spouses of Japanese nationals, to re-enter if they left Japan before travel restrictions were originally imposed in April. Read More
Alert Raised for 17 New Countries/Regions
Travel advisory raised for Palestine and 16 countries, including Nepal, Kenya and Venezuela, over concerns with the spread of the novel coronavirus. Read More
18 Countries Added to Entry Ban List
Japan expands its entry ban to visitors from 18 nations, including Cuba, as a continued step to help curtail the spread of coronavirus. Read More
Japan's Contract Tracing App Launched
Free Microsoft-developed app is launched for Android and iOS. 'COCOA: COVID-19 Contact App' aims to alert users if they been in close proximity to someone infected with coronavirus. Read More
Tokyo Lifts Coronavirus Alert
An alert warning about possible increases in coronavirus infections in Tokyo was lifted, in another step towards a full resumption of economic activity. Read More
Travel alert raised for 18 new countries
The countries, mostly in Africa and Central America, may be added to a list totalling 111 countries and territories that would mean denied entry to Japan if visited within two weeks of arrival. Read More
Re-Entry Rules Relaxed for Foreign Residents
Move reverses a re-entry ban and policy that favoured Japanese nationals repatriating but banned foreign residents from returning to their home in Japan for any reason, even humanitarian. Read More
Back to Business for Japan's Bars & Restaurants
Drinking and dining establishments are back open and ready for business, operating in the 'new normal' era of additional safeguards for keeping customers safe. Read More
Surprise Fireworks to Lift Moods
The displays, at secret locations across Japan, were designed to lift spirits amid the pandemic and help mark the warmer weather arriving across Japan. Read More
Japan expected to lift emergency procedures on Monday
Lifting is expected to be announced by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday 25th May, following a continuous fall in infection rates. Such a move would apply to Tokyo and it surrounding prefectures (Chiba, Saitama, Kanagawa) as well as Hokkaido. Read More
State of emergency lifted in Osaka and surrouding area
The state of emergency imposed due to the coronavirus is lifted in Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo. Now 42 out of 47 prefectures have seen their emergency measures ended. Read More
State of emergency lifted in most of Japan
The state of emergency imposed due to the coronavirus is lifted in 39 out of 47 prefectures, after a sharp fall in new infections. Read More
Govt Considers Lifting Emergency in Less-Affected Prefectures
In consultation with a panel of experts, the government considers partially lifting restrictions in 34 prefectures. Read More
Abe Extends State of Emergency to May 31st
Abe makes announcement to extend nationwide State of Emergency to help reduce rate of new coronavirus infections. Read More
Japanese Govt Plans Contact-Tracing App for May
Smartphone app planned for early May will help warn users if they have been in contact with a diagnosed Covid-19 patient. Read More
Nationwide State of Emergency Declared
Abe expands state of emergency to cover entire nation on Thursday to help prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Read More
Abe Announces State of Emergency
Government poised to declare state of emergency from Tuesday, covering Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, Chiba, Saitama, Hyogo and Fukuoka. Read More
Entry Ban Widened to Include US
Government announces plan to expand list of countries affected as coronavirus pandemic expands. Read More
Tokyo Governor Issues Stay at Home Request
To counter an increase in confirmed infections, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government asks residents to work from home and refrain from going out in evenings and weekends. Read More
Tokyo 2020: Officially Postponed until 2021
IOC announces decision to postpone the Olympic Games to no later than the summer of 2021, to safeguard the health of athletes, those involved in delivering the Games and the international community. Read More
Visa exemption measures suspended for Schengen countries, rest of EU
Effective 21st March, 00:00 JST: Holders of a passport issued by affected countries (see MOFA site), intending to enter Japan without obtaining a visa, will not be permitted to land. Read More
Japan asks Europe visitors to self-quarantine for 14 days,extends entry ban
Effective 21st March, 00:00 JST: Government plans to impose new restrictions on visitors from about 30 European countries, including Britain, France and Germany. Entry bans extend to cover Iceland and parts of Spain, Italy and Switzerland. Read More
Japan mulls entry ban for Italy visitors
Government sources suggest a plan to impose new restrictions on visitors from parts of northern Italy in response to the coronavirus situation there. Read More
Japan to Quarantine all China and S. Korea Visitors
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announces new safeguard to quarantine all visitors for 2 weeks from coronavirus-hit China and South Korea, as well as parts of Iran. Read More
JAL, ANA offer free cancellations
Two of Japan's major airlines, JAL and ANA, are offering free refunds for all tickets through March 19th that have been canceled as a result of fears about the coronavirus. Read More
Travel Advisory: Visitors from Korea Regions Restricted Access
Visitors with a travel history to Korea's Daegu City or Cheongdo County within 14 days are being restricted access to Japan (Effective Feb 27th 2020). Read More
Travel Advisory: Visitors from China Regions Restricted Access
Visitors from Wuhan (Hubei)and Zhejiang Provinces are being restricted access to Japan and may not be allowed to land in Japan (Effective Feb 13th 2020). Read More