TOKYO, Nov. 3, 2020—On Oct. 30, 2020, the Japanese Foreign Ministry lifted most coronavirus entry and reentry quarantine regulations for nine Asia-Pacific regions and countries, apparently to prioritize tourism-driven economic recovery over public safety against the pandemic.
Visitors from South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, China (Hong Kong and Macau included), Brunei, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Japan residents of those countries and regions qualify for the regulation relaxation, the ministry said. Those entering or reentering from those countries and regions are now in principle waived coronavirus PCR testing and submission o PCR negative test certificates they obtained at embarkation points 72 hours prior to arrival in Japan, it said.
Japan residents of the nine countries and regions totaled about1.8 million out of the total Japan residents of foreign nationals totaling 2.933 million as of December 2019, according to Japanese government data. During the first 9 months of 2019, about 40 million foreign visitors visited Japan, according to government data. Of the total, about 75 percent came from the nine countries and regions.
Coronavirus travel restrictions remain in force for visitors and Japan residents of the United States and European countries.
###
Insight Into the Future