TOKYO, Nov. 12, 2021—An American friend in California called me Nov. 12, 2021 to vent off his frustration about Japan’s COVID-19 border controls that have changed little despite rapidly decreasing infections. I explained it was government red tape kept by bureaucrats intended to protect them – not the Japanese population and/or foreign visitors.
The United States and many European and Asian countries recently lifted quarantine regulations for foreign nationals that have received two COVID-19 vaccines and carry PCR negative test certificates. Foreigners do not need to quarantine at all.
The Japanese border control remains as tight as when the pandemic was serious over the past two years even after relaxed regulations kicked in on Nov. 8,, 2021: Japanese nationals who visited foreign countries and returning to Japan must present vaccine certificates and PCR test negative certificates performed immediately before boarding their flights. After clearing immigration and quarantine procedures at airport, they are required to travel to their destinations on the means of transportation that prevent the potential infections of local Japanese – meaning special limousines. In reality, most Japanese take public transportation – trains, buses, and taxis – to get to their destinations.
‘I paid $200 for a PCR test to a clinic assigned by the ANA airline to obtain the negative test document,’ a Japanese citizen who arrived at Narita International Airport near Tokyo told me earlier this week. ‘If I hired a limo to get to my home, it would cost me another 30,000 to 40,000 yen ($300-400). It’s way too much.’
After arrival, they are currently required to quarantine for two weeks, during which period, local health office officials would make contact with SNS on video to verify whether they are actually observing the rules. Again, in reality, the arrived Japanese would visit local groceries and other places instead of locking themselves up in their destination points.
Non-Japanese visitors on business to and long-time residents in Japan are required to observe the same quarantine rules as Japanese citizens. They must present documents that their visits are bona fide business visits and stays.
Foreign tourists are banned entry altogether now.
The Japanese government is set to relax quarantine regulations further but not before 2022. It’s only gradually and slowly because, as in numerous other government policies, bureaucrats do not want to be held responsible if/when infection cases resurge.
Foreign tourists that had flooded the streets and shops of Tokyo and Kyoto until two years ago may forget about visiting Japan by the time quarantine rules are eased to other countries’ levels and may make the government’s target to attract 40 million tourists a pipe dream.
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Insight Into the Future