Japan scrapping vaccination requirements for travellers on 8 May

Japan has become the latest country in the region to announce that it will end its COVID-19 border restrictions, first introduced in February 2020 and now by far the strictest among G7 nations, with the virus downgraded to a ‘common disease’ category from 8th May 2023.

That will restore travel to and from Japan fully to pre-COVID norms, with no testing or vaccination requirements.

Instead Japan will adopt a genome sequencing programme to monitor COVID-19 among arriving passengers and in society on a voluntary basis, the same way it does with seasonal influenza.

Meanwhile restrictions will be eased even sooner for those arriving in Japan from China, with the mandatory pre-departure PCR test axed for these travellers from 5th April 2023.

Current requirements for travel to Japan

Japan first reopened its borders to tourists on 11th October 2022, but the process wasn’t completely ‘free and easy’ like it was during pre-COVID times.

Currently, Japan still requires all inbound travellers to either have a pre-departure PCR test within 72 hours of departure, or show proof of triple vaccination (primary course plus one booster dose), a strict requirement not imposed by many other countries.

Those inoculated with a single-dose vaccine like J&J (Janssen) require two doses in total – the primary course and a single booster dose.

Initially Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines were not recognised by Japan, but in the end all WHO-approved vaccines were then deemed acceptable.

Visitors are also asked to register at Visit Japan Web at least six hours before arrival in the country.

Here’s the full current process and eligibility summary, which will remain in effect for arrivals until Sunday 7th May 2023.

Eligibility & Process
Singapore Japan

• Hold one of 68 nationalities for visa-free entry
• Register with Visit Japan Web before boarding your flight, for a faster arrival process
• Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with any WHO-approved vaccine, including a booster dose
• If you don’t meet the fully vaccinated and boosted criteria, you must have a negative pre-departure PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure
• Children aged 17 or under travelling with fully vaccinated and boosted parents are considered fully vaccinated and boosted, regardless of their actual vaccination status, and do not require any pre-departure testing
• Children aged 5 or under travelling with unvaccinated parents are considered fully vaccinated and boosted, regardless of their actual vaccination status, and do not require any pre-departure testing
• No further on-arrival or post-arrival testing or restrictions

This process will end for arrivals on Monday 8th May 2023 onwards, with pre-COVID requirements then taking effect, which include the current restoration of Japan’s visa-waiver scheme for Singapore citizens and nationals of other countries as listed here.

It remains to be seen whether the Visit Japan Web form will remain, though this isn’t too arduous and in any event would be simpler without the need for vaccination details.

“We have decided to alter the tentative measures currently in place in light of the infection status at home and abroad, as well as border control steps taken by other Group of Seven nations”

Hirokazu Matsuno, Chief Cabinet Secretary

Those arriving in Japan from China, who currently require proof of vaccination and a negative pre-departure PCR test result taken within 72 hours of departure, will have the testing requirement removed from Wednesday 5th April 2023.

These travellers will then be treated like any other international arrivals in Japan, and will also benefit from the removal of all COVID-19 border controls from 8th May 2023.

All Singapore – Japan flight options

There are currently a total of 119 weekly services between Singapore and Japan, 66% of the pre-pandemic total of 179 weekly direct flights.

Missing cities on the list compared to January 2020 still include Hiroshima (SilkAir) and Okinawa (Jetstar).

Here’s a summary of your options based on April 2023 schedules.

Singapore – Japan Flights
April 2023

Tokyo
Airline / Flight Number		To / From	Aircraft	Days
	SQ11/12	Tokyo NRT	777-300ER	Daily
	SQ637/638	Tokyo NRT	787-10	Daily
	SQ634/635	Tokyo HND	777-300ER or A350 MH	Daily
	SQ631/636	Tokyo HND	777-300ER	Daily
	JL35/38	Tokyo HND	767-300ER	Daily
	JL36/37	Tokyo HND	787-9	Daily
	JL711/712	Tokyo NRT	767-300ER	Daily
	NH801/802	Tokyo NRT	787-9	Daily
	NH841/844	Tokyo HND	787-9	Daily
	NH842/843	Tokyo HND	787-9	Daily
	TR808/809	Tokyo NRT	787-9	Daily
	TR898/899	Tokyo NRT (via TPE)	787-9	Daily
	ZG53/54	Tokyo NRT	787-8	Daily
Osaka
Airline / Flight Number		To / From	Aircraft	Days
	SQ618/619	Osaka KIX	787-10	Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun (4/wk)
	SQ622/623	Osaka KIX	787-10	Daily
	TR818/819	Tokyo NRT	787-8	Daily
Sapporo
Airline / Flight Number		To / From	Aircraft	Days
	TR892/893	Sapporo CTS (via TPE)	787-8	Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun (4/wk)
Fukuoka
Airline / Flight Number		To / From	Aircraft	Days
	SQ656/655	Fukuoka FUK	787-10	Tue, Thu, Sat (3/wk)
Nagoya
Airline / Flight Number		To / From	Aircraft	Days
	SQ672/671	Nagoya NGO	787-10	Wed, Fri, Sun (3/wk)

Singapore – Japan award rates

Here are the latest KrisFlyer award rates between Singapore and Japan, when flying on Singapore Airlines.

KrisFlyer Redemption Singapore ⇄ Japan
	Saver	Advantage
Economy	27,000	45,000
Premium Economy	37,500	n/a
Business	52,000	70,000
First / Suites	77,000	120,000

SIA award space has been relatively scarce to and from Japan since the country’s initial October 2022 reopening, and especially in view of the fact that the airline has yet to restore full pre-COVID capacity to and from the country, though hopefully in the months ahead this can start to be resolved.

Unfortunately Alaska Mileage Plan made a sudden no-notice devaluation of its awards on Japan Airlines last month, hiking the rate for Singapore – Japan trips in Business Class from a competitive 25,000 miles to 50,000 miles each way, a 100% increase overnight.

However, all is not lost for those holding an Alaska miles balance to redeem flights to and from Japan, with Cathay Pacific’s 22,500 miles rate in Business Class for flights via Hong Kong.

Remember you can also use British Airways Avios points (including those transferred across 1:1 from Qatar Airways Avios points) to book oneworld awards to and from Japan with JAL.

Japan has maintained one of the strictest vaccination requirements globally for arriving visitors, imposing the rare requirement for travellers to have a booster dose on top of their vaccine’s primary series in order to be eligible for test-free entry.

Those unable to comply can still travel, but are subject to a costly pre-departure PCR test within 72 hours of departure.

Removal of these requirements from 8th May 2023 should go a long way to boosting tourism arrivals in Japan, which was a US$36 billion industry before the pandemic, and has been strongly hit by three years of stringent border measures.

Will you be planning a trip to Japan now that pre-COVID norms are coming into place? Let us know in the comments section below.

(Cover Photo: Sorosak)