Japan Dropping COVID Entry Requirements This May

There are plenty of logistical considerations that come with travel planning, from where to stay to what sights to see. When Japan reopened borders to independent foreign travelers on October 11th, 2022, there was another item to add to that list – either three doses of an approved COVID vaccine, or a negative PCR test within 72 hours of travel. Understandably, these extra requirements have seen some potential visitors hold off from solidifying plans.

There's good news on the horizon, though, with the Japanese government moving to scrap those entry requirements as of May 8th, 2023. On the same day, COVID is set to be declared as a common disease, hopefully heralding a return to something resembling pre-pandemic times.

Obviously, it's important to note that if you do visit before May 8th, you'll still need to adhere to the existing entry requirements.

To start mapping out your travel adventures, take a look at May events on our website here.