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Meanwhile, all travellers arriving from Mainland China by direct flights are also not required to undergo random sampling tests upon arrival.
To facilitate more tourists visiting Japan during the Golden Week holiday period (typically between 29 April to 5 May), as well as those travelling overseas to return home more smoothly, the Japanese government has lifted COVID-19 border control measures, which had originally been planned to end on 8 May 2023.
Starting from 29 April 2023, all travellers and returnees to Japan were no longer required to submit either a certificate of a negative result of a COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours prior to departure, or a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate of three doses or equivalent.
Meanwhile, the previously implemented provisional measures including random sampling tests for all travellers and returnees arriving from China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau) by direct flights, have also been replaced with the testing on arrival required for those who show symptoms, which is the same measure applicable to all other travellers and returnees.
According to Kyodo News, Japan has officially decided to downgrade COVID-19 as a Class 5 disease, the same threat level as seasonal influenza, from 8 May 2023.
A new genomic surveillance programme will start at five major airports, namely, Haneda Airport, Narita Airport, Chubu Airport, Kansai Airport, and Fukuoka Airport. Entrants with symptoms including fever and cough are asked to undergo a voluntary test to detect new infectious diseases.
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