The coronavirus outbreak hit Japan at a crucial time, just months before the scheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympics; and currently, Japan’s border is still closed to international tourists, with no sign of reopening yet.
While the rate of domestic infections is well below those seen in the U.S. and Europe, Japan’s vaccine rollout has been slower, and new waves of the virus have brought on renewed state of emergency measures.
On July 12, 2021, the fourth state of emergency went into effect in Tokyo, scheduled to last for the duration of the Olympics. See the "2021 Japan Covid-19 Updates" section below for additional info.
Japan's Travel Restrictions
To contain the spread of the coronavirus, Japan’s borders are currently closed to foreign tourists. The country is open only to foreign residents of Japan, businesspeople, students, and technical interns or those with special circumstances, for whom the quarantine period has been decreased from 10 days to 3 days.
While there is no word yet about when tourism will resume in Japan, it is unlikely to be before 2022.
For the latest info regarding Japan travel restrictions, including quarantine measures and a list of countries where foreign nationals are denied entry into Japan, see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs border enforcement measures.
Government Requests Under the State of Emergency:
- Restaurants serving alcohol and karaoke bars that allow BYOB are asked to close
- Restaurants are requested to close by 8:00pm (delivery & takeout services excluded)
- Facilities used by large numbers of people are asked to close by 8:00pm
- Please refrain from drinking in groups on the streets or at parks
- Please refrain from unnecessary excursions, including during the daytime (in particular, avoid going out after 8:00pm, especially to crowded places)
- If traveling due to unavoidable circumstances, please take measures to prevent infection and have a checkup before departure/at the arrival destination
- Businesses should aim to reduce the number of employees commuting to work by 70%
- Businesses should refrain from working after 8:00pm unless necessary
- Staggered work hours and commuting by bicycle are recommended
See the full state of emergency policy here.
Update: The state of emergency has been lifted as of Friday, October 1st.
2021 Japan Covid-19 Updates
Here is the latest news from Japan, including coverage of the Tokyo Olympics, vaccine rollout, and Japan travel updates.
December 23
December 22
December 21
December 20
- Japan launches COVID vaccine certificate mobile app
- Outbreak of nearly 200 COVID cases linked to U.S. military base on Okinawa
December 15
- 15 new omicron cases reported in Tokyo; 32 countrywide
- Japanese health ministry to discuss approval of Merck COVID drug
December 14
December 9
December 8
- Japan boosts hospital bed capacity to admit 37,000 COVID patients
- Japanese scientists create face masks that glow when exposed to COVID
December 6
- Third case of omicron COVID-19 variant confirmed in Tokyo
- Omicron may cause mild symptoms; breakthrough infections possible
December 3
- Japan backtracks decision to halt flights for citizens
- Facial recognition vaccine check system set to begin in Japan
December 2
December 1
- Japanese airline halt reservations for December as second omicron case is confirmed
- Japan begins administering COVID booster shots
November 30
- First omicron case identified in Japan
- Japan bans foreign entries for at least 1 month due to omicron variant fears
November 29
November 26
November 25
November 24
November 22
November 19
November 18
November 17
- Easing COVID-19 restrictions in Japan allow up to 5,000 people to enter the country each day, effective Nov. 26
- Japan plans to administer COVID vaccine to children aged 5-11 in February
November 16
November 15
- Daily number of new COVID cases in Tokyo falls to 7, lowest this year
- Japan to start administering booster shots on December 1st
November 10
- Japan approves Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots
- Japan to increase COVID-19 hospital capacity by 30% by the end of November
November 8
- Japan reports zero daily COVID-19 deaths on Sunday for the first time in over a year
- Experts in Japan decides on a new coronavirus alert system based on health care availability, rather than number of infections
November 5
- Japan to shorten quarantine period to 3 days for business travelers on November 8th
- Japan considers cash handout of 100,000 yen for children 18 years of age and younger
November 2
November 1
- Tokyo logs 9 new daily COVID-19 cases; first time in the single digits since May 2020
- Japan to ease entry restrictions for business trips and study abroad, but not tourists
- Prime Minister Kishida to create new stimulus package by mid-November
October 30
- Health expert cautious about 6th wave in Japan as COVID-19 cases are on the rise overseas
- More than 4000 unreported COVID-19 cases in Tokyo between April 2 and October 2
October 29
- Tokyo reports 24 new COVID-19 cases; count remains low
- Cumulative number of COVID cases in Japan reached 100,000 on Thursday
October 28
- Japan will make booster shots available to all at least 8 months after their second dose
- Japan to lift attendance cap of 10,000 people on large-scale events starting Nov. 1
October 27
- Pfizer seeks approval to administer COVID vaccine to children aged 5-11 in Japan
- Japan to ease restrictions on large-scale events like sports games and concerts from November
October 26
October 25
October 24
October 22
October 21
- Tokyo will lift restrictions on bars and restaurants from Monday, October 25
- Japanese drugmaker, Daiichi Sankyo, plans to launch its own COVID vaccine by the end of 2022
October 20
October 19
October 18
October 16
October 15
October 14
- Hotels in Japan will start testing vaccinate certificates to assess COVID prevention effectiveness
- The baseball team Yomiuri Giants allowing free entry to games to vaccinated fans
October 13
- Japan to set up $4.4 billion vaccine development fund
- Merck's COVID treatment pill on path for approval in Japan
October 12
October 9
- New Japanese PM Kishida to designate more beds for COVID patients at hospitals
- Tokyo records 82 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, lowest daily figure in 2021
October 8
- Japan will exempt business travelers and returnees from 2-week quarantine
- Japan secures 120 million more Pfizer doses starting January 2022
October 6
October 5
October 4
- Tokyo reports 87 new coronavirus cases, lowest in 11 months
- Japan's new PM, Fumio Kishida, makes vow to fight pandemic
October 2
October 1
September 29
September 28
- Japan formally decides to lift the state of emergency, starting Friday
- Starting October, Japan will decrease the mandatory quarantine for vaccinated people entering the country from 14 days to 10
September 27
September 24
September 23
- Local governments in Japan plan to send out 3rd COVID-19 shot vouchers in November
- Japan to donate 30 million more COVID-19 vaccine doses to other countries
September 21
- 253 new daily COVID cases reported in Tokyo, first time under 300 in about 3 months
- Experts warn a rebound is possible after lifting the state of emergency at the end of the month
September 19
- Japan lifts travel bans on six countries
- Cases of COVID-19 rises among children due to lack of access to vaccine
September 17
- Japan's health ministry proposes that people get a booster shot 8 months after their second jab
- 782 new COVID cases reported in Tokyo, down 420 compared to the previous Friday
September 16
September 15
- Japan's top COVID advisor warns against easing coronavirus restrictions
- Largest travel agency in Japan, JTB Corp., has sold its Tokyo HQ to preserve funds
September 14
- COVID-19 deaths of younger people in Japan are on the rise due to delta
- Foreign contaminants found in Pfizer vaccine in cities near Tokyo and Osaka
September 13
September 12
September 11
September 10
- Japan confirms 18 cases of the new Eta variant of COVID-19
- Japan's opposition party proposes handouts for low-income families and new benefits to businesses amid the pandemic
September 9
- Japan extends state of emergency until September 30th for 19 prefectures
- Japan will not host FIFA Club World Cup due to Covid
- The Council of the EU has removed Japan from its list of safe countries; stricter entry rules may follow
September 8
- Japan intends to ease COVID-19 restrictions in November
- The European Union is set to remove Japan and 5 other countries from its safe travel list
September 7
September 6
- COVID-19 state of emergency will be extended for 2-4 weeks longer in Tokyo and other prefectures
- 34 countries and regions, including Canada, France, and Singapore now accept Japan's vaccine passports
September 5
September 4
September 3
- Japanese government plans to lift alcohol ban under the state of emergency
- Japanese PM Suga announces his decision to resign as public support wanes due to COVID response
September 2
- First cases of Mu variant reported in Japan
- Foreign particles in Moderna vaccine confirmed to be stainless metal
- First Tokyo Games athlete has been hospitalized due to COVID-19
September 1
- Japan may extend state of emergency by 2 weeks past the current expiry of Sept. 12
- Cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Japan have surpassed 1.5 million
August 31
- Tokyo reports over 125,000 Covid cases in August, almost triple last month's record
- Japan reports first case of a new type of delta variant; likely to have mutated domestically
August 30
- 1 million more Moderna vaccine doses have been suspended after report of contamination in Gunma prefecture
- Record number of pregnant women had Covid-19 in July; total of 460 women between April 2020 to July 2021
August 29
- According to Japan's health minister, it will be difficult to end the state of emergency as planned on Sept.12th
- Health ministry is considering mixing and matching different coronavirus vaccines
August 28
- New walk-in vaccination site for youths draws crowds of thousands in central Tokyo
- Two men died within days of receiving suspended Moderna vaccine
August 27
- Number of severe COVID-19 cases in Japan reaches 2,000 for the first time
- Moderna vaccine contaminants believed to be metallic particles
August 26
- 1.6 million vials of Moderna vaccine suspended due to contamination concerns
- First reported COVID hospitalization of a person linked to the Paralympics
August 25
- Record number of new COVID cases (2,808) reported in Osaka; Tokyo logs 4,228 new cases
- PM Suga finalizes decision to expand SOE to Hokkaido, Miyagi, Gifu, Aichi, Mie, Shiga, Okayama, and Hiroshima
August 24
- Japan to expand state of emergency to cover 8 more prefectures starting Friday, August 27th
- Opening ceremony kicks off the Tokyo Paralympics, without spectators
August 23
- Japanese government will ask Tokyo hospitals to secure more beds for COVID patients
- Tokyo Games chief makes a pledge to host safe Paralympics
August 20
August 19
- State of emergency will begin in 7 more prefectures starting Aug. 20, will continue through Sept. 12
- The first COVID-19 case has been reported at the Paralympic village
August 18
- 18 prefectures hit new records of daily cases on Tuesday, Aug. 17th
- Tokyo reports 5,386 new COVID-19 cases
- Half of Japan has received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine
August 17
August 16
- Japan will extend the state of emergency through mid-September
- State of emergency to be declared in Kyoto, Hyogo, Fukuoka
August 15
August 14
August 13
- Tokyo reports 5,773 COVID-19 cases, a new record high
- First Lambda variant case reported in Japan, linked to Tokyo Olympics
August 12
- Infectious disease experts urge reduction of foot traffic in Tokyo by half
- 4,989 COVID-19 cases reported in Tokyo, second-highest daily figure
- Okinawa's per capita COVID-19 cases surpass Tokyo's
August 11
- Restaurants, hotels, and wedding venues have begun offering discounts for customers vaccinated against Covid-19
- Japan reports record number of daily COVID-19 cases (15,813)
August 10
- Record number of Covid-19 patients in Tokyo with severe symptoms reported (176)
- Paralympics torch relay will be taken off of Tokyo's public roads due to Covid-19
August 9
- 84 Covid-19 patients died at home in Japan during a 6 month period
- China expresses hope for the Beijing Winter Olympics following the "success of the Tokyo Olympics"
August 8
- New Covid-19 cases in Tokyo top 4,000 for the 5th straight day
- Stricter measures against Covid-19 are introduced in 8 more prefectures under a quasi-state of emergency
August 7
- Japan sets a record high for daily Covid-19 cases for the 4th consecutive day (15,753 new cases)
- Study begins in Japan about whether or not to administer Covid-19 booster shots next year
August 6
- Tokyo reports 4,515 new daily cases; Osaka hits new record of 1,310
- 29 new Olympics-related cases of Covid-19 reported
- PM Yoshihide Suga says decision about Paralympics spectators will be decided during talks on Sunday
August 5
- State of emergency in Japan will be expanded to 8 more prefectures
- Tokyo reports 5,042 new cases of Covid-19, another daily record
- 31 more people related to the Olympic games have tested positive for Covid-19
August 4
- Tokyo reports 4,166 cases of Covid-19, a new daily record
- Japan logs over 14,000 new Covid-19 cases, another daily record
- First cluster of Covid-19 infections reported in the Tokyo Olympics athletes' village
August 3
- Japan announces tightened restrictions on travel from 3 U.S. states, Finland, Georgia, and other areas
- The second-highest number of daily cases is reported in Japan (12,017)
August 2
- Chief of Japan's LDC calls for debate on legal revisions to allow lockdowns to contain Covid-19 spread
- Japan reports 8,393 new Covid-19 cases, nearly double the figure on the same day of the previous week
August 1
- Tokyo Olympics CEO says there is no link between the Tokyo Olympics and the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Tokyo
- Japan starts administering Covid-19 shots to returning Japanese citizens at Narita and Haneda airports
July 31
- Tokyo reports 4,058 new Covid-19 cases, surpassing the record high of the previous day
- 24 more people related to the Olympic Games have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total to 241
July 30
- Japan hits record high number of Covid-19 cases for 3rd straight day, reporting 10,745 cases including 3,300 in Tokyo
- Japan will add Osaka, Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama to the state of emergency that covers Tokyo & Okinawa until August 31st
July 29
- Daily cases of Covid-19 in Japan surpass 10,000 for the first time, including a new record of 3,865 cases in Tokyo
- Japan plans to add Osaka and 3 of Tokyo's neighboring prefectures to the state of emergency
July 28
- Tokyo reports 3,177 daily cases of Covid-19, a new record high
- 16 more people related to the Tokyo Olympics have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the July total to 169 so far
July 27
- Tokyo reports 2,848 more cases of Covid-19 cases, a new daily record
- 7 more Tokyo Olympics-related positive Covid-19 cases are discovered, including 2 athletes
July 26
- Japan begins accepting applications for vaccine passports
- 16 more people related to the Tokyo Olympics test positive for COVID-19, including 3 athletes
July 25
- IOC announces relaxed Covid protocol allowing Olympic medalists to remove masks for 30 seconds on the podium
- 10 more Olympics-related Covid infections reported; total of 132 this month
- First infection of an Olympic athlete post-competition has been confirmed
July 24
- 17 more Olympics-related cases of COVID-19 reported, for a total of 123 since the start of July
- Private tours held for Tokyo Olympic foreign journalists amid COVID-19 restrictions
July 23
- Opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics held amid vocal protests outside the stadium
- PM Suga asks Pfizer CEO to speed up delivery of Covid vaccines that were scheduled for autumn
July 22
- Japan considers requesting Pfizer for speedier vaccine delivery due to concerns about supply shortage
- 12 new Olympics-related Covid cases were reported, including two athletes
- Emperor Naruhito tells IOC chief Thomas Bach that holding Olympics will be "far from easy"
July 21
- Italy, Turkey, and 3 other countries will accept Japan's vaccine passport
- Japan will tighten border control for visitors from Myanmar, Iran, and several other countries, extending mandatory quarantine in designated facilities
- Health experts warn that August may bring a record-setting number of daily infections in Tokyo
July 20
- Emperor Naruhito may avoid using the word "celebrating" at Olympic opening
- A Czech volleyball player and 8 others related to the Olympics have newly tested positive for COVID-19
July 19
- Moderna COVID vaccine has been approved for children aged 12-17 in Japan
- World Health Organization chief plans to visit Japan during the Tokyo Olympics
- Member of the U.S. women's gymnastics team has tested positive for COVID-19
- Taiwan's digital minister will no longer attend Tokyo Olympics
- 21 members of the South African men's soccer team identified as close contacts of 3 members who tested positive
July 18
July 17
- First case of COVID-19 discovered in the Olympic village
- Majority of major cities in Japan scale back vaccine plans due to limited supplies
July 16
- Olympians who have been in contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive will be able to compete If they test negative 6 hours before their event
- Misinformation on social media to blame for vaccine hesitancy among young people in Japan
July 15
- Tokyo reports highest number of new Covid-19 cases since January
- As vaccine supplies dwindle, local governments asked to slow down vaccinations
- IOC chief has asked PM Suga to consider allowing spectators at the games if the coronavirus situation improves
July 14
- Tokyo reports over daily 1,000 cases of Covid-19, highest number since May 13
- PM Yoshihide Suga and head of the IOC meet and agree to hold a successful Tokyo Olympics
July 13
- Head of the International Olympic Committee says canceling the Tokyo Olympics is not an option
- Japan to donate 1 million more vaccine doses to Taiwan, Vietnam, and Indonesia
July 12
July 11
July 10
- 75% of people aged 65+ in Japan have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Japan will ask duty-free stores to check the date of entry to Japan in customers’ passports and report those breaking quarantine
July 9
- Olympic torch relay began with a small ceremony, without runners
- U.S. still reviewing possibility of first lady Jill Biden attending Tokyo Olympics
- Japanese citizens go to court to demand cancellation of Tokyo Olympics
July 8
- Tokyo Olympics will be held without spectators due to Covid-19 pandemic
- Tokyo will be placed under a state of emergency for the duration of the Olympics
- 4th state of emergency could cost Japan’s economy around 1 trillion yen (9.1 billion USD), economists say
July 7
- Japan plans to lower Olympic spectator cap to 5,000 people per venue
- Japan will launch databank on infectious diseases
- Tokyo reports 970 new coronavirus cases, highest since May
- Japanese pharmaceutical firm Shionogi plans to double COVID vaccine supply
July 6
July 5
- Talks to take the Olympic torch relay off public roads
- Tokyo Olympic Committee delays release of ticket lottery results until July 10
July 2
June 24
- Japan reaches goal of administering 1 million vaccine doses per day, ahead of schedule
June 20
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