Don't Visit Japan Says the U.S. State Department

The US Department of State issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory on May 24, 2021, saying 'do not travel to Japan due to COVID-19.' The U.S. Embassy and consulates continue to monitor closely COVID-19 conditions in Japan.

As of May 21, 2021, the city of Tokyo had confirmed the majority of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and related fatalities.

Additionally, the Government of Japan has expanded the national state of emergency declaration, which now covers Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, Aichi, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Okayama, and Hiroshima prefectures.

Furthermore, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Gifu, Mie, Ehime, Okinawa, Gunma, Ishikawa, and Kumamoto are now designated under modified states of emergency to curb increasing infection rates and to diminish health care capacity.

These declarations remain effective through May 31st, except for Gunma, Ishikawa, and Kumamoto, which remain in place until June 13th, and could be extended again.

This Advisory is disruptive since the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics are scheduled to commence in Japan in late July'21. And, any international visitor is required to quarantine themselves for two-week on arrival.

The U.S. CDC says 'if you must travel to Japan, get fully vaccinated before travel.' To expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, Japan recently authorized its version of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

If you visit Japan, the State Department suggests enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.