Upon arrival, travelers from mainland China will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 test as a result of the rapid spread of the virus in the country, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Tuesday. China’s travellers who test positive will be required to be quarantined for seven days, Kishida told reporters. He added that the newly implemented border measures would take effect on December 30 at midnight.
The government will also restrict airline requests to increase flights to China, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Aviation. As a result of strict COVID controls that lasted more than two years, Japan’s borders reopened to tourists in October. There was an exception to this requirement if the traveler presented proof of vaccination or a negative Coronavirus test prior to departure.