travel japan fast track

Visit Japan Web

This is a service that allows you to perform arrival procedures(immigration, customs) and "Tax-free shopping service" online.

Announcements

• Mar 7, 2024 The URL of our site has changed
• Jan 25, 2024 Unified 2D codes for immigration clearance and customs declarations
• Dec 14, 2023 Suspicious apps such as "Visit Japan Web Info" were found
• Apr 28, 2023 It is no longer necessary to present a valid vaccination certificate or pre-departure inspection certificate
• Apr 1, 2023 The "Tax-Free Purchase" feature was released

About Visit Japan Web

This is a web service that can be used for immigration procedures (immigration clearance, customs declaration). It can be used not only by those entering the country from overseas but also by those returning to Japan. By registering the information necessary for immigration procedures in advance and presenting the 2D code at the time of immigration procedures, you can go through the immigration procedures smoothly. Foreigners can also use it for tax-free purchases during their stay in Japan.

Although you can register the information necessary for immigration procedures from a PC, you will need to present your 2D code at the time of immigration procedures using your smartphone or tablet.

Steps for immigration procedures Steps for tax-free purchases Operating instructions open_in_new Opens in new tab

Start using the service now open_in_new Opens in new tab

Frequently Asked Questions

• About using Visit Japan Web open_in_new Opens in new tab
• Quarantine open_in_new Opens in new tab : Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
• Immigration open_in_new Opens in new tab : Immigration Services Agency of Japan
• Customs open_in_new Opens in new tab : Ministry of Finance
• Animal Quarantine open_in_new Opens in new tab : Animal Quarantine Service
• Plant Quarantine open_in_new Opens in new tab : Plant Quarantine Service

Terms of Use・ Privacy Policy

• Terms of Use open_in_new Opens in new tab
• Privacy Policy open_in_new Opens in new tab

Please use the chatbot for inquiries.

• Chatbot open_in_new Opens in new tab

Business owners

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Visit Japan Web

This is a service that allows you to perform arrival procedures "immigration ", "customs", and "Tax-free shopping service" In addition to those entering the country from overseas, it can also be used by those returning to Japan. This page contains information related to the system and information for business operators related to this service.

• Please see the Visit Japan Web Landing Page for information on how to use it.

Important information

A suspicious app showing Visit Japan Web Info that pretends to be a Visit Japan Web service has been discovered. The Visit Japan web service provided by the Digital Agency does not provide any app. Additionally, we will never ask you to enter your credit card information. In case you download a suspicious app, please uninstall it immediately.

Furthermore, Visit Japan web services offered by Digital Agency are available at the following URLs.

• Visit Japan Web Service (https://www.vjw.digital.go.jp/)
• Visit Japan Web Online service for Immigration , Customs and Tax-free shopping service (https://services.digital.go.jp/visit-japan-web/)

Please be sure that you are accessing to the official website.

Update information

• System change to unify 2D codes for immigration and customs declarations was made on January 25,2024 at 3:00JST. (January 25,2024) Please check details here.
• Suspicious app called “Visit Japan Web info” has been found recently. Our service does not provide any app. If you downloaded suspicious app, please uninstall it immediately. (September 14,2023)
• Anyone entering Japan on or after April 29, 2023 will no longer be required to show a valid vaccination certificate or a test certificate obtained before departure. Please check details here With the above change, the "Quarantine procedure (Fast Track)" icon will be removed on April 29 at 00:00 JST. (April 28, 2023)
• New function "Tax-free shopping service" released (April 1, 2023)
• New functions "Passport OCR input", "VISA link", "3rd party proxy input" released (March 28, 2023)
• The guide page in Chinese（Simplified, Traditional) and Korean pages have been opend. Visit Japan Web （November 1, 2022)​
• Quarantine “Fast Track” is available via Visit Japan Web.（November 1, 2022)

About service

Use the service.

See Usage Instructions

Guidance for operation, usage instructions, and other information for users can be found here. Check it out now

Operating Environment and Notes

• We recommend using the latest versions of the browsers for the best experience with the service.
• Please check Frequently Asked Questions：System requirements for the latest operating environment.
• A two dimensional code which is displayed by Visit Japan Web includes personal information. Please be careful when handling this.

Frequently Asked Questions

• About using Visit Japan Web
• Quarantine：Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
• Immigration：Immigration Services Agency of Japan
• Customs：Ministry of Finance
• Animal Quarantine：Animal Quarantine Service
• Plant Quarantine：Plant Quarantine Service

Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

For inquiries about Visit Japan Web, please use the chatbot. The chatbot URL https://chatbot.vjw.digital.go.jp/qadialog_webchat/

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• Instruction manual

Visit Japan Web: The Online Registration Before Arriving in Japan

Japanese customs: mysos replaced from november, 14,  2022.

During the Covid pandemic, entry procedures in Japan have changed a lot, which created some confusion. It is still somewhat the case after the reopening to tourism since October 11, even if a focus has been placed on easing the procedures especially through digitalization , to minimize human interactions and subsequent contamination risks.

Until recently, the Japanese government asked visitors to install specific app on their smartphones:

• MySOS, for advance registration of information regarding vaccine status / PCR test, for faster airport procedures in Japan (the "fast track" system)
• COCOA, an app to track contact-cases and infected persons, but it was discontinued in September 2022.

MySOS was not mandatory but highly recommended . Travelers who could not use the app were directed upon their arrival in Japan to a specific line in order to complete the necessary steps (showing a valid vaccination certificate / PCR test, etc.) which lengthened their time at the airport.

New website available since November 1st, 2022

In mid-October 2022, a new change in the procedure has been announced for all entry in Japan from November 14 included : every traveler (tourist, foreign resident and Japanese citizen alike) can register in advance on the Visit Japan Web site.

Visit Japan Web is a free, single portal to group formalities related to:

• Covid-19   🦠 ( quarantine , vaccination certificate, PCR test); The Pre-registration for Quarantine Procedures section collects the information that were previously filled in the MySOS app ("Fast Track" function);
• Immigration : the Disembarkation Card for Foreigner that was formerly handed in the plane  ✈️ just before landing (does not concern Japanese citizens and foreign permanent residents);
• Customs  🛂 , with the Declaration of Personal effects and Unaccompanied Articles , to fill upon arrival, formerly either on a paper form or on the Japanese government’s Zeikan shinkoku app (税関申告アプリ).

In the facts, registering on the website has been possible since November 1, 2022 , for any arrival in Japan from November 14 in one of its largest airports:

• Tokyo -Narita,
• Tokyo-Haneda,
• Osaka - Kansai (KIX),
• Chubu ( Nagoya ),
• Fukuoka ( Kyushu ),
• New Chitose ( Hokkaido ) and
• Naha ( Okinawa ).

Travelers arriving in Japan before November 14, 2022, can still use the MySoS app to fill their Covid related data and are not the target of the Visit Japan Web.

1 blue screen and 2 QR Codes to show on a smartphone

Like with MySOS previously, each step of the registration process is ended by a change in the page display that includes:

• A blue screen , for a successful quarantine procedure registration,
• and the creation of 2 QR Codes for customs and immigration procedures.

Once all the steps are completed, a visitor’s smartphone  📱 will display first a blue screen, then 2 QR Codes to show at each checkpoint.

Starting April 29, 2023 , according to March 10 and April 26 latest announcements of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, some of the borders restrictions will be lifted and the Covid-19 quarantine procedure (blue screen) will not be required anymore .

It is highly recommended to register before departing for Japan : at the latest 6h prior to the flight’s departure, and ideally within the 10 preceding days , in order to allow time for the review of the submitted documents. Reviews are sorted by date of arrival in Japan . Visit Japan Web is available in English.

Whether you are fully vaccinated or not, consider using Visit Japan Web to make sure to board your flight to Japan, as airlines reserve the right to refuse passengers who may potentially be banned at the Quarantine Procedures step.

The necessary documents are:

• A valid email address (will be used as a user ID to each access to Visit Japan Web);
• Until April 29, 2023 , Covid vaccination certificate or negative PCR test result taken less than 72 hours before departure and translated in English (use the Japanese-English form provided by the Japanese Ministry of Health here );
• An address in Japan (for example, of the first accommodation you will be staying at).

If traveling with underage children , it is possible to register them on the same Visit Japan Web account (up to 10 travelers). Dependent or handicapped adults who cannot go through the procedures alone can also be registered in the Family members traveling with you section. However, each of them has to have their own passport or equivalent immigration document.

Each member of the family registered on the same account will also have their blue screen and 2 QR Codes, to show at checkpoints at the arrival airport in Japan.

Like with MySOS, registering with Visit Japan Web is not mandatory , however it helps going through the entry procedures in Japan faster, and reduces the hurdles of tedious formalities after 12 hours of more spent in a plane.

On April 5, 2023, Kono Taro, the Japanese Minister of Digital Affairs, announced that travelers are no longer required to show any document at arrival airport’s quarantine in Japan . However, filling information forms for immigration and customs is still a requirement.

Additional tips and advice

An Internet  📶 connection is required to use the Visit Japan Web site, especially to create the account, fill in the user’s information, and their family’s when applicable (name, passport number, etc.), the forms regarding vaccination or PCR test and create the first QR Code. The digital Disembarkation Card for Foreigners and custom procedures can be completed offline and the QR codes created upon arrival at the airport.

Creating a Visit Japan Web account is possible on a computer (Chrome browser is recommended) or on a smartphone (Chrome browser recommended on Android). In any case, before departure, make sure to be logged in only on the device you will use to travel (a smartphone ideally), and check that all information is up-to-date.

Questions asked at immigration and customs procedures are the same than on the paper forms. In any event, official Japanese sources (the Embassy of Japan or the Border Control page of the Japanese Ministry of Health for example) are the ultimate references regarding entry procedures in Japan and should be checked frequently.

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A Guide to the Visit Japan Web app and Japan Entry Procedures

While it’s recommended to use the Visit Japan web app, it’s not mandatory. In fact it may be quicker to use the standard paper immigration forms on arrival in Japan.

There are now no Covid protocols for Japan. The Japanese government still recommends that visitors to Japan use the Visit Japan Web app, which replaces the paper arrival card and customs declaration, but you DO NOT HAVE TO USE THE VISIT JAPAN WEB APP.

On our last entry to Japan in October 2023, those not using the app actually moved faster through immigration and customs. So, it’s really up to you: use the app or just go old school and fill out a paper arrival card and customs declaration (and if you don’t get them on the plane, you can pick them up at immigration and customs).

Visit Japan Web

Time required to fill out and instruction manuals

When you first download the app and look at the instruction manual, you may get the impression that it’s going to take a long time to complete Visit Japan Web. In practice, it takes about 15 minutes and is pretty intuitive. I suggest using the simplified manual and quarantine section manuals linked below.

Three parts to Visit Japan Web

Note, Visit Japan Web actually consists of three parts: 1) immigration information (ie, disembarkation card information), 2) customs information (ie, customs declaration), and 3) tax-exemption section. When you successfully complete these sections, you will receive three QR codes. The first two you will show at the airport upon arrival. The third you will show at shops that offer tax-free shopping to tourists.

Important tip

You will need a charged smartphone with internet access for Visit Japan Web to work at the airport when you arrive. Japanese airports have free wifi, so connectivity is not an issue, but be sure to charge your phone before flying. Just in case something goes wrong with your phone or you cannot get online at the airport, it’s a good idea to do two things to print out your immigration and customs QR codes to show at the airport.

Important Visit Japan Web Links

• Here’s the Visit Japan Web download site .
• Here’s a detailed manual for using Visit Japan Web.
• Here’s a simplified Visit Japan Web Manual (scroll down for instructions).

Kyoto Vacation Checklist

• For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
• Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
• You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto , Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
• Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
• See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
• Buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Kansai International Airport (for Osaka and Kyoto) or Tokyo's Narita Airport . Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
• Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
• If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
• A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Kyoto easy – here's how
• World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world

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Speed through airport quarantine checks on your arrival in Japan with Fast Track

The new feature of the MySOS app lets you pre-register all your Covid-19 documents before you enter Japan

Keeping on top of the latest border control measures can be confusing with Covid-19 restrictions constantly changing. While tourists are still not allowed to enter Japan, there are a number of returning residents, business travellers and students coming into the country. If you’re one of them, you’ll want to know about this new arrival procedure. Here's our guide to using Fast Track .

What is Fast Track?

Fast Track  is a new service offered by the Japanese government for arrivals to Japan.  To save yourself time and hassle, you can streamline your arrival by pre-registering for airport quarantine measures via  the MySOS app before landing in Japan.

What do I need?

First of all, you'll need to download MySOS . It's  one of the apps you must install on your smartphone when entering the country to monitor your health and confirm your quarantine location. Even if you're one of the lucky people who are exempt from quarantine, you can still use the app to submit all your necessary Covid-19 documents, including a negative test certificate and health questionnaire, ahead of your arrival in Japan. This will save you from having to physically show those documents when you are at the airport. 

The Fast Track pre-application must be completed at least 16 hours before your arrival in Japan. Once the app is installed, you'll need your passport number and negative Covid-19 test certificate (taken 72 hours prior to departure). Vaccination certificates are optional, but if you have yours on hand, you can also submit that, too.

How do I use Fast Track?

To register your documents, open the MySOS app (from outside Japan) and tap 'pre-registration for quarantine procedures'. From there, you can follow the instructions to fill out the required health questionnaire and pledge, as well as submit your vaccination certificate and negative Covid-19 certificate.

Once your information is added into the app, your documents will be reviewed. If your screen is green, your documents are good to go. If the screen is yellow, that means you will still need to present your negative test certificate at the airport. If the screen is red, there has been a problem with your application and you must redo the registration process. When you arrive at the airport in Japan, all you'll need to do is show the colour of your screen (assuming it’s green or yellow) to proceed.

To download the MySOS app for iOS and Android, visit here . For more information on the Fast Track service, visit here .

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Japan reopens to tourists on guided package tours from 10 June 2022. For more information, please check the page above.

Coronavirus (covid-19) travel restrictions.

Last updated: June 26, 2022

Table of Contents

Measures by the government of japan.

1. Areas subjected to entry ban

2. Denial of the re-entry from designated countries/regions in response to COVID-19 variants of special treatment on border measures

3. Quarantine measures

4. Suspension of visa validity

5. Suspension of visa exemption measures

6. Restrictions on airports/ports for arrival

7. Entry of foreign nationals with special exceptional circumstances

8. Fast Track

9. Visit Japan Web

10. Installation of apps and other requirements upon entry into Japan

All coronavirus-related information on this website is gathered from the government ministries and authorities responsible for handling COVID-19 restrictions and measures. Due to the regularly changing situation and the constant updating of information, it is essential that you always check for updates and follow the latest guidance from the relevant ministries and official bodies.

Information about entry into Japan

For the time being, foreign nationals who have stayed in any of the areas listed in the following table within 14 days prior to the application for landing are denied to enter Japan, unless special exceptional circumstances are found. Note that foreigners from the countries/regions where the entry bans do not apply are not denied to enter Japan, even when traveling via those countries/regions listed in the table for refueling or transit purpose. Those who entered those countries/regions are, however, subject to the entry ban.

Please see the following page for further information about the denial of landing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The re-entry into Japan of foreign nationals with status of residence who have stayed in designated countries/regions in response to coronavirus variants of special treatment on border measures within 14 days prior to the application for landing are denied for the time being, unless there are special exceptional circumstances.

The current quarantine measures are subject to change regularly.

From 12:00 am (Midnight/JST) December 2, 2021, as an emergency precautionary measure from a preventive perspective against coronavirus variant Omicron (B.1.1.529), validity of visas already issued by December 2, 2021 is suspended except for the status of residence of “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National”, “Spouse or Child of a Permanent Resident” or “Diplomat”. This measure does not apply to foreign nationals who departed from overseas before 12:00 am (Midnight/JST) on December 2, 2021 and arrive in Japan after the time.

As for visas already issued under “Business Track” or “Residence Track” and visas issued based on “New border measures (4)” , for the time being, validity of those visas has been suspended from 12:00 am (Midnight/JST) on January 21, 2021, based on the announcement of the Government of Japan dated on January 13, 2021.

Validity of visas listed below is suspended for the time being.

(1) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 8th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies or Consulates General in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and Republic of Korea

(2) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 20th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General in the following countries

(3) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 27th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General in the following countries

(4) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by April 2nd, 2020, by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General located in or accredited to the following countries and regions

As visa exemption measures with the countries/regions listed below are temporarily suspended, those who fall under the measures are required to obtain visas before visiting Japan. The measures will be in place for the time being.

(1) Visa exemption measures agreed with Japan and the following countries and regions

(2) The effect of Pre-Clearances (i.e. visa exemptions) granted by the Japanese Government to APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) issued by the following countries and regions is also suspended.

The Government of Japan announced some measures concerning arrivals at airports/ports.

These measures will be in place for the time being.

Currently, all foreign nationals who wish to newly enter Japan need to apply for a visa except for those with re-entry permit.

Foreign nationals who are entitled to enter Japan as those with special exceptional circumstances are required to apply for an appropriate visa at Embassies or Consulates or Consular Office of Japan (for Taiwan, Taipei Kaohsiung offices of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association) in your country/region.

Quarantine procedures at the airport could be pre-registered to save your time. You can register required documents such as Negative Test Certificate, Questionnaire with "MySOS" application. Fast Track is available for those entering from major airports, such as Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Chubu Airport, Kansai Airport, and Fukuoka Airport. Visit the  MHLW Fast Track website  for the latest information.

Visit Japan Web is a convenient way to register information for quarantine, immigration and customs procedures before you enter Japan. You can upload an electronic certificate of a negative COVID-19 test result for a test conducted within 72 hours of travel, and generate a QR code. The service is available in English and Japanese.

• Installation of MySOS, the Health and Location Monitoring App

(It will be used to confirm your current location, health condition, and accommodation)

• Setting up your smartphone to save location records
• Installation of COCOA, the COVID-19 Contact Confirming App

(It will be used to notify you of possible contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive)

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Girl Eat World

A girl's adventure in food and travel around the world, visit japan web: how to register your arrival in japan (step by step).

Japan has finally re-opened its door to tourism, an event that I’m sure many of you have long awaited.

With thousands of people entering Japan every day, you can imagine things can get chaotic quickly, so you’ll want to minimize the stress by doing all the immigration and customs processes before your arrival to Japan. And yes, you can do all that online.

Read on to find out how you can simplify your immigration entry to Japan!

PS: I entered Japan twice while COVID protocols were still in place. It was a painful experience. If you have a morbid curiosity what it was like to enter Japan while all the COVID protocols were still in place, you can read my experience here .

What is Visit Japan Web?

Is visit japan web required to enter japan, step 1: register for a visit japan web account, step 2: register details of visitors who will be visiting japan, step 3: register for a trip to japan on the visit japan web, (optional) adding your child to your visit japan web account, step 4: immigration clearance, step 5: customs declaration.

• Frequently Asked Questions

Visit Japan Web is Japan’s online service for immigration procedures and customs declarations, launched in November 2022. While Japan was still dealing with the pandemic, Visit Japan Web also doubled as a way to verify COVID-19 vaccinations.

After Japan scrapped its COVID-related entry requirement, it became a place where visitors could complete their immigration and customs procedures before arriving in Japan. It does make the airport formalities quite efficient!

What is Fast Track?

Now, what is Fast Track ? Fast Track was a way to handle COVID-related quarantine procedures on Visit Japan Web. After registering for an account at Visit Japan Web, you could upload your vaccination document to have it pre-verified before you arrive in Japan. As of 29 April 2023, this process is no longer required .

No, Visit Japan Web is NOT a requirement to enter Japan . You could just rock up to Japan without completing Visit Japan Web.

However, you’ll have to do the same things you do on Visit Japan Web when you check in for your flight. Then when you land at the airport in Japan, you’ll need to fill in the immigration card physically on paper if you have not done Visit Japan Web.

The information you need to fill in on the physical card is the same one that you would have provided on Visit Japan Web. So might as well prepare it before you arrive. It’s free and fast. And as a bonus, if everyone uses Visit Japan Web, it will make immigration faster for everyone.

Visit Japan Web procedure step-by-step

The process of completing Visit Japan Web thankfully can be done online. To prevent any confusion, I’ll cover exactly how you can utilize Visit Japan Web to make your arrival in Japan easier:

If you don’t have a Visit Japan Web account yet, you can register for an account here .

Account registration is free and very straightforward. Just create an account with your email address and a password. You’ll need to verify your email but that’s easy enough to do – they’ll send you a 6-digit code via SMS (text message) to your phone that you need to input on the Visit Japan Web before you can proceed to step 2.

💡 Save your Visit Japan Web account credential! You can use the same account again for your future travels to Japan, so make sure to save your Visit Japan Web credential.

From my understanding, every adult needs an account for themselves, but kids under 18 can be added on to their parent/guardian. With that said, I have heard of instances where people added their spouse/parents to their account and were able to go through immigration just fine. I’ll go over how to add other people to your account in Step 2.

Once you have your account set up, proceed to log in with the password you’ve set in Step 1 before.

Then, provide your details by clicking on the button that says “ Your details ” and start filling in the form. Again it’s quite straight forward so I won’t go into too much detail here.

The only thing I would say is, please make sure your passport number is correct and that it matches the passport you’d be using to enter Japan!

If you’re traveling with children under 18 : Once you’ve registered yourself, you can also register your kids to your account. I’ve written in detail about registering children to Visit Japan Web below .

Next, you’ll need to register your trip to Japan by clicking on “ + New registration “.

You can do this for each trip you’ll be taking to Japan if you’re planning to go more than once. Make sure you give a unique name for each trip so that you can manage multiple plans if you need to.

Again, if you’re traveling with children and have provided their details in the “Details of family members traveling with you” section, you can indicate that the child will be traveling with you on this trip. The child’s name will come up as a dropdown that you can toggle later on. I’ve written in detail about registering children to Visit Japan Web below .

If you’re traveling with children, you can add them to your Visit Japan Web account as long as they are under 18 ! If you do this, they’ll be able to skip quarantine even if they are not fully vaccinated, as long you (the parent) are fully vaccinated.

Here is how:

1. Add your child’s details to your Visit Japan Web account

Once you’ve registered yourself on Visit Japan Web, you can register kids who are under 18 in your account by clicking on “ Details of family members traveling with you “. You’ll need to provide their passport number and personal details, similar to what you’ve done for yourself when you provided your details.

2. Include your child as a family member traveling with you

Once you’ve provided their details, you’ll be able to select your child’s name when you’re registering a trip plan. Make sure they are selected under “family members traveling with you”, and make sure they show up on the confirmation page when you register the trip plan.

If you forgot to include them when creating your trip, you don’t have to start over. You can just edit the existing trip plan and make sure the blue box next to their name is checked!

Now the big question: Can you also add other family members who are not your child to your Visit Japan Web?

From my understanding, every adult needs an account for themselves. However, I have heard many instances where people signed up their spouse or parents with their account under “Details of family members traveling with you” and were able to go through just fine. However, please bear in mind that each adult will still need to provide their vaccination certificate and obtain the blue screen.

If you do this, just ensure each adult has a screenshot of their QR code upon landing.

If you are a resident of Japan, you do not need to complete this step.

But as a visitor, the next thing you can do is complete your immigration clearance by filling out the disembarkation card. This is the exact same procedure for entering Japan as it has always been, even before COVID, except it’s no longer done by writing down your info manually on paper.

You could still do this when you land via the paper way, but it literally took me seconds to do it online and I don’t see why you shouldn’t just do it now.

When you’re done, you’ll be provided with a QR code that will be scanned when you are in the immigration queue, so I recommend screenshotting this QR code for immigration later. You’ll still receive your passport stamp as usual at immigration.

Similar to the disembarkation card, you can also do your customs declaration online so you can just breeze through when you’ve landed. Again, this is the same procedure as it has always been for entering Japan, just digitized now!

When you’re done, you’ll be provided with a QR code you can use when you arrive at the airport. Again, screenshot this QR code !

After clearing immigration, you’ll see a machine at the baggage carousel area to register your passport and QR code for customs declaration. The machine will also scan your face. Go ahead and do this, and then you can simply walk out of the airport using the facial scanner machine at the exit.

(Optional) Travel insurance and emergency contact

If you have travel insurance, you can also provide the information here, as well as your emergency contact in case something happens to you while you are in Japan. But this step is completely optional.

(Optional) Tax-Free QR

Japan allows tax-free shopping for purchases above 5,000 yen on a single receipt at participating stores. Normally, you’ll need to show your passport upon purchase. If you obtain the Tax-free QR from Visit Japan Web, then you don’t need to show your passport. However, it is still recommended to carry your passport or an ID with you.

And that’s all!

Frequently Asked Questions about Visit Japan Web

Still have questions about entering Japan? Here are a few questions I get asked a lot:

1. When should I complete the disembarkation card on Visit Japan Web?

You can start the process as early as you want, as long as you complete it no later than 6 hours before you arrive in Japan. I’ve done mine 3 weeks before my arrival, as well as 12 hours before arrival for an emergency visit, and both times things went according to plan. No drama!

2. Can I travel to Japan if I have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 or if I am not considered fully vaccinated?

Yes, you can enter Japan! There are no more requirements for COVID-19 vaccinations to enter Japan.

3. Can I travel to Japan with kids who have not been vaccinated against COVID?

Yes, you can! There are no more requirements for COVID-19 vaccinations to enter Japan.

4. What should I do if I’m only going to be in Japan for a layover?

Many people have asked me about what to do if you’re only in Japan for a layover and don’t have a hotel booked because you won’t be staying overnight, and thus won’t have an address to fill out with.

While I must preface this by saying I am not sure since I haven’t experienced this myself, based on the accounts of other people on Reddit , it seems that you should be able to use Visit Japan Web to fast-track even if you’re only there for a layover. Simply use the address and phone number of the airport you’re going to be flying out from.

What else should I do or prepare before my travel to Japan?

Visiting Japan is no doubt one of the most exciting travel experiences. Here are a few more tips to make your travel smoother!

• If you are traveling alone, you can look into  getting a prepaid SIM card .
• If you are traveling in a group, or have multiple devices, another option is to rent a pocket Wi-Fi,  which you can get here
• If you like my writing style, you can check out all my posts related to Japan to prepare for your visit to Japan.

And that’s all about fast-tracking your arrival in Japan! Let me know in the comment below if there is anything more you need to know 🙂

257 Comments

• April 3, 2024

Everyone talks about the procedures for entering into Japan. What about the process when we leave Japan? Do we need to update the information online as well or do we just go through the normal process at the counter? Thanks

Hey CK, what information are you referring to?

Hi Melissa,

I am just wondering what is the immigration process when a tourist leave Japan. If I remembered correctly, we used to complete the disembarkation card and then line up to have our passport stamped. With the digitilization of the entry process, has the exit process change?

You still need to get your passport stamped again on the way out but there’s no more disembarkation card

• January 16, 2024

Do I need to register for the Tax Free QR code if I want to have tax-free shopping? It seems impossible to take a picture of my passport that the website will accept when in comes to this QR code, but if I select the option in which I say I don’t need the tax free code, everything goes smoothly. Can’t I just present my passport at stores or when retrieving the JR Pass?

Hey Carol, you don’t have to. I didnt and just showed my passport and it still worked.

• December 2, 2023

I just registered my 17 years old son to my upcoming trip as himself and not adding him to my account. Do you think it’s okay or he needs to be under mine since he’s under 18?

• December 4, 2023

should be fine as long as he can produce the QR at immigration

• December 5, 2023

Thanks Melissa for the response. He has his own QR code. Do I just need to fill out one e-custom form for three of us or each one of us has to do it since we have to show the QR code?

Hey Andrew, I think you can do for each. On arrival, there is a machine that scans the custom QR before you can exit the airport.

• December 6, 2023

Thanks Melissa for the update. I will get the QR code for each one of us and try to scan just one as a family at the scanner and see what happens. I appreciate your responses.

• November 27, 2023

Thank you for your post! I was looking on how early or how late I can fill-up the embarkation form and information was provided.

It said on the Japan website that you can do it up to 6hrs prior to your departure. I saw some people posted that they did it as far as 2 months before their departure and they had no issue.

• November 13, 2023

Just want to say “Thank you” for this post, it is very helpful article.

• November 6, 2023

For the “Intended address in Japan” under the Register planned entry/return section, if I am staying in multiple hotels, do I just fill the first hotel in? Thank you.

• November 7, 2023

yes i would fill in the first one

• November 2, 2023

Hi there! I’ll depart from Indonesia to Hongkong then Hongkong to Japan, I am wondering for the flight number which one I should write? Is it the Hongkong to Japan flight? Thankss

Hey Vin, use the Hong Kong to Japan one

• September 24, 2023

I’m in the process of doing the Visit Japan registration. We are doing a 10 day Bike Tour of Kyushu. We are travelling to different places each day. The site asks for Accommodation details of where we are staying. Do i just put in the first address of the Hotel?

yeah i would put the first one

• September 12, 2023

My husband has completed his own registration on the VJW and came across the question ‘how many family members are you travelling with’ giving the option of ‘over 20 years old’. Should he select 1 as he’s travelling with me (I’ll be doing my own VJW) to have my own account/QR code but wasn’t sure if that option was for adding someone to your account or simply saying how many people you are travelling with! Hope that makes sense?!

We’re coming on our honeymoon so want to make sure we’re doing it right!

Thanks so much!

Hey Amy, there have been people saying they were able to add their spouse to their VJW account. You will each get assigned QR code. Just make sure you have your QR for each of you ready at immigration.

• September 2, 2023

Hi Melissa! If I do VJW, does that cause any issues with getting the “temporary visitor” sticker needed for activating my JR Pass? I was in Japan in 2018 and remember needing that sticker to show eligibility for the JR Pass. If you use VJW, you still have to see an immigration officer at NRT, correct? Thanks!!

• September 3, 2023

yup, no change to the previous immigration process, except you no longer need to fill out the arrival card in the airport

• September 4, 2023

Thanks so much! I’ll be there with my wife next April. We land at NRT at ~4pm local time, so praying that the immigration line isn’t terrible. I’ve heard it is not as bad now since they eliminated all of the Covid-related procedures … how much time do you think doing VJW saves you for the whole immigration/customs process?

• August 12, 2023

Hi Melissa, I would like to know if I need to submit VJW only once or thrice for my trip? I already have an existing account. Every new entry, I’ll have to use this account and new Trip name?

Sin – Osaka (5days) Osaka – Hokkaido (5days) Domestic Flight Hokkaido – Osaka ( 2 days) Domestic Flight

Thank you for your kind help.

Hey Lav, you only need to submit VJW once every time you enter Japan from another country (international flight). You don’t need to do it for your domestic trips. Judging from your itinerary, you only need to do it once for your Sin – Tokyo flight.

Hi Melissa, Thank you so much for your prompt reply.

Cheers! Lav

• June 29, 2023

Hi, I’ll be flying from Istanbul to Tokyo with Korean Airlines and I have a layover at Incheon Airport, Seoul. For the “Last Flight Number” in the immigration clearance part, I wrote the flight number from Incheon to Narita. Is this correct?

And in the customs declaration part should I add “Incheon” as my point of embarkation or “Istanbul”? I will not be going through customs at Incheon airport because I will be staying in the transfer zone as a transfer passenger. But I will be taking the 2nd flight from Incheon airport which will be the last flight. Since I wrote flight number of the flight from Korea to Japan, is it better to choose Incheon? I’m sorry for the long question, I’m really confused.

• July 3, 2023

1. I would write the flight from incheon to narita as well 2. for customs, i would still put istanbul

• June 21, 2023

Hi there, the website asks to put the main flight number in case of codeshare flights. Is this the flight number i booked through or the operating flight?

Hey Ahmad, I would put the flight number of the operating flight.

• June 20, 2023

Is it a must to fill in Visit Japan Web to enter the country? When should I fill in and any suggestions on that? tq

Hey Jeffrey – it’s not a must, but it will make it easier when you land since all they have to do is scan your QR at the immigration

That means once i landed in any airports in Japan, I could cut the queue without waiting ?

U mention that you’ll have to do the same things you do on Visit Japan Web when you check in for your flight. I have no idea regarding filling any documents while checking in for the flight. Could you pls explain more for this? thanks and appreciate it

Hey jeffrey, if you didnt do VJW, you’ll have to: 1. Fill in an arrival card at immigration point 2. Join the queue 3. When you get to front of queue, Immigration officer will need to check your details and process your entry, then she/he will give you the immigration sticker and let you in

with VJW: 1. You still have to join the queue 2. When you get to front of queue, immigration officer will just scan your QR, then she/he will give you the immigration sticker and let you in

So it cuts down the time you spend getting in to Japan. And if everyone does VJW, it cuts down overall time spent in queue as its faster for the officer to process everyone’s entry.

Hope that explains.

Hi, I would like to ask whether Malaysians are required to fill in visit japan web? Since Japan authority no longer needs vaccination approval?

• June 18, 2023

As is described, upon entering your details on the VJW, it is advised that the passenger gets a QR code. Excuse my ignorance, what do I do with this QR code ? Do I print the page showing the QR code and take it with me to show the Japanese Officers ? Please assist. Thanks.

Hey Samir, you don’t need to do anything. Immigration officer will scan it when you go through immigration in Japan. I would screenshot it to make sure you have it when you get to Japan.

Hi Melissa, In your reply, you say immigration officer will scan the QR code. Scan it ” from where” ?? Thanks in advance. Samir

Usually from your smart phone

• December 27, 2023

Hi , I will have connecting domestic flight. Indonesia-Haneda-Hiroshima. The Flight Number is from Indonesia to Haneda? Hotel address will be at Hiroshima ,is it ok?When I arrived at Hiroshima I need to fill up new Japan visit Web again or only show only the one that I will show at Haneda? Thanks

Yes, Indonesia to Haneda only. and yes, an address at Hiroshima will be enough. You only need to do VJW once to enter Japan. They wont ask you in Hiroshima since that is a domestic flight.

• June 15, 2023

hi, may i know..is this the same with visa?

Hi Santi. Visit Japan Web is not visa. You are still required to obtain visa from the Japan embassy in your country. Once you get the visa, you could input the visa information to your VJW account to make immigration easier

• June 14, 2023

HI , I WILL ARRIVE IN JAPAN BY CRUISE SHIP,AND LEAVE AT HANEDA AIRPORT, ON THE VJW APPLICATION IT DOESNT SEEM TO ALLOW YOU TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION AS YOU CANNOT STATE YOUR ARRIVAL PORT, ONLY LISTS AIRPORTS,SO IS THIS SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE FOR MY SITUATION???

Hey Lee, it seems that VJW is only for airports for now

• June 10, 2023

Hi, just working through the japan web stuff. It asks for flight but only numbers if the prefix for my flight is D7, do I include the 7 or just the other 3 numbers? Don’t want to stuff it up. Thanks

Hey Sam, I believe D7 is the airline carrier code. If I were you I would just include the other 3 digit after selecting the airline carrier from the dropdown

• June 8, 2023

Hi, I have a question – do each traveller need to complete this form to enter Japan. My husband registered and added me to his entry form. Thank you!

Lori, technically each traveller should complete their own, but I have heard it’s ok to include family members on your account. At immigration, they only care to scan your QR code

• June 6, 2023

On the first page you are given the option to register for a QR code to help reclaim VAT taxes. This requires you take a picture of your passport. For the life of me no matter what device or lighting I used the website kept saying my picture was too dark. It seemed just fine to my eye but maybe with a US passport’s underlying patterns It is impossible for the machine to read it. In any event I was despairing finding a solution but then checked the “no” box for the VAT (not sure that’s the actual name of it in Japan). When I did that it took me on into the website where I could manually input my info as clearly spelled out in the article. Previous to that I couldn’t get by the first screen and there was no indication that the passport photo requirement was only for the VAT QR code. Whew! Thanks so much for all the useful info!

Thanks Helen for sharing this useful information!

• May 31, 2023

I am going to hire a car with Toyota and I saw their conditions are that I must have the immigation arrival stamp in my passport in order to to hire….Could you clarify that with the Visiot Japan Web QR codes I will still pass through the normal immigatation and get the stamp… thanks Geoff

yup you will still get a stamp

• May 28, 2023

Thank you for all the usefull infos!

• May 24, 2023

Hi Melissa, This is very informative! I have a question, we are travelling from Canada, landing in Tokyo, 2h20 lay over, next flight to Osaka, then board a cruise ship. My question is, do we clear customs and immigration at our first stop Tokyo, or in Osaka? We have 4 hours to get to ship. I googled the distance between airport and port, it is 30 mins away, from what I read. I’m wondering if we clear customs at our first stop. This would make it easier Osaka. Thanks so much for your help.

Hey Collette, I think you will go through customs in Tokyo since the Osaka leg is a domestic leg. Was it booked under one booking? Maybe asking your airline would be the best bet

• May 23, 2023

Thank you for the advice. However, I have a problem using JAPAN WEB. I created an account on my personal computer and all worked OK, but when I tried logging on using my mobile phone I can’t – message says loginID or password are incorrect. So using my phone I go through the “change my password” process but type in the exact same password as on my PC. This is accepted and I can now logon, but not from my PC getting the exact same error message. So I change the password again on my PC to the exact same password again – this is accepted and I can logon again from my PC, but not with my phone. The issue seems to be the different keyboards for my personal computer and the mobile phone generating different code for the required special characters in the password.

• May 15, 2023

Great post, very informative! Thanks for sharing this helpful info.

• May 5, 2023

Hi I completed the procedure on Japan web prior to change of rules and received QR codes for immigration and customs. Do I need to go back and update as there is an additional bit about tax free shopping. I don’t particularly wish to avail of this facility.

you don’t need to do it if you’re not going to do tax free shopping in Japan

• April 30, 2023

I followed your advice to fill out Visit Japan Web. It was very helpful, thank you.

• April 29, 2023

I’ve just visited the Japan Wen and found something that you may be interested and may want to update your readers. [Quote] Anyone entering Japan on or after April 29, 2023 is no longer required to show a valid vaccination certificate or a test certificate obtained before departure. With the above change, the “Quarantine procedure (Fast Track)” icon was removed on April 29 at 00:00 JST. [/Quote]

Two question. 1. Visit Japan Web – Can I complete all the process for the Vist Japan Web in advance before flying to Japan or are there certain parts where I have to complete only when reaching immigration 1) registration of Japan Web account 2) immigration information (ie, disembarkation card information), 3) customs information (ie, customs declaration)

2. Collection of JR Pass – Understand that only those who have passports bearing the Immigration stamp or sticker can exchange and use a JR Pass. Does that mean that we cannot use the Immigration E-gates?

Thanks Cae, I have updated my post to let people know vaccination is no longer required

1. You can complete all before arrival 2. Yes, this is correct. though I was not aware tourist (who qualify for JR pass) can Use E-gates?

Hi Melissa, thanks for the reply.

1. Just to clarify, can i complete the entire Visit Japan Web (including customs info) a week in advance? 2. How do i check if i can use the e-gates.

1. Yes you can, as long as you know your flight info. I think one of them asks for seat number if I remember correctly but I cannot remember if it was because of COVID. You can try and let me know! 2. I found this re: JR pass “When you use an automated gate at the airport, no stamp/sticker will be stamped or put on your passport. Therefore, you need to either use a manned automated gate or ask a clerk to apply a stamp/sticker in your passport. However, a customer who has a “registered user card” under the Trusted Traveler Program will be required to show the card to confirm the “Temporary Visitor” status.” ( Source )

• April 25, 2023

I believe Japan has now lifted any Covid vaccine requirements for entry. Effective May 8, 2023, you will no longer need to show Covid vaccination proof.

• April 26, 2023

Hey Nigel! Yep, you are right – just saw the news. VJW will still have the immigration and custom QR though, which will help expedite processes on arrival.

How about including elderies (patents) in the same Visit Japan Web account? Does it work? Or still need to register separately?

The reason being they are not tech savvy like us. So m thinking to include them in the same registered account.

Yes you can include them. But be prepared to flash their blue box on arrival!

• April 13, 2023

Hai, saya mau tanya , saya dan suami sudah mendapatkan barcode dan halaman biru untuk bagian sertifikat vaksin, namun anak saya yg berusia 1tahun masih berwarna merah , pdhal sudah saya kaitkan dalam anggota keluarga saya , apa yg harus saya lakukan ? terimakasih

• April 18, 2023

Hey Winona, buat anak yg berwarna merah tidak apa2, asal orang tuanya punya box biru.

• April 11, 2023

Hello! Does a Booster count as a third vaccination? Thank you for your helpful information 🙂

Usually it does, yes.

• April 10, 2023

Thank you for the very helpful write up.

I will be visiting Japan with my hubby. Wonder if I could just create one VJW account and input both our details (instead of having to create separate accounts). Would it work?

i have heard people do this and it works for them as long as you both receive the blue box on your respective profile

I will submit my vaccination certificates but it shows: Registration procedures: Time remaining to complete registration: 00 hours 00 minutes

And I can’t click the Register vaccination certificate button.

Anything I can do?

Hey it seems that you have exceeded the time given to complete the VJW process. Can you double check the arrival time you’ve provided? It should have expired 6 hours before your arrival. You can create another trip and redo the process.

• April 28, 2023

A bit confused here. Does that mean the whole registration thing have to be done on the flight as it will expire 6 hours before arrival?

Or is there a portion that I can do before flight take off and a portion that I need to do after touchdown.

Thanks in advance for the clarification.

Hey Mich, You can complete all before arrival. Btw, vaccination is no longer required to enter Japan

• May 6, 2023

Any idea if I were to travel to Tokyo, stay for a few days, then fly to Sapporo, then fly back home.

I just registered with the Visit Japan Web and updated a trip on Tokyo. Do i need to do another for Sapporo, so that I have a QR for “Immigration” and Customs again? And another for exiting Japan to fly back home?

Hey Mich, you only need to do it once when you enter Tokyo.

Hey, trying to register my trip and when I click it it asks for my VISA application info, but I don’t need one since I’m from the USA (just an overnight layover in Tokyo) heading back to LA from the Philippines. Not sure what to do as I don’t see any FAST TRACK info options at this point or anywhere else. Any ideas on what to do?

Hey Naundi, by visa, I assume you mean the “link VISA” option inside the trip detail on the VJW website? the visa part is a new step and it’s optional. If you won’t need a visa to Japan, then just skip that part and do the rest of the steps. right below it is the “Quarantine procedures (Fast track)” button that you’ll need to complete as detailed on the article above.

• April 8, 2023

Received attachment file vaccination healthcert.oa from Notarise email, is this the file to upload to Visit Japan Web?

I received my vaccination certificate on email from notarise but unable to save it as psf file, click on the printer icon nothing show up and I wonder is it because i read it on handphone not pc. Pls help. Thanks.

Hey Ronald, you can try uploading screenshots if you cant save it as PDF

• April 7, 2023

Thank you for sharing, I followed your steps and all gaps were so easy to fill up. One note: now it is possible to attaché 2 or more photos of vaccination certificate. Waiting for approval of vaccinate because I have only first dose Janssen and Pfizer booster. Wish me luck, All the best to you!

• April 6, 2023

Hi Melissa, what do i have to do?, I have a vaccination certificate and i cant load it, it turned yellow and says ” review completed”. I must have pushed wrong button while doing the process. Please help. Thanks

Hmm you can create a new trip and try submitting the vaccine certificate again? make sure you are meeting Japan’s requirement for vaccination

• April 4, 2023

I filled everything out and was accepted on the Visit Japan site, but I never got a QR code. Where is it? It didn’t appear when I did it on my computer, and didn’t appear when I did it on my phone.

Hey Stan, I need more info. Did you follow the steps I outlined above? there is no longer a QR code for the trip. You just need the blue box in the trip detail. For immigration and customs, the QR is inside the trip detail page.

• May 22, 2023

Same happend me , so is it a separate line for those who got the QR code ? O how is this going to work with out QR code , How can I see the QR code ? Inside my trip details .

Hey Carolina, Starting 29 April, you no longer need to provide covid vaccination. You only need Visit Japan Web to do immigration and custom procedures. To get QR code for those, you just need to click on the “display QR code” button inside the trip detail (scroll down to see it)

• April 2, 2023

Hello, if I will travel from Milan to Tokyo with a landing on Abu Dhabi (and wait 4 hours there), should I insert MILAN as Point of embarkation in custom declaration?

Furthermore I always used the Flight No./Name of Vessel of Abu Dhabi – Tokyo flight.

Hope I did the right thing 🙂

Thank you for your guide, it is amazing!

I am sorry if I do another question, but what is an Unaccompanied article? I don’t understand if I should include my luggage!

Thank you in advance, regards.

• April 3, 2023

Hey Zac, it usually means the luggage you check in vs the one you’re bringing on board

• April 27, 2023

Unaccompanied is not your check-in luggage, but other luggage you have sent separately to retrieve on your arrival. That’s my understanding, anyway.

Hey Zac. Yes i would do as you have stated – Milan as point of embarkation and the Abu Dhabi flight for the flight number

Just want to say, I love your post! Its very useful.

• March 27, 2023

Hello Melissa,

The last two legs of my flight have Japanese cities as destination: the first one to Tokyo and the next to Osaka (from Tokyo). For the purposes of VisitJapan, which one should I choose: the one that lands in tokyo (being the first to land in Japan), or the last flight which is actually from Tokyo to Osaka?

• March 28, 2023

i’m guessing you have to go through immigration in Tokyo then go to the local terminal to take your Osaka flight? If so I would put the Tokyo one. If you go through immigration in Osaka, then I will put Osaka one.

• March 26, 2023

Hi there thank you for the amazing information. Question for you. Is there a time limit on the booster? Meaning as long as it’s done before you leave it’s considered valid?

Also. If I choose to test instead. Do I just do everything I can and wait until I arrive in Japan or do I submit my test once I have results?

Hey TJ I think there is no time limit. I don’t see this requirement on the website. To be safe it should be done 14 days before your arrival in Japan though.

If you decide to test, submit it as soon as you have the result to VJW. But the test must be done within 72 hours of your arrival to Japan, not any time earlier.

Can you clarify VJW?

VJW = Visit Japan Web

• March 22, 2023

Hi there I need some help. After modifying some passport details I have been advised that the QR codes need to be updated as they do not update automatically. Could you please advise on this matter? Unfortunately nobody is answering my query on the Visit Japan chat.

Hey Violetta, where did you hear that you need to update the QR?

• March 23, 2023

Hello Melissa:)

Thank you for getting back.

A disclaimer appears right after the passport information changes are made. It says the following:

“Editing passport details will cancel your pre-registered quarantine Fast Track and will require details registered again. The created QR code is not automatically updated so update the QR code after checking the details registered”.

After that no further instructions are shown. I did refill the quarantine Fast Track details again, and also received an approval. However I’m afraid the QR codes might not work.

I also tried asking through the chat but had no answer.

Do you think I should erase my application and re-apply?

When you refill the fast track, did you do it through a separate trip? if so, it should be fine since the QR code would have been generated via the new passport detail

Thanks you for the detailed info. It’s been so helpful especially the updates. My query is – I have registered the whole family under one account so 2 adults and under 18 kids. I -as the primary account holder- have filled out one disembarkation card for foreigner and declaration of personal effects. Do I need to fill it out for the other adult and kids too? Thanks you.

Hey May, yes you have to fill out the card for each adult and kids too. You can do it via Visit Japan Web – you just need to select your kids names from the dropdown, which will allow you to access their disembarkation card too.

• March 21, 2023

I am currently filling in my fast track but what do I do if we are staying in multiple addresses in the one trip? Do I then need to add in each place we are staying in the trip?

You can just fill in the first address that you’ll be staying in

• March 20, 2023

This step by step is brilliant, thanks Melissa. It’s our first trip to Japan from Australia (April 2023). I registered all 4 of us using my iphone only (husband, 18, 16 yr olds) and have received blue boxes for all. All happened within a few hours. Very grateful to peruse this website and confirm I was doing it right. Easy once you get the swing of it, I anticipate our arrival will be much less stressful with all this sorted.

Hi Ellyanne, Thanks for the comment! I hope you’ll have a lot of fun in Japan, April is a great time to visit. Make sure everyone has their QR code screenshot on their mobile devices so that it will be easy to show! Once you have the Blue box, you should not be waiting in line at all and should proceed to immigration. There might be a line at immigration though.

• March 19, 2023

Thank you for the information on this page, it was very useful. I uploaded my Vaccination Certificate and the review was completed in 8 minutes! I was impressed.

Hey David. I’m glad you were successful! Have fun in Japan.

• March 18, 2023

I hope you can answer my question. I am travelling with my 2 boys -age 8 and 4. They do not satisfy the 3 vaccine COVID requirement so I put “will not submit” in the Fast Track section. I understand children under 18 have exemption as long as the accompanying parent/adult meets the covid requirements. Question is do I also put “No” under “Do you wish to do prior registration of a test result certificate taken less than 72 hours before departure” OR do I leave this bit unanswered- which means it will remain “Yellow” with the wording “Please register”.?

You can put No or leave it blank, it will remain yellow eitherway. They will be ok as long as you have the blue box!

On the vaccination certificate submission page, it wants a list of vaccine names and manufacturers, and then asks for the date of “third” vaccine. I have received 4 doses altogether as I have had a booster dose in February this year. Wondering if I should put the date of the latest 4th vaccine as the “third” one they are asking for.

Hey David. You can just put the date of the third one. It doesn’t matter when, they just want you to have at least 3 doses.

• March 16, 2023

Hi Melissa, how did you do the customs part one for the family? My mom, brothers and I will each have our own accounts on VJW, is there a category/part that we can list all our names for customs?

• March 17, 2023

Hey Eve, when doing the customs part, one of you just need to declare that you’re traveling with 2 other adult family member. Then you can all use the same QR code for customs.

I followed your steps to the letter and even completed the disembarkation and custom declaration portions. However when I clicked on quarantine procedures (fast track), I get this big blank space with a grey line going in circles. I have left it running for hours, even overnight and nothing happened. I have tried returning to the previous page and starting again and yet I am stuck at that blank page. I cannot get to the page to upload my vaccination certificate. Did I miss a step somewhere? I need to complete this quickly within the next few days. I would hate to have to join the long queues to do it manually at Narita. Help!

Hey Jeanie. Have you tried using a different browser or different device?

Thanks for the tip. Tried it on my tablet and it is working (being reviewed).

Awesome! Hope you get the blue box soon.

Hi Melissa! This is probably a very simple question, but wanted to confirm. When you filled out the Disembarkation card for foreigner, on the section for Immigration information to Japan– asking about “Last flight number”, is that referring to just my flight number? the word “last” is what confuses me. Thanks!

Hey Nica, they just mean the flight number you take to get to Japan. It’s possible some people take multiple flights to get to Japan and they just want to make sure you provide the flight number of the last leg

• March 14, 2023

Hi,we are flying to Tokyo and starting a cruise straight away. What go we enter as our address in Japan – the ship or the port?

• March 15, 2023

hmm! I would put the ship if they have an address

• March 13, 2023

Hi. Just want to ask do I need to do declaration of personal effects and unaccompanied articles for my child?. in the no of family member page its not allowing me to modify and because of that it says there 1 adult and 1 child travelling with my child. it should be 2 adults.

I can’t see how to make a comment so I thought I’d get my question in by doing this! The visit japan web just won’t accept my password no matter what I try and there is no answer that I can find to help me. All suggestions as to how to resolve this welcomed.

Do you mean when you’re creating an account or are you trying to log in to an account you’ve previously created?

Hey Jean. Is this for the customs declaration?

Hi. Yes melissa the customs declaration. is it optional for children?

For customs I have always just filled out one for the family, and my husband and toddler just goes with me

• March 11, 2023

Hi Melissa, thank you for your very clear guidance on the VJW. I have a bit of a problem. The name on my vaccination certificate is different from that on my passport. That is because my vaccinations were done in Hong Kong using my HK ID Card which bears my maiden name. My passport which was issued in Canada is in my married name. Recently, I made a sworn declaration before a government official in Hong Kong that both names refer to the same person. Should I upload that declaration along with my vaccination certificate? I’m sure there are others who are in a similar situation and wonder how they overcome this problem. Thank you.

Hey Monica, usually they are quite specific about having the names match. I suggest checking out this fb group and asking your question there: https://m.facebook.com/groups/913769919120863/

• March 12, 2023

Thank you Melissa. I just stumbled upon this in the Fast Track FAQ of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Q. What should I do if my family name changes due to marriage, etc., so the name on the vaccination certificate does not match the name on my passport? A. On the vaccination certificate, please use a pen or pencil to clearly write your name as indicated in your passport. Please upload an image of the certificate that clearly shows the full name you have written. Please note that your document might not be accepted if the names in the vaccination certificate and passport differ significantly (for example, neither your first nor family name actually matches between the two documents).

This might be the solution to my problem. I’m sending you this for the information of others who are in a similar situation.

hey Monica. Thanks for this info! It does indeed sound like it would solve the issue. let us know if you’re able to get through with this.

Guess what? I uploaded my vax certificate “as is” without putting my passport name on it and they accepted it. I suppose it’s because my first and middle names are exactly the same. Thanks for bearing with me!

that’s great to hear! Have fun in Japan!

• March 10, 2023

Hello! We took our PCR in the morning but our departure is 3:45 pm. When it says 72 hours, is that specific that we need to take it in the afternoon instead. I registered it and got completed. It gave me a blue color. That does mean I don’t need to take the PCR again? I was thinking to take it again. Please advise! Thank you so much 🙏

hey ana. if it’s more than 72 hours i would take it again. the airline might check when you are checking in for your flight.

• March 9, 2023

it was fabulous help thank you for registering.on Japan web.How do I use my registration when I arrive at the airport in Tokyo?

Hey Anna, if you have followed all the steps above, then all you need to do is show the Blue box when you land in Tokyo. Then if you complete the steps for immigration and customs, then you just need to show the QR codes for those.

• March 7, 2023

Hello, thank you for this information. But would just like to check, I already had 3 covid-19 vaccines but may last vaccine was January 2022 and I will be travelling this June 2023. Do I still need to provide negative RT-PCR test when entering Japan? Thank you very much.

Hi Jen, as long as you provide the 3 vaccine certificates and get the blue box as I outlined in the blog post, you won’t need to provide negative RT-PCR.

Hi I have just received Email to say ‘we have re received and accepted image ‘ for our quarantine but I had logged out of system and I don’t know how to get back in for taking a screenshot It seems to come up that you have to register Thanks

Hey jennifer, you can login here with the password you’ve created before https://www.vjw.digital.go.jp/main/#/vjwplo001

What if I don’t have a vax certificate? I only have vaccination cards. My country is inefficient and my shots cannot be found in their system.

You can take photos of the vaccination card and upload them to VJW, as long as your name, date of birth, the name of the vaccine, and the date you received the vaccine are clearly stated on the card. You can review the requirement here: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_vaccine.html

• March 6, 2023

Hi. Thanks for sharing this. I will be filling this up later. So from what I read above, there will no more QR code for the quarantine portion of the procedure but we can still do Fast Track. Am I right?

yes! you just need to submit your certificate or covid test and wait for the box to turn blue and you’re good

Hi I will be picking a JR pass which will need a stamp on my passport. Using the fast track system for everything including immigration and customs will I miss getting my passport stamped since everything is automated with the QR code or will there be an immigration officer that stamps the passport after checking your QR codes. Thanks!

hey AK. you’ll still get the stamp. They will just scan the QR on immigration.

Thanks for confirming!

Today 06-march-2023 I checked this site ( https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/ ) but it doesn’t have an option to upload certificates anymore.

“Notice No longer required to register your passport and answer the questions on the web for the Quarantine process (Fast Track) from Dec. 28, 2022. Due to these updates, QR code for Quarantine will not be shown any longer. The “Fast Track” service for quarantine procedure has been available in Visit Japan Web from November 1st, 2022.”

Hi Keenan, QR code is no longer generated but you can still do fast track online. in order to do fast track, you need to sign up for an account and upload vaccination certificate there. Please read the blog post from Step 1. It will tell you step by step what you need to do: https://girleatworld.net/visit-japan-web-how-to/#step-1

• March 4, 2023

Thank you so much for this detailed page explaining EVERYTHING. This was extremely helpful. My trip to Japan is in about 2 weeks (arrival on March 17). I started doing the “Quarantine Fast Track” yesterday. Submitted around 2pm USA Eastern Time. Later in the evening, around 8pm, my info was accepted. Living in the US, I have had the first 2 Pfizer shots, the first booster shot, then the second booster shot last September. I have 2 CDC cards, front and back. This gave me 4 jpeg files to upload. I used Adobe to combined the 4 jpeg into 1 pdf file, compressed it, then submitted it. It seems that you can only upload 1 file on Visit Japan Web. I was incredibly stressed about this part. Hope this helps my fellow USA residents. The rest (Disembarkation Card and Declaration) was super straightforward. Happy travels everyone!

Hi Phuong, thank you for this update and thanks for the tip about combining everything into one PDF!

Hi Melissa. Thanks so much for your detailed page. I am heading to Japan on coming April 20th. Can I just register for the Immigration Clearance & Custom Clearance weeks ahead together with the Quarantine Fast Track? Or they can only be registered on my fly day ? Thank you.

You can register everything with the fast track!

Hi! I am going to Japan on March 14th. My vaccines certificate has a front and back. When I went to upload them there were two places where I could upload vaccine certificates, so I uploaded the front card and the back card. Now my screen has been ” thinking ” for over 10 minutes. You know the little circle that keeps spinning. I am beginning to wonder if that is because I uploaded two separate files. I almost put them in one file, but when there was a place for two of them I went ahead. Now I am wondering if I should close out the screen and upload a collage of the front and back in one file? What do you think? Another question, I read in a different post that children 13 and up should complete their own account. Well the parent should complete their account registration on visit Japan web. Here I see it is 18 and above. Has anyone registered their 13 year old child on visit Japan web as a family member traveling with you? Because hotels in other organizations in Japan consider 13 and above as an adult fee, I thought that might apply here as well per the other post. Hoping someone has personal experience. Thank you so much! Getting nervous about this!

Hey Vicki, your 13 year old does not need their own account. You can add them to your account.

Hello, Thank you for all the details and clarifications. A question for traveling in Japan. If you travel with only two vaccines, will my friend have a problem entering temples, restaurants and going on public busses and the bullet train? Regards, Hanne

Hey Hanne, once you’re inside Japan, vaccine is not checked. But to enter Japan you’ll need a negative COVID test if you only had two vaccine shots.

• March 3, 2023

Thanks for the great info. When entering info regarding where we are staying. We are staying at multiple hotels do we just list the first one? When asked telephone contact number do we list our cell number or the hotel’s number

yes, I was staying in multiple places too and I just list the first one. I think for contact number it’s the accommodation’s number too.

• March 2, 2023

Thank you for your post, it definitely helps me a lot! Just a quick question, I accidentally uploded my Vacinnation document under my husband’s name and is now being reviewed. There is no button to cancel or edit. How can I amend this? Thank you.

Hey Shiqah, I think you just need to wait until the review is done. When it is rejected, you should be able to provide the correct certificate.

• March 1, 2023

Hi. When you move on to pre registration for quarantine procedures and scroll down past NOT YET REGISTERED and then past name and passport and arrival date.

there is a message saying

REGISTERING QR CODE FOR QUARANTINE PROCEDURES UPON ENTRY TO JAPAN IS NO LONGER REQUIRED. QR CODE IS NO LONGER DISPLAYED HERE.

Doeas this mean that the whole thing is a waste of time??

Hi. Is it still worth doing this as it is no longer mandatory?

It’s really easy to do, so I think it’s still worth it. You never know the situation when you’re landing. If they have a lot of people to check, it might take awhile. PS: VJW was never mandatory after border reopened.

Hi Melissa, We are almost finished with the quarantine portion and only need to send our 72 hours certificate in. The only problem, it says we timed out. Any suggestions.

Hey David. Did you input the correct arrival date and time to Japan? It should not have timed out. In this case all you can do is start over a new trip in VJW

But it says it won’t show a QR code

It won’t show QR code, but they will still check whether you have the blue box on top of your page. You could just show a screenshot of this though.

• February 27, 2023

Hi Melisa, thank you for the detailed guide. But just wondering, is this step compulsory prior to entering Japan?

• February 28, 2023

Hey Joanne, no completing VJW is not compulsory. However when you check in for your flight to Japan, you still need to provide your COVID vaccine certificate or a negative COVID test result 72 hours before your flight. Upon landing, you’ll be checked for these too. Otherwise, you would need to quarantine.

• February 24, 2023

I plan to bring my niece which is 15 & 16 years old to Japan. Both of them only 2 doses mean not fully vaccine. Can I add them to family travelling together in VJW if they are not my children? As of above , can my niece exempt from the 72hrs pcr test?

The VJW FAQ doesn’t specify they need to be your kids, so should be fine to add your nieces https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/faq/fasttrack-en.html

thank you for explaining it so perfectly clean. I have got also a question: I followed all of your steps and received my blue screen for the Fast Track. We are flying on the upcoming Sunday, 26th February 2023 at 1.30 pm Germany Time. In my Web its states that the Review is only valid until the same day (26th February 2023, 3.10 pm.) but because of the time difference we will land in Japan on the 27th February at 10.30 am Japan-time. Will the blue screen turn into another color or and will it loose its validity once it surpasses the validation time?

Thanks in Advance

Hey Angi, the countdown on VJW should be tacked on to your arrival in Japan. So your departure time should not matter. So if you had specified on the trip info that you’re going to land in Japan on 27 Feb at 10:30am, then the blue screen will stay throughout. Can you double check what you’ve specified on the trip?

yes, I wrote that we due to the time difference we would land in Japan on the 27th February 2023 at 10.30 AM. The VJW has had this information since we booked in December, nothing has changed then. So it should stay blue past the expiry date, which was mentionned in my Web? And what color would it turn from blue in case it wouldn’t be valid anymore?

Thanks in advance again

Thank you for this descriptive informations. I have done mine like 3weeks ago and I haven’t gotten BLUE on my quarantine part. I wonder how long does it usually take for it to turn to blue?

Hey Vincent, what does the status say on your vaccination certificate? If any of those has been approved, it will turn blue. Approval doesn’t take long, usually only 2-3 hours after you submit the certificate.

• February 22, 2023

Hello Again Melissa,

(1) Many thanks for your extremely prompt and helpful response – the whole process is much clearer now.

(2) You mentioned taking a screenshot of the blue box – is there any good reason why I shouldn’t do the same for the ‘immigration’ and ‘customs’ QR stages as well? This way, I wouldn’t have to worry about internet access at all.

Many thanks,

• February 21, 2023

Thank you so much for all your valuable information and inside knowledge. Your descriptions and explanations are admirably clear. I have a few rather elementary queries for you:

(1) How do I download a ‘Visit Japan Web’ app onto my iPhone? It isn’t listed on the official Apple App Store. (2) Perhaps I don’t need an app at all, in which case how do I transfer the QR codes (on my desktop computer) into my iPhone? (3) When I arrive in Japan, will I need access to the internet in order to show my QR codes? (4) I don’t understand the purpose of the ‘off-line’ facility. (5) In a nutshell, I don’t understand the overall ‘modus operandi’ of the whole system. I cannot find any such explanation anywhere else, so I’d be very grateful for a clear exposition.

Many thanks.

(1) It’s a web app, so just go to the URL I have above on Step 1 (2) You open the website on arrival and show to them the Blue box (3) Yes you will need internet access. That’s why most people just screenshot the blue box they received (4) I am not sure what you mean by off line? (5) The point of Visit Japan Web basically, for now, is a way to get everyone checked on their COVID vaccination status or COVID test so that they can enter Japan without quarantine. That is all!

• February 20, 2023

Hello Melissa

Thank you for this incredibly clear and complete documentation of the VJW and Fast Track. I could not figure out how to get from the registering step to the Fast Track itself. Your post saved the day. I had no clue that the “name” of the trip was a button to click to move on to the next step.

Just to be clear, after receiving the blue screen in fast track, you are done except for the disembarkation card/immigration clearance and the customs declaration?? Thanks for your help!

Yes! once you’ve go the blue screen, take a screenshot of it (because you might not have internet as soon as you land) and just show that screen and you’re good to go! I do recommend doing the disembarkation card and customs declaration though. it is optional in terms of the fast track, but you’ll still have to do it when you land anyway.

I’m really glad the post helped 🙂 I did find the Japanese app UX are often a little weird to those who are not used to how they think and operate!

• February 19, 2023

The immigration QR is in Yellow color, is it correct ? Or it has to be blue?

it needs to be blue

Hey Corin, sorry I just went back to this and realized you’re referring to the Disembarkation Immigration QR code. You are correct, that one is yellow. When I talk about blue screen, I’m only referring to the quarantine process.

Hello, i had been registered my daughter (15 years old) under my account as family member, did she need to register or fill-up the quarantine procedures, immigration clearance and customs declaration by individual to get the QR code?

I’m already registered and get the QR code for my self.

Hey Ivy, if you have added your daughter to your visit Japan Web account and declared that she will be going with you when you created the trip plan, then you can select her name from the dropdown. Upload her vaccine certificate if any. If not, just select that she will not submit certificate. Do the same for the covid test step. Her box will be yellow if you don’t submit certificate or covid test, but she will follow your quarantine status (which should be blue if you provide vaccination certificate or test negative for yourself)

• February 17, 2023

Hi Melissa, Can I check for the vaccination cert to be uploaded, can I just provide the QR code or need to be the full digital certificate? My trip is in 4 weeks time, when the earliest I can register for fast track entry? Thanks

• February 18, 2023

You have to upload the full certificate with your name, passport number and the vaccine name. You can already do fast track starting from now

• February 23, 2023

Have done exactly what you have shared. All is good & gotten the blue quarantine page & 2 QR code as required. Thank you so much 😊

Hi Melissa How can i register if I only land and depart in Japan on same day, so without an actual address (I fly into Narita and make my way to Haneda same day to fly onwards to Thailand)? It is required in the app, do i put in the address and phone number from Haneda Airport? Thank you Ward

Hey Ward, Yes it seems some people do this and succeeded. Let me know how it goes for you!

• February 16, 2023

Hi Melissa, thank you very much for this blog post! I already submitted my vaccination information and the screen turned blue as well but I‘m a bit worried as the countdown saying „time remaining to complete registration“ didn’t stop counting down. Is there anything I missed doing or isn’t it related to the validity of the blue screen?

Hey Marla, you don’t need to worry about the countdown. If the screen has turned blue, you’ll be fine. Double check that you have entered the correct date of arrival, because the countdown is tied to your arrival. If i remember correctly, it counts down to 6 hours before your plane lands.

• February 12, 2023

Hi, I am heading to Japan this coming June 2023. First of all, Your content is very helpful and detailed indeed. Kudos and it helps me with my confusion about their procedure. I am truly grateful.

I have a question about the section under register planned for Entry/Return. I have input the entry portion but it did not state any return info in it. Please advise if is only input only 1 time as entry? If we are heading back to Singapore, do they still need to see the fast track?

VJW is only for entry to Japan. There is no need to worry about the exit.

• February 11, 2023

If I want to enter Japan for a 12 hour layover and don’t have an accommodation could I still use Fast Track? The “Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Articles” ask for ” Address in Japan (Accommodation) “

Hey Andy, I’m actually not sure about this. It should be treated like any arrival card that you fill in in other countries. I have seen people’s account on reddit of putting the address as the airport’s address since they’re just transiting, so you could try that.

• February 1, 2023

Can confirm that you can add another adult to your application as family member. Did it last week and today 1Feb23 both our quarantine boxes turned blue. Got the other 2 QR codes for each of us immediately last week and took about a week for the quarantine one to be approved. Oh by the way thanks for the useful information on this page.

thank you Richard for this very valuable update!

• April 14, 2023

Hi Richard,

so you only needed 1 account for all your family including yourself? how did you/spouse/child show the QR to the officer since the checking done for each person? thank you

• January 29, 2023

Hi Melissa! Thank you for your information in this article; it helped me, but I want to ask several questions because it is the first time I have been going abroad by plane.

If I want to go to Fukuoka from Jakarta but with one transit in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) before Japan : 1. Is The “flight number” the first number plane before transit (plane number Jakarta-Ho Chi Minh City) or the plane after transit (Ho Chi Minh City-Japan)? 2. In “Preparation for customs declaration,” the country point of embarkation, in my case, is Jakarta or Ho Chi Minh City?

Thank you very much

• January 30, 2023

Hi Alya, I would do: 1. The flight number that enters japan, aka HCM – Japan 2. For this one, it depends whether you crossed immigration in HCM or not. If you just transited and changed plane, then I would put Jakarta. But if you went out of immigration in HCM and then back in to catch the next plane, then i would put HCM.

• January 27, 2023

How do I check for my registration status to know whether it has turned blue?

Hey Ezati, you go back to your VJW account and click on the trip name you made before.

Hi Melissa. I have a pdf document issued by NHS for 4 vaccinations. Do I upload the pdf or scan and upload 3 of the certificates?

Hey Carole, you upload whichever document states the name of your vaccine and when it was taken.

Hi again. They both do. I didn’t know whether the document(s) had to be in pdf format or a scanned pic. I haven’t started to fill in any of the forms, I am trying to collate all the documentation in the required formats before I begin. Thanks for your help.

Hey Carole, then the PDF is fine, no need to scan.

• February 6, 2023

Hi Melissa. Great post, bery helpful.

Just wonderinf if you have the answer to this query that I have. I have registered my parents under my account and get the blue box for all of us. While i understand from your post and previous comments that we can screenshot this blue box to get pass the quarantine check point, what about the QR code for immigration and customs clearance? Should I screenshot the QR code as well?

• February 7, 2023

Hey Wan, if you can get wifi / data in Japan, you don’t need to screenshot. Otherwise, yes, please screenshot those QR codes as well.

• January 23, 2023

I was wondering, how fast is the fast track produce actually? On average maybe if it’s hard to say.

I am used to the whole immigration process (from deboarding the aeroplane until arriving in the freely accessible arrivals terminal where all the shops are) taking at least 1.5 hours.

I’m just not sure how excited I should be for the Fast Track procedures 🙂

• January 24, 2023

the fast track eliminates the need to queue to get your vaccine / PCR test documents checked before the actual immigration process starts. i can’t say how much time it saves, depends on how many flights arrives at the same time as you. In my case it was totally worth it bc the line to check docs was quite long.

• January 18, 2023

HI Melissa, I have filled out the Visit Japan Web with the registration complete, however I did not received a QR code. I have gone over the website & faq questions but there is no clear answer. On one of the question & answer it says there is no longer a QR code displayed. I go into the registration again to complete the registration again and it states QR code may not be updated to register again! Do you have an answer?

When I fill out the quarantine questions I get a QR code right after I complete the questionnaire. Is this the same as the Visit Japan Web? Do you need 2 different QR codes or does this include the Visit Japan Web? Just wondering if you have some answers. Thank you.

Hi Kathy, it seems they have done away with QR code, so you don’t need to worry about it. In my experience from December 2022 as long as you show the blue screen they’ll let you through.

• January 16, 2023

Hi, Can i add my parents as family travel with me?Or I can only add infant who are not able to fill out the form? Thank you

I was under the impression that the function is only for kids and each adult needs separate account but i have heard experiences where people register other adults and they are still let through. just make sure your husband each have the blue box screenshot on their phones when you land, so that you can show it easier as you go through the check points.

• January 13, 2023

Hi. I registered and did everything already but I noticed you said to create one account per adult. I only signed up one account for me and I registered my husband under the details of family member traveling with you. You mentioned only kids are added here. Did I do it wrong and should I make another account for my husband still?

• January 10, 2023

Hi! Do I need my physical vaccination card? I submitted a picture of it and it was approved however, I am not sure if I will be able to locate the misplaced card or get a replacement prior to my arrival in Japan

we were never asked to produce the vaccination proof. In Singapore, we only have digital vaccination proof (govt doesnt issue physical card) and they were ok with it.

• January 7, 2023

Hello thank you so much for the information. I have filled in the forms and got the confirmation I don’t need to test to enter Japan due to having 3 jabs. My parents have also been registered with me under the same account. But I’m wondering do my parents need an account or can we share the same as it’s been approved already for each person.

Hey Dominic. I was under the impression that the function is only for kids and each adult needs separate account but i have heard experiences where people register other adults and they are still let through. just make sure your parents each have the blue box screenshot on their phones when you land, so that you can show it easier as you go through the check points.

• December 29, 2022

My Pre-registration for quarantine procedures is blue has “Review Completed” for Current Status, but no QR code. Do I need a QR code?

Thanks Melissa

This message is from the Quarantine Documentation Center (QDC) in Japan.

If you register on/after Dec 28 (Japan time), no need to register passport and Questionnaire Web online. So their is no QR code required for Quarantine Procedure,please present the top page of Quarantine pre-registration procedure when arrival.

Thanks Luke. You are correct. We now only need to provide vaccine certificate and that’s it! I will update my blog post accordingly.

• December 19, 2022

Hi Dear Melissa, if I have 2 covid vaccines + the 72h test before departure would it be possible to complete the registration?

• December 24, 2022

Yes, as long as the test is negative

Hi Dear Melissa, all helpful and clear. Just one question: if I have 2 covid vaccines + the 72h test before departure would it be possible to complete the registration?

• December 20, 2022

Yes, submit all the docs and see if your screen turns blue

Hi Melissa! Thanks so much for the helpful info but are you sure it’s at least “3”? For those who got Johnson Johnson (Janssen) it was only 1 shot and they didn’t need to get another after 6 months. Then those people were allowed to get a moderna booster a year later. Which would make the total 2 shots – not 3. Are you positive they only let you in if you had 3 total?

I see Janssen as needing 3 shots in the official requirements link: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_vaccine.html

Maybe you can try submitting your vaccine certificate anyways and see if your QR turns blue?

• December 21, 2022

sorry! i just noticed the footnote that says

* For the JCOVDEN intramuscular injection/Janssen and CONVIDECIA/CanSino Biologics only in case of primary series, one dose is considered equivalent to two doses.

Thanks so much Melissa! You’re amazing.

• December 15, 2022

thank you so much dear…all of the information is so helpful..finally managed to complete my son vaccination cert issues..thank u very much

glad I can help 🙂

• December 11, 2022

How about the Insurance part? We should fill in also if we have travel insurance?

• December 13, 2022

Yup, you can fill them in if you have an insurance but it is not required.

• December 10, 2022

I have received four covid vaccines, three in 2021 and one in 2022. Are they still valid to be recognized on Visit Japan Web? I am planning to take the fifth one in January 2023. Thanks.

You’ll be fine as long as you’ve taken 3 shots, no matter how long ago. Also check the type of approved vaccines – i’m not sure which one you took.

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Japan Fast Track Entry Update, Effective Nov 14

Japan Fast Track Entry Update!

A while ago, Japan Introduced the option to use the MySOS service which allowed travelers to breeze through quarantine procedures by pre-registering documentation for a smooth and seamless entry into Japan.

Recently, the Japanese government announced that the MySOS service will end on November 13, 2022, and passengers entering Japan will need to use a new service called Visit Japan Web from November 14, 2022.

• For travelers entering Japan before October 31, 2022, please use the "Fast Track" MySOS app .
• For travelers entering Japan between November 1 and November 13, 2022, who have already registered their documents through the "Fast Track" MySOS app by October 31, no further action is required. If registering on/after November 1, travelers would need to use Visit Japan Web.
• For travelers entering Japan on/after November 14, 2022, please use Visit Japan Web .

The information is subject to change without prior notice. We recommend customers confirm the latest requirements for Japan entry before making plans, as requirements continue to change. For the Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Home Page, click here .

Japan travel requirements 2024: What travelers need to know

We aim to keep this post updated about Japan travel in 2024 with official Japan travel restrictions, requirements, and health and safety guidance. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions so you can travel confidently, safely, and responsibly in this new post-pandemic world of ours.

Since travel restrictions can vary by citizenship, we will be focusing our post on rules that affect U.S. citizens.

Last update: April 6, 2024. Originally published: July 2022.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of our links, we may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

*  Get our free Post-Pandemic Travel Checklist  *

April 2024: “Tourism is really popular in Japan these days, and crowds can be difficult to avoid. T here are no more travel restrictions for Japan, so it’s a much simpler arrival process than last year. However, we still highly recommend filling out the Immigration and Customs form online for quicker arrival (see instructions below).  We showed our passports and QR code at immigration and customs, did fingerprints, and had no questions asked. Wifi in both Tokyo airports can be frustratingly slow, so it’s important to screenshot/download the QR code before departure so you can access it offline. Just as it was pre-Covid, there is a percentage of Japanese people who wear masks out and about in public.” – Michelle & Jedd, Intentional Travelers

At the end of the post, we share more on-the-ground perspectives from local residents and travelers to Japan so you can get a sense of what it’s really like.

Table of Contents

Is Japan open for travel? Can I travel to Japan right now?

As of October 2022 , Japan is open for tourism for independent travelers. Visa-free travel for selected countries, including the US, has been resumed.

Tourists with U.S. passports can stay in Japan visa-free for up to three months. Find details and rules for entering Japan from other countries here . 

Japan travel restrictions have been eased but travelers are asked to follow guidelines with regard to masks, social distancing, dining etiquette, and more.

As of April 2023 , a proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test are no longer required for all travelers arriving in Japan.

To facilitate the arrival process, it’s highly recommended to submit your information online through Visit Japan Web before travel.

Steps for Traveling to Japan: What to Know (2024)

For a smoother arrival, travelers to Japan can pre-register for airport Immigration and Customs   to receive the QR codes used for “Fast Track” at major airports across Japan.

We completed the Japan entry process in late March 2023 and again in early April 2024. It was admittedly a bit confusing, so I thought I’d share our experience and tips, as the process is still the same (apart from step 2).

1. Register at Visit Japan Web  

While the Fast Track/Quarantine procedures are no longer mandatory to complete in advance, I was glad I followed advice to pre-register through the Visit Japan Web site. 

The latest they say you can register is at least 6 hours ahead of your flight to Japan .

2. Submit your Covid documents in advance – NO LONGER REQUIRED

3. Register for immigration QR code

Returning to the main registration dashboard on the website, select the next module “Disembarkation Card for Foreginer,” which says it’s required for landing in Japan.

Some details pre-populated from from my profile. I selected Tourism for purpose of visit. Then there are three ways to report length of stay: year, month, day; as well as a few questions about any criminal background in Japan.

Once completed, a button “Display QR code” appears below the appropriate section.

Take a screenshot of the Immigration QR code and save it to your phone . It will have a yellow line above it.

If you don’t have the QR code , there are immigration cards available to fill out at standing desks located before entering the lines. Some people got all the way up to the immigration agent and were asked to step aside to fill out a card, which are also available next to each immigration stall.

The immigration line at Narita moved steadily but took about 25 minutes since several flights had arrived at once.

When I showed the QR code, the immigration officer simply took a headshot picture and fingerprint scans, then stuck a “landing permission” stamp in my passport for 90 days. No questions asked.

4. Register for Customs QR code

Returning again to the main dashboard, finally select “Preparation for customs declaration.” This registration allows travelers to go through an electronic declaration gate, which wasn’t super clear once we were at the airport.

I entered my flight origination (Hanoi) and number of family members with me (1). Then there’s the usual customs questions – type of goods, prohibited items, monetary funds, alcohol, cigarettes, souvenirs over 200,000y.

Again, take a screenshot of the Customs QR code and save it to your phone . It will have a blue line above it.

At Narita, the customs line for QR codes are labeled “electronic declaration” in blue. There are also kiosks that allow QR code, card, and duty free, as well as those that are for physical customs card only. The lines weren’t too long so it didn’t matter much which line we chose.

The customs officer had us scan our QR code and we could see our entered data displayed on an over-sized tablet-like device at the desk. No questions asked, we proceeded to exit the airport.

5. Sign up for travel insurance

It’s recommended to obtain insurance to cover medical costs related to COVID-19 in Japan. For travel insurance that covers Covid, we use Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing.

Quarantine rules in Japan: What happens if I get Covid?

Travelers are not required to quarantine upon arrival in Japan, provided that they are not suspected of having Covid-19. See details here . 

Residents report that quarantine rules for testing positive may no longer be enforced anymore.

Previously, foreign tourists who tested positive for Covid while in Japan had to contact a local consultation center . A 7-10 days quarantine at a government-designated accommodation facility was required with all costs covered by the visitor.

The quarantine period could end within 7-10 days depending on the symptoms and/or negative COVID-19 test result. See details here .

Can I travel to Japan in April? Can I travel to Japan this Spring?

Travel to Japan in April is open . See details above and check back for updates.

Is it safe to fly to NRT Narita or HND Haneda International Airport ? Health screenings and body temperature checks are no longer in place at the airport. Wearing of masks is no longer required on flights or in the airports, though masking is still widely practiced.

Stringent cleaning and seating limits are implemented.

What is it like to fly to Japan right now? All Nippon Airways reports that masks are now optional. Additional procedures are in place at Immigration – please see details above.

Do Americans have to quarantine when traveling to Japan? No . See quarantine details above.

Does Japan check COVID-19 symptoms of incoming travelers? Health screening procedures such as temperature checks and simple symptom questionnaires are typically not in place at ports of entry anymore.

Does Japan require a negative Covid 19 test for travelers? A negative test is no longer required to enter Japan as of April 2023.

Does Japan require a proof of Coronavirus vaccine for travelers? A proof of Coronavirus vaccine is no longer required to enter Japan as of April 2023.

Do I still need to provide a negative Covid test or quarantine if I have been vaccinated? No. A negative Covid test, quarantine, or proof of vaccination are no longer required to enter Japan.

Is a booster shot required for travel to Japan? No. A booster shot is no longer required to enter Japan.

What Covid testing options are available for travelers? PCR and/or antigen tests are available for travelers in Japan. Travelers should contact the local consultation center  to determine the location of testing facilities within Japan. A non-comprehensive list of some COVID-19 testing facilities can be found here .

Test results are available within 24 to 72 hours but many labs can return results in a matter of hours. PCR test costs vary from ¥2,500 to ¥16,500.

What healthcare options are available to travelers in Japan who get the virus? Japan hospitals and clinics are open. Foreign visitors are required to secure a medical insurance which that will cover medical costs in case they contract COVID-19 in Japan.

For travel insurance that covers Covid, check out Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing >

What service businesses and restaurants are open in Japan ?  Businesses and restaurants in Japan are open. Some businesses may require their own mask rules or capacity limits.

What public gatherings are allowed in Japan? Public gatherings are allowed in Japan subject to safety guidelines.

Are face masks required in Japan? As of March 2023, wearing of face masks in Japan is recommended but no longer required. 

Face masks are almost universally worn in public, especially in urban areas, indoors and on public transportation. The Consulate website states that failure to adhere to mask-wearing norms reflects poorly on foreign visitors.

Are buses running in Japan? Trains, buses and taxis are running as usual in Japan.

How has the Coronavirus impacted Japan?

Japan managed impressively well compared to most countries in the early days of the pandemic. Although Japan has been previously in a State of Emergency, the lockdowns were less disruptive on Japanese daily life.

However, Japan’s inbound tourism business lay dormant for years. Japan finally began easing restrictions in 2022 and reopened to travelers in June with strict entry requirements. 

Japan finally eased entry requirements for travelers in October 2022 making it easier for travelers to visit the country. Visa-free travel has also been resumed for select countries.

Vaccination in Japan started later than some other countries. Around 80% of the population has been vaccinated and 64% had received a booster shot.

Tourism is now back with record numbers of visitors, however, staffing shortages have not fully recovered.

For the current situation in Japan, including: total COVID-19 positive cases; total cases in Japan; and COVID-19 testing in Japan, please see the Japan Ministry of Health site .

What should you pack for safely traveling in Japan?

😷 Face Masks -Face coverings are recommended and widely used in public places. Find N95 masks at Bona Fide > or designer options at Vida >

💊 Medicine – Bring enough prescription and over-the-counter medication for your entire trip to avoid trips to the clinic.

💳 Vaccine Card Holder – Protect that paper CDC card when traveling abroad (if your country doesn’t offer a digital version). Get a simple plastic protector > or Vegan leather clippable > or Leather passport + card combo holder >

👃 Covid self-test – The most studied rapid antigen self-test with FDA emergency authorization.  NOT valid to enter countries. Use for your own peace of mind. Order from CVS > or Walmart >

💧 Sealed water bottle – Make sure your reusable water bottle has a lid that’s not exposed to the air. We use one of each of the following: Shop insulated water bottles with protective lid > Shop water bottles with purification filter and protective lid >

✈️ Travel insurance that covers Covid – We’ve started using Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing for affordable evacuation, international medical, and trip coverage.

What do Japan locals and recent travelers say about visiting Japan now?

What is it like to visit Japan right now? It’s our goal to provide regular updates here from real people on the ground, to help potential visitors know what to expect. The following are subjective opinions only. Official travel guidance can be found above.

January 2024 – Brandon of Zimminaroundtheworld , expat living in Japan: “Japan is seeing an increase in tourism now that the country is open to visitors. Many visitors are traveling to Tokyo and Kyoto but some towns and cities like Nikko, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, and Naha are also seeing rises in tourism. 

Currently there are no travel restrictions within Japan unless it is due to environmental catastrophes like the earthquake that occurred in Ishikawa Prefecture recently. Access to healthcare in Japan is easily available and affordable. Although foreigners can sometimes pay up to 200% more for healthcare it is still cheap.

Many attractions and famous sites around Japan especially in Kyoto and Tokyo are crowded with lines that are longer then expected. In general, restaurants in Japan are smaller and can only able to accommodate up to ten people or fewer and the space can feel cramped. Like anywhere else, keep an open mind and be flexible and there will be no problems while traveling around Japan.”

September 2023 – Jackie Szeto of Life of Doing , American traveler: “My husband and I traveled to Tokyo and Nikko, Japan for vacation in September 2023. Expect large crowds at major attractions, restaurants, and trains in major cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto. Visiting other destinations such as Nikko is a nice change of pace with fewer crowds, especially on the weekdays. 

It’s recommended to complete the Immigration and Customs declaration on the Visit Japan Web to expedite arrival, but it’s not required. When landing at international airports, the QR codes for Immigration and Customs are still accepted. Otherwise, all COVID protocols have been dropped in the cities. Antibacterial hand sanitizer is still provided at entrances of hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers. Some people still wear masks in crowded areas and on trains, but most go mask-free.”

May 2023 – Sophie Pham of Delightful Travel Notes , traveler: “My husband and I were traveling in Japan for 11 days from May 11-21, 2023 for our vacation. I found that Japan had already welcomed visitors with open arms, free of earlier restrictions. The return of both domestic travelers and international tourists created a lively atmosphere, and crowds could be seen in a lot of places.

In May, it took us 45 minutes to clear immigration at Kansai International Airport after landing at around 7:45am.

All attractions and food venues were fully open, with no social distancing measures or mandatory mask rules, although some restaurant servers, locals, and taxi drivers still chose to wear masks. Some famous restaurants had long lines again, and popular attractions like Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, and Senso-ji-ji could get crowded during the day. If there’s a particular popular restaurant you want to try, it may be best to make your dinner reservation in advance, especially for weekend. Overall, everything is lively again and we had a great time.”

March 2023 – Michelle, Intentional Travelers, American visitor: “We enjoyed a two day layover in Japan. The online procedures and QR codes were a bit confusing but I highly recommended doing them in advance of travel to make your arrival smoother.”

February 2023 – Joel, US traveler: “For the most part the Japanese are wearing masks. I’d say mask wearing is at about 99%. Despite the crowds in the city and packed trains and subways, it honestly feels way safer than generally any place in America where mask wearing is far from the majority. ANA enforces a mask wearing requirement whereas United is pretty much a free for all.

One key thing that is good to know is at the ticketing counter they need to know your return flight info when initially checking in. We had all the other Japan travel docs as far as the gov mandated requirements but this one kinda caught us off guard. The immigration line may seem staggering but it moves. ” 

January 2023 – Lizzie of Wanderlust & Life , UK traveler: “I flew to Tokyo in January 2023 for 3 days as part of a stopover between Australia and the UK. For us it felt like the country is so happy to welcome tourists again. We were slightly worried about visiting or entry restrictions changing last minute but the airline kept us up to date and apart from filling out a lot of forms on arrival it felt quite normal being there. 

As Japan only opened recently there weren’t as many tourists as we were expecting which was a plus really. We were made to feel so welcome in the country.

Masks are mandatory indoors and everyone seemed to be following this. The vast majority of people were also wearing masks outdoors too. Sanitiser is readily available in restaurants and tourist attractions. We didn’t encounter any contact tracing or even requests to show covid passes. The only frustration we had was that we flew JAL and we had to wear masks our whole flight which was about 14 hours in one go and this was enforced by cabin crew.”

November 2022 – Darryl H., New Zealand traveler:  “My visit to Japan involved a return to the sort of measures that, in my home country of New Zealand, had been abandoned some time ago. The first action on arriving at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, with my mask firmly in place, was to allow officials to check and confirm I had complied with mandatory online registration of evidence of my vaccination status. Once this had been done, the arrivals process was pretty much standard.

During my 10-day stay, I experienced no restrictions on my movements or activities. The differences were in the roles of masks, sanitiser and – in some instances – distancing. The wearing of masks indoors and on public transport is close to one hundred percent, whether or not they are demanded. Outdoors, in most situations, they appear to be worn by at least 98 percent of people, although in some areas later in the evening there is an obvious relaxation in standards – especially among younger people. While most tourists appear happy to comply with the standards followed by locals, the proportion of non-mask use by non-Japanese is clearly larger than by Japanese. At no stage did I see any visitor reproached for this.

There is sanitiser on hand (pun intended) everywhere. It is probably accessed by about a third of people. There are many locals who are fastidious about sanitising.

While I observed no enforced distancing on public transport or in the street, it is definitely in place in cafes and other eateries. Most places I visited had plastic partitioning between patrons, and crosses to discourage the use of every second seat. Groups or couples are, of course, welcome to sit together.

The buffet breakfast in my hotel illustrates all three of the above differences. When I arrived at breakfast each morning, masked of course, the attendant ensured that I first sanitised my hands and then put on plastic gloves. Only then could I approach the serving implements and food. I would then sit on one of two seats (the second having a cross on it), both of which were partitioned off from the next pair of seats. Seats with another seat opposite were separated by another plastic partition. If I wanted to return to the buffet for more food, I first had to remask and re-glove. Once I forgot the gloves, and was politely turned back before I could touch the serving implements.

It is not uncommon for Japanese hospitality venues to give high priority to cleanliness, but there seems to be super-high priority now. Where in New Zealand I might expect a quick wipe over of a table between customers, in Tokyo it now appears to be a thorough and sometimes deep clean.

The precautions in no way reduced my pleasure in revisiting Tokyo. And they increased at least my perception of being protected.”

September 2022 – Jackson, American visitor: “Traveling to Japan reminded me of the COVID situation in Hawaii a year ago. People go about their day with a medical mask. Every store front has hand sanitizers and thermo cameras. COIVD testing and vaccination clinics are common place. Despite these COVID precautions, Japanese residents and businesses continue to welcome visitors with refreshing grace and hospitality. Japan’s  omotenashi , beautiful scenery, and extraordinary delicacies are worth exploring and appreciating, but can tempt visitors into overlooking the uncertainty that underlines Japan. I hope visitors will take the time to learn about the challenges of the Japanese people and reciprocate Japan’s hospitality with a gracious thank you.”

Aug 21 2022 – Y., American Japanese dual citizen: “ I returned from visiting family in Japan two days ago. Travel is still tough. The plane was empty – only 20 passengers on a big airplane. My pre-travel Covid test was 10 minutes earlier than the required 72 hours so I was turned away at the airport. I scrambled to find a last minute PCR test with rapid results and rush back to the airport.”

August 2022 – Christine, American visitor: “Japan isn’t currently open to tourists. I was there for a school conference, and had to get a conference visa. One has to get a visa for Japan in advance and you can only get one with an EFRS form filled out from someone in Japan.

I had to have a negative PCR test from within 72 hours of departure time. There’s eased quarantine procedures, which depend on the countries you’ve been to in the previous 2 weeks. And you have to have the MySOS app on your phone because they might check up on you. It also expedites your entry because you can upload all the necessary forms/COVID test/questionnaire ahead of time.

Everyone wears a mask everywhere, and they’re available for cheap at convenience stores. Because I was on a university’s campus most of the time, I had to report my temperature and if I was having any symptoms to the University every day.”

July 2022 – Brandon of https://zimminaroundtheworld.com , Expat in Japan: “Currently Japan is only doing guided tours for international tourism. Travel entry for normal tourism is not an option at the moment. I recently took a trip around central Japan and visited a variety of cities and saw hardly any tourists. It’s nice to get great photos of popular attractions without crowds of people in the photos. But at the same time, it is taking a toll on the economy. I’ve seen shops and restaurants struggle to survive here and locals begging for tourism to come back.

Masks have been worn in Japan even before Covid. To this day, the majority of the population wears masks and obeys the rules, this includes both foreigners and locals. I wear a mask when leaving my apartment and only take it off when social distancing can be achieved or while eating at a restaurant. The positive aspect about Covid is that there are no long lines to enter attractions or eating establishments. I feel public transportation is safe here as the Japanese are very good and sanitizing everything.”

Planning a trip to Japan?

Check out our other Japan travel resources: – Great Things To Do Around Iwakuni, Japan

If you have questions or updates about travel to Japan during the Coronavirus crisis or post-pandemic, please let us know in the comments below.

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Disclaimer: Please note, travel restrictions change frequently. Readers must take responsibility for verifying information through official sources like the State Department and CDC, in respect to their specific situations. No responsibility can be accepted by Intentional Travelers for action or inaction as a result of information provided through IntentionalTravelers.com. Any information provided here is issued as general information only.

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Hi Great article ! I noticed you have been vaccinated once with JJ (same here) . You mentioned the requirements for boosters but it sounds like you haven’t had a booster? I tried to sort through the link page but couldn’t find any further info. So my question is I’m planning to travel after May 8th with 1 JJ vaccination, I’m Canadian, but will be coming from Indonesia. Thanks for any insight you might have

Hi and thanks for visiting our blog. While we had the single JJ vaccination, we also had boosters. I mentioned it because the Japan entry form allows you to essentially count JJ as two shots out of the three that are required. In other words, at least one booster is currently required for entry to Japan. That said, vaccine documentation will no longer be required after May 8 so you shouldn’t have to worry about it.

I am travelling to the US from Australia via Japan in September. I fly with JAL, from Melbourne (MEL) arriving at Haneda International Airport (HND), but need to fly out of Narita International Airport (NRT) to New York (JFK).

I would like to know if I will be allowed to travel, via Japan, in September.

Australia is in Blue Category and I have had 3rd dose of Covid vaccination.

I look forward to your reply soon.

Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say what will be possible in September, as we do expect the rules to change over time. Currently, foreign travelers are limited to package tours and may not use public transit. To find out if any exceptions can be made for transit between airports, you can try the Japan visitor hotline .

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Step by step: Japan arrivals experience

Japan's arrivals process is straightforward provided your Visit Japan Web registration is in order, but immigration queues can be a wild card.

Hello from Japan! 

You might remember that I was originally planning to head over in late October, but a last minute bout of illness meant I had to postpone the trip and change the logistics quite a bit- I’ll be updating the trip planning post soon. 

In the meantime, I wanted to provide some details on what exactly happens on arrival in Japan. When Japan’s reopening was being mulled, many people speculated that there’d be all sort of hoops to jump through- like South Korea during the early days of the VTL and their two-hour arrival process!

I’m pleased to report that’s not the case at all. In fact, 90% of the work is done  before  you depart for Japan, and once you land, the process is relatively straightforward. The main thing you need to worry about are immigration queues, which can either be a non-issue or a major headache.

Before departure: Visit Japan Web registration

Here’s the single most important thing to do before your trip: register on the Visit Japan Web (VJW) portal and complete the following three sections.

• Quarantine (Fast-track)
• Immigration

This will take about 10-15 minutes, not counting the waiting time for approval. You must complete this at least six hours before arrival in Japan if you wish to take advantage of fast-track.

Completion of each section will generate a separate QR code which you’ll show on arrival to expedite procedures. 

I’ve already written a detailed guide to the process, so refer to the article below for a walkthrough.

Visit Japan Web: How to register

The key thing is to take screenshots of all three QR codes before departing Singapore.

In my experience, the free Wi-Fi at Tokyo-Haneda Airport can be spotty. Some people got held up because they couldn’t connect to the Wi-Fi network to load their codes, while those who had screenshots breezed through. 

(1) Fast-track

On arrival in Japan, prepare your first QR code (the blue fast-track one). There will be ground staff at the aerobridge waiting to sight the blue confirmation screen. Once they do, they’ll issue you a blue card that grants access to the fast-track lane. Those with yellow or red screens will be channelled into another lane for assistance. 

At the head of the line, you’ll be assigned to a counter where another staff member will scan your QR code and check your passport. 

This takes less than a minute, and you’ll be issued a Health Card (basically an instructional sheet of Japan’s COVID regulations) and sent to immigration upon completion. 

(2) Immigration

Immigration is going to be the biggest wild card in the arrivals process.  I’ve seen drastically different data points, with some people having close to zero wait and others spending hours queuing.

The day I arrived was more like the latter. The queue for non-Japanese nationals was snaking around numerous times when I arrived (at 6 a.m on a Tuesday morning), and new passengers kept coming. Only six immigration counters were open, and if I had to guess, I’d say the wait time was at least 90 minutes. 

Fortunately, I have an ABTC, which let me use the APEC lane only seven people deep. 

(3) Customs

After clearing immigration, collect your bag from the carousel and look for one of the electronic customs declaration kiosks. Load your third and final QR code (customs) and approach any available kiosk.

Remove your mask for photo taking, insert your passport and scan your QR code. Reconfirm your customs declaration, and hit “submit” when satisfied. 

The kiosk will not print any sort of confirmation. Proceed directly to the exit; the photo taken by the machine will be used to recognise your face and trigger the exit gate. 

The total time from aircraft to exit for me was just over 20 minutes , but that’s because I skipped the lines at immigration with the APEC card. If not, I could easily see myself waiting much longer.

So my biggest advice would be to move quickly as soon as you disembark from the aircraft. Use the toilet before landing; 5 minutes in the loo can mean an extra 50 minutes wait, and I’m not kidding about that. Get your QR codes prepped and ready too, so you don’t get held up at step (1) while the immigration queues grow. 

Entering Japan is a fairly straightforward exercise, provided all your paperwork is in order. That’s something which can be done before departing Singapore, and the main concern is really immigration queues. 

If you’ve had experience flying into Japan via other airports, do share it below!

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Our arrival into FUK in Nov was almost nightmarish, and sad to say, for what was experienced, was quite unnecessary.. In summary, whilst the workflow process was fine, the number of people deployed at “checking QR Codes” vs “Immigration Counters” was grossly imbalanced, with over twenty people doing the former and just (during the two hour wait we experienced) between just three and four people actually processing passports (that’s including APEC/ Diplomatic lane, which had zero purpose as every was herded into one line). The result: Immigration queues was horrendous, in a warm (temperature) hall, infants in strollers or arms …  Read more »

I noticed the same. They deployed a lot of people for step 1, but immigration counters woefully understaffed

Heard that they are scrapping step 1 within this month. So less issues there.

People for step 1 could be just part timer / temporary stuff, which can be easier to employ more if needed, while immigration steps must be proper officers which is harder to scale up.

What you said is also sometimes true at changi recently….

Hi Aaron, I know everyone has to do fast track and immigration individually. What about the custom declaration? Can one person fill in the form for the whole family? Thanks!

I will say the Immigration QR code is a wild card. I did the QR code, but the queue was super long (i estimate a 1hr) I then took the paper form, complete it and walk to the counter serving the paper one (that was like 5min), bypassing the immigration checking queue

So do keep your eyes open and look out.

Thanks for the tip! Which airport is this? I will be traveling to FUK soon. Will keep a look out for the paper form. Is this the same one that they issue on board the plane before arrival?

interesting! i didn’t know they had separate lines for paper vs QR- at HND i only saw one line (but i didn’t look super closely)

Any idea how long more would yellow and red category take? Shame that they have to divert children not eligible for vaccination to be default as non fast track.

My phone has Yellow (due to unvaccinated child) and Blue (for myself). U can show the blue screen to get the blue card at aerobridge, then go into the fast track blue lane to scan both the Blue and Yellow QR code at the same terminal, it’ll be ok. I went through Haneda at end Oct with SOS App.

Aaron, I was mentioning in your post on the “How to Register Visit Japan Web” that I didn’t need to wait long at the immigration step even with paper form, I was entering Japan via Narita.

I guess Haneda may be a preferred airport to enter for many since it is much nearer to the city, hence the longer queue.

Can the child setup their own pass for entry instead tag to the parent?

Do they accept a printed QR code or do you have to show a screenshot of the app (or the app itself if you have wifi) on your phone?

i dont think they care about digital/physical- all the want is the code

Just landed today in NRT and those distributing the fast lane paper (not blue card) did not accept screenshot. You need to login and show them that the screen is scrollable.

I landed at Narita on the 3rd week of October. As I completed the then MySOS app, I was ushered to the queue to the immigration. There was an extremely long line of people who didn’t complete the app prior to arrival and they were seated in another queue frantically filling up some forms. It took me 30 minutes to clear immigration. There were many counters but the queue was long. There was no autogate clearance for foreigners.

I guess morning arrival from HND is not great – with lots of flights from SEA and US. I have traveled out and in this country over 5 times this year and never experienced one queue like this, including arrival last night.

It just demonstrates how pedantic the Jp government/authorities are They want foreign spending but it’s not fun when you have to jump theses hoops to enter.

On the website, it says the QR code is required for both arrival and departure. Can I check if this is the case? Do i need 2 sets of QR code (i.e. 6x QR Codes) or just 1 set (i.e. 3x QR Codes) for the same trip.

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Fast Track Implemented to Airports in Japan

Latest news in procedures for entering Japan as of March 9th, 2022

As Japan is slowly moving towards re-opening its borders, the simplification of quarantine procedures when arriving in Japan is a task that needs to be solved.

Several changes have been implemented throughout these two years and things have become better. Regarding this matter, on March 9th, 2022, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan made an announcement.

In this article, we will show you the details of this announcement.

Announcement on March 9th, 2022

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (外務省) made an announcement on March 9th, 2022 regarding the implementation of Fast Track to Airports in Japan.

The announcement consists of the following three points.

Starting on March 9th, 2022, pre-registration using Fast Track will be valid at the following 5 airports in Japan.

• Narita International Airport (成田国際空港)
• Haneda Airport (羽田空港)
• Chubu Centrair International Airport (中部国際空港)
• Kansai International Airport (関西国際空港)
• Fukuoka Airport (福岡空港)

Fast Track can be used by downloading the mobile app “MySOS”. By using Fast Track, you can shorten the quarantine procedures when arriving in Japan by completing the following before your flight:

• Questionnaire
• Vaccination certificate
• Test certificate (test taken no more than 72 hours before departure)

For more detailed information regarding the usage of Fast Track, you can visit the official Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website. The following are the links.

▶About Fast Track: https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/fasttrack/en/

▶Fast Track FAQ: https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/faq/fasttrack-en.php

▶About MySOS: https://teachme.jp/111284/manuals/14631275

*For inquiries, you can call the Coronavirus Consultation counter of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

TEL: +81-3-3595-2176 (Service available in English, Chinese, and Korean)

For more context

What is fast track.

Fast Track is a system implemented to make quarantine procedures in advance, before entering Japan. This can be done using the mobile app “MySOS”.

By using Fast Track, you can complete the following procedures prior to entering Japan.

*Note: This pre-registration needs to be completed no more than 16 hours before your arrival to Japan.

Before this announcement

Ever since the pandemic started until February 2022, quarantine procedures were all made after arriving in Japan. This made that people had to wait for long periods of time before they could finally enter the country.

Starting on March 1st, 2022, trial usage of Fast Track was taking place at Haneda Airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport, Kansai International Airport, and Fukuoka Airport.

And now, with the announcement of March 9th, Fast Track will also be valid for people entering Japan from Narita International Airport.

This change takes place starting on March 9th, 2022.

This should make the quarantine procedures much quicker and more efficient. This is good taking into account that, hopefully, border measures should be getting less strict in the near future.

▽Related Articles▽

Born and raised in Costa Rica, I started living in Tokyo from college. I love traveling within Japan & around the world. Since I wasn’t born in Japan, I know the cultural impact that you can get when visiting Japan for the first time and what you might be worried about before your trip. And I’ve lived long enough to somewhat understand the nuances of the Japanese culture that make this country such an attractive place to visit. Hopefully I can provide to you both the information you’re looking for and the information you didn’t know you needed to know.

Japan: Online Fast-Track Entry Procedures

• Japan will transition some entry procedures to an online system allowing foreign nationals to submit travel documents and complete some custom steps before entry

The government of Japan will integrate fast-track entry procedures into the country’s online immigration service on November 1, 2022. Fast-track procedures allow foreign nationals to enter all COVID-19-related information, immigration details, and customs declarations online before entering Japan.

The government also provided additional information on the steps for completing fast-track entry procedures, including instructions for creating an account. Foreign nationals who completed the fast-track entry procedures through the MySOS application will still be permitted to use the application until January 13, 2023.

What are the Changes?

The government of Japan will transition fast-track entry procedures onto the government’s website dedicated to ensuring safe entry into Japan. The website will also allow foreign nationals to submit passport and travel documents and complete custom declaration requirements before entering Japan. According to the government announcement, these measures will allow quicker entry into the country.

Looking Ahead

Continue to check the government of Japan’s website for the latest updates and information.

Written by: Jessie Butchley, Global Immigration Writer, Envoy Global Source: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

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Visit Japan Fast Track registration

Watch CBS News

When is the next total solar eclipse in the U.S.? See the paths for the 2044 and 2045 events

By Cara Tabachnick

Updated on: April 9, 2024 / 2:31 AM EDT / CBS News

Eclipse-watchers waited more than six years since the last time a total solar eclipse charted its way across the United States,  in 2017 . After the  April 8 event , prepare to wait a lot longer — the next chance won't be coming around any time soon.

Viewers in what's called " the path of totality " saw the moon completely block the sun  — an opportunity those in North America won't have again for 20-plus years. The next total solar eclipses in North America are not anticipated until 2044 and 2045.

"A total solar eclipse is one of the most spectacular things anyone can see in their lifetime," Virginia Tech astrophysicist Nahum Arav told CBS News. The eclipse "looks like a black hole in the sky," said Arav, who watched the paths of totality of eclipses in 1991 and 2017.

Monday's eclipse started around 11:07 a.m. PDT on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, and then moved into Texas . The eclipse's visibility tracked  through 15 states  — Oklahoma, Illinois , Ohio,  Pennsylvania , New York , Vermont ,  New Hampshire  and Maine , among them — before heading northward into Canada and then exiting North America.

Even with spotty weather in some states, millions of people from coast to coast saw a partial solar eclipse, in which the moon partially covers the sun. However, only those within the path of totality experienced the darkness of the total solar eclipse. 

When is the next total solar eclipse in the U.S. after the 2024 eclipse?

Solar eclipses happen about twice a year, said Arav. "Eclipses happen all over the Earth evenly," he told CBS News — but noted the timings when they occur are not regular. That means  eclipses can occur within just a few years, or every few decades, in North America.

Before the eclipse in 2017, the last total solar eclipse to cross North America was in 1979 . That was the first eclipse whose path of totality crossed the entire continent in 99 years. 

Even though eclipses may seem to occur randomly, scientists can pinpoint exactly when and where they will happen.

"There is no ambiguity, as we know exactly where it will land," said Arav. 

There will be eight total solar eclipses visible from North America in the 21st century, Arav said, with one occurring about every 12 years, on average.   

The next total solar eclipse to cross North America is predicted to occur on Aug. 23, 2044 , NASA said. However, the path of totality from this eclipse will only touch three states, according to  The Planetary Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to public interest in space.  

This next eclipse will mainly be observed in Canada, Arav said. 

Path of totality for the 2044 total solar eclipse

The 2044 eclipse will start in Greenland on Aug. 23, 2044, and will continue its path through Canada. 

The 2044 total solar eclipse will be short, mostly appearing in Canada. It will be visible from three states in the U.S.: Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.  

The path of totality will cross Williston and Dickinson, North Dakota, and Great Falls, Montana.

Path of totality for the 2045 total solar eclipse

The next solar eclipse that crosses a significant portion of the continental U.S. will be in 2045, said Arav. That year, a solar eclipse will darken skies in parts of the U.S., Haiti, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname and Brazil. 

In North America, the 2045 total eclipse will be visible in many states as it moves from coast to coast. The eclipse will start in California and move east to end in Florida, similar to 2017, Arav said. 

There will be numerous U.S. cities where eclipse watchers can view the total eclipse, including Reno, Nevada; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Orlando, Florida.

Future solar eclipses in North America after 2045

Scientists have predicted eight total solar eclipses will appear in North America in the 21st century.

"Natural phenomena are like a Swiss clock," Arav said. "We know exactly when and where they will appear."

After the 2044 and 2045 total solar eclipses, the next total eclipses in North America will occur in 2078 and 2099.

May 11, 2078

This total solar eclipse on May 11, 2078 , will pass over the southern United States.

Cities include:

Atlanta, Georgia

New Orleans, Louisiana

Charlotte, North Carolina

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Sept. 14, 2099

This total solar eclipse on Sept. 14, 2099 , will cross a wide swath of the United States.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Chicago, Illinois

Columbus, Ohio

Fargo, North Dakota

Cara Tabachnick is a news editor and journalist at CBSNews.com. Cara began her career on the crime beat at Newsday. She has written for Marie Claire, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She reports on justice and human rights issues. Contact her at [email protected]

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When is Eid al-Fitr 2024 and how is it celebrated?

The three-day festival celebrates the completion of the fasting month of Ramadan by Muslims across the world.

As a new moon was not sighted on Monday evening after Maghrib prayers, Muslims in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries will fast one more day, completing 30 days of Ramadan. The first day of Eid will then be celebrated on Wednesday, April 10.

The first day of Eid al-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon marking the start of the month of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar.

Keep reading

A ramadan no palestinian will ever forget, the cost of a ramadan iftar meal around the world, ramadan 2024: where do your dates come from, in washington, dc: celebrating ramadan, protesting israel’s siege of gaza.

Lunar months last between 29 and 30 days so Muslims usually have to wait until the night before Eid to verify its date.

Other countries follow independent sightings.

When the sighting has been verified, Eid is declared on television, radio stations and at mosques.

How do Muslims celebrate Eid?

Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of holiday days varies by country.

Muslims begin Eid day celebrations by partaking in a prayer service that takes place shortly after dawn, followed by a short sermon.

On their way to the prayer, which is traditionally held in an open area, Muslims recite takbeerat, praising God by saying “Allahu Akbar”, meaning “God is great”.

It is customary to eat something sweet before the prayer, such as date -filled biscuits known as maamoul in the Middle East. This particular festival is known as the “sweet” Eid – and the distribution of sweets is common across the Muslim world.

Muslims usually spend the day visiting relatives and neighbours and accepting sweets as they move around from house to house.

Each country has traditional desserts and sweets that are prepared before Eid or on the morning of the first day.

Children, dressed in new clothes, are offered gifts and money to celebrate the joyous occasion.

Girls and women in many countries decorate their hands with henna. The celebration for Eid begins the night before as women gather in neighbourhoods and large family gatherings for the application of henna.

In some countries, families visit graveyards to offer their respects to departed family members right after the morning prayers.

It is common for Muslim-majority countries to decorate their cities with lights and hold festivities to commemorate the end of the fasting month.

Eid amid the onslaught in Gaza

For some 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza this Eid, this will be the first Muslim religious holiday after more than 33,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks. With little food aid, and very limited water, Gaza’s Eid al-Fitr will be mired in destruction amid the continuing attacks.

What are common Eid greetings?

The most popular greeting is “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed Eid) or “Eid sa’id” (Happy Eid). Eid greetings also vary depending on the country and language.

The video below shows how people say Eid Mubarak in different languages around the world.