Japan has decided to restrict arrivals from China or those who have been in China in the previous 7 days, effective December 30, 2022. There will be an on-arrival PCR-RT test and week-long quarantine if the passenger tests positive. Japan will also restrict flights from China, Hong Kong, and Macau to four airports of Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Chubu.

China is experiencing its first countrywide Covid spike, as internal restrictions were removed earlier this month. The country announced yesterday that it would no longer quarantine those entering China from 8 January 2023.

For those who entering Japan from China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau) starting 30 December 2022. After 00:00 JST on 30th December 2022, the new measures will apply to

• all those who have stayed in China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau) within 7days of the arrival date.
• all those who entering Japan via a direct flight from China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau).

* The new measures will apply to those who board an aircraft with an estimated time of arrival after 00:00 JST on 30th December 2022.

While visitors have begun to return to Japan in the past few months, arrivals from China have remained minuscule, compared with pre-pandemic levels, when they made up the largest group. About 21,000 mainland Chinese people arrived in Japan in November, a fraction of the 750,000 visitors in November 2019. Japan reopened its borders in October.