This month Japan eased re-entry procedures for foreign nationals with residence permits, allowing them to travel more freely for pleasure and business, as part of the nation's phased reopening of its borders while maintaining efforts to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases.
From November, the government revised its travel ban list, which now covers 152 countries and regions, with the additions of Jordan and Myanmar and the removal of 11 from the list, including Australia, China and South Korea, where the coronavirus is considered to be relatively under control.
The strict travel restrictions covering non-Japanese residents have been gradually relaxed in response to growing criticism from Japan’s international community and global business groups, which have called for equal treatment of those with legal permission to reside in the country.