A state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo will run from April 25 through May 11, 2021After yet another surge in coronavirus cases and a rapidly spreading new variant, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo will enter a state of emergency from April 25 through May 11, 2021. The government hopes this will limit travel during Japan’s Golden Week holiday.
The state of emergency does not mean a hard lockdown as seen in other countries, but it does put restrictions on the public concerning “non-essential” activities such as travel and dining out.
To help foreign residents in the affected prefectures, we have compiled a list of answers to questions you may have about living under the state of emergency.
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What does the state of emergency mean?
This is the third state of emergency declared since the pandemic. In 2020, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a nationwide state of emergency in April which wasn’t lifted until June. The second state of emergency declared on Jan. 07, 2021, for Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and other prefectures was lifted on Mar. 21, 2021.
The declaration permits prefectural governors in the affected areas to “request” residents stay at home except for leaving to perform essential tasks. “Essential tasks” include anything deemed necessary to maintaining life, such as going to the hospital, buying food and commuting to work.
Under a law revised in February, businesses who refuse to shorten hours or close face daily fines of up to ¥300,000.
Governors may also request businesses deemed non-essential to take control measures such as shortening hours or reducing operations, such as a department store closing all floors not selling daily necessities.
The government does not have the legal authority to impose a lockdown or fine residents who ignore the request. However, under a law revised in February, businesses who refuse to shorten hours or close face daily fines of up to ¥300,000 (they receive ¥200,000 per day in return).
The state of emergency also allows the government to legally and forcefully requisition land or buildings for medical purposes.
Entry ban
New arrivals from overseas are banned from entering Japan except for Japanese nationals and foreigners who are residents of Japan.
Resident foreign nationals and Japanese nationals must test for the virus at least 72 hours before their departure to Japan and submit documentation that they tested negative for the virus. Additionally, they are asked to self-isolate at home or at a hotel for two weeks upon arrival.
Japanese and resident foreigners who are allowed to enter must sign a pledge upon arrival to stay in quarantine for 14 days. Failure to do so will result in penalties, such as disclosing the names of violators.
Foreign residents who break their 14-day quarantine may also have their resident status revoked and be subject to deportation.
School closures
Prefectural high schools fall under the jurisdiction of the governor and may be closed at their discretion. As for private schools and municipal elementary and junior high schools, governors may only request school closure and “instruct” schools that do not respond. However, there is no penalty for those who do not follow the request.
Currently, the government is not requesting all schools to close. However, universities are asked to return to online classes.
What facilities may close or have limited operation?
Malls, theme parks, theaters, museums, bars and restaurants serving alcohol will close or face fines. Large facilities such as department stores are asked to close every floor except those that sell essential items such as food and medicine.
The following may have closures, shorter hours or limited capacity:
- Exercise facilities such as gyms, swimming pools and sports centers
- Facilities related to gatherings and exhibitions such as public halls, cinemas, venues, theaters, museums and libraries
- Recreation facilities such as nightclubs, bars, internet cafes, karaoke, pachinko parlors and arcades
- Daycare centers, nursing schools, and centers for the elderly may also be affected.
What facilities will stay open?
In the event of further restrictions, the facilities and services below are considered essential and would remain open. They could also be asked to take control measures, such as limiting operation hours as is the case with train schedules.
- Medical facilities such as hospitals and pharmacies
- Grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores and wholesale markets
- Housing and accommodation facilities such as hotels
- Transportation such as trains, buses, taxis and rental car services (with limited hours)
- Home delivery services
- Banks, post offices, utilities and administration offices (remote work requested)
- Restaurants (open until 8 p.m. but must not serve alcohol)
- Public baths
Will the trains run normally?
Train operators will be asked to end operations earlier on weekdays and restrict operations on weekends and holidays. Tokyo train operators followed the declaration for the last state of emergency and are expected to follow it again.
During the last state of emergency, JR East moved up its last departure time by up to 32 minutes, depending on the line. Bus operators, such as Seibu Bus, ceased all night buses and some buses would not travel from Tokyo to other prefectures. Central Japan Railway Co also cut shinkansen services from Tokyo.
Will domestic flights be affected?
Nothing has been declared at this time, but All Nippon Airways said it would reduce flights during Golden Week due to a slump in sales.
What if I need to renew my visa?
Immigration centers are open, but capacity is limited. If you were to visit the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau, you would receive a slip of paper with your designated group name and the allocated time you are allowed to enter the building.
Check the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website for updates as the situation gradually changes. The Ministry has also provided a list of hospitals in Japan that are able to provide testing and treatment for the virus. Unfortunately, the list is in Japanese only.
We will continue to update this page as the story in Japan develops.
Please call the JNTO Multilingual Hotline at 050-3816-2787 in English, Japanese or Korean in the event of emergencies related to the coronavirus.
