Despite Ease in Quarantine for Business Travelers in Japan, U.S. Servicemembers Still Have a 10-Day Quarantine
Right now U.S. servicemembers still have to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Japan, but the government is reviewing a possible drop in this requirement:
The U.S. military population in Japan does not immediately benefit from the shorter coronavirus quarantine period for incoming travelers imposed this week by the Japanese government, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.
Japan is opening its borders to business travelers, international students and technical interns from countries considered low risk for the coronavirus and lowering its quarantine period for some foreign travelers to three days, with conditions.
Eligible travelers are those from countries that Japan considers low risk. Tourists are still banned.
Travelers from the U.S., except those under the status forces agreement, may still be denied entry to Japan, according to the Foreign Ministry website. SOFA sets the rights, limits and responsibilities for service members, Defense Department employees and others affiliated with the U.S. military in Japan.
The spokesman said the government is still considering a three-day quarantine period for the “specific circumstance” of fully vaccinated U.S. military personnel arriving in Japan.
“The government is still reviewing the matter,” the spokesman said during an hourlong virtual media briefing, “and has not resolved the question yet.”
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