Can I Travel from Australia to Japan Now? 10 Essential Things to Know

Klook ANZ

Last updated 28 Mar 2024

Credits: @wondrous_rose, @lucie.kei, and @chiho_11_01

*Please note that this information was last updated on 5 Jan 2023

After such a long wait, we've been itching to visit Japan again (or for the first time). But before you dust off your passport, make sure you’re up to date on the official travel advice.

Here’s the latest on travelling from Australia to Japan:

What's the TL;DR for travelling to Japan from Australia?
When is Japan opening its borders to Australia?
Do I have to be vaccinated to travel to Japan?
Is quarantine required to enter Japan from Australia?
Do I need a COVID test to enter Japan from Australia?
Can I start booking my trip to Japan from Australia?
Where can I book flights from Australia to Japan?
How long is the flight from Australia to Japan?
Is it safe to travel to Japan from Australia?
Where can I keep up-to-date official travel info for Japan?

1. What's the TL;DR for travelling to Japan from Australia?

We can't contain our excitement! From the 11th of October 2022, Japan has fully reopened its doors again to Australian tourists!

2. When is Japan opening its borders to Australia?

On 22 September, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that border restrictions for Japan will be relaxed on 11 October. This includes the removal of tourist number caps, visas and allowing free individual travellers to return.

3. Do I have to be vaccinated to travel to Japan?

Yes.

Before you leave Australia, you’ll be asked to show your International Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC). To get your ICVC, you must use your Medicare account through the myGov site or Express Plus Medicare mobile app.

Japan requires visitors from abroad to present proof of their three jabs before entering the country. It’s a must to have received two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccine at least 14 days before arrival. There’s no need to get anything translated. You can present your ICVC in English at the airport.

To register your proof of vaccination, head to Visit Japan Web. Here's an easy guide on the registration process.

4. Is quarantine required to enter Japan from Australia?

Fully vaccinated travellers (3 jabs) from Australia who have received a booster no longer need to quarantine or isolate upon arrival in Japan.

If you aren't fully vaccinated, you must isolate at your accommodation for 7 days. The first day of quarantine is counted from the day following arrival. If you can present a negative result from a COVID-19 test on your third day, you can end your iso time.

5. How do I register as a tourist to enter Japan from Australia?

You'll need to pre-register on the official Visit Japan Web before you depart Australia for Japan. The Visit Japan Web registration process requires tourists to upload several documents (e.g., passport details and your vaccination certificate). You can also pre-register your disembarkation card for immigration (which is not required for Japanese citizens and foreign residents with re-entry permission) as well as your customs declaration on the website.

Travel essentials

How to Register as a Tourist for Japan: Easy Visit Japan Web 2023 Guide

Did you know Aussie tourists travelling to Japan in 2023 can now pre-register their Covid-19 documents with Visit Japan Web? Here's how

6. Can I start booking my trip to Japan from Australia?

If you're as excited as we are for the full re-opening of Japan on the 11th Octoberand wanna be extra prepared, you can still book a JR Pass as there is an 11-month refund policy on the Exchange Order as long as it is not activated.

Book JR Whole Japan Rail Pass - Includes access to select buses and ferries

7. Where can I book flights from Australia to Japan?

ANA, Singapore Airlines, Jetstar, and more are all running flights from international airports across Australia to Tokyo and Osaka. Head to the airlines’ official websites to find out more.

8. How long is the flight from Australia to Japan?

Flights from any major Australian city to Tokyo or Osaka range from 9.5 to 11 hours. Sydney-Tokyo flights, for example, typically take around nine hours and 30 minutes. In comparison, flights from Melbourne to Tokyo are 10 hours and 50 minutes long. Our tip: make sure to bring a book (or two) and download lots of TV shows and movies on your phone.

9. Is it safe to travel to Japan from Australia?

Japan is safe to travel to and is rated among the safest countries in the world as it has a low crime rate. As for COVID-19, 80.9% of Japan's population has been vaccinated.

10. Where can I keep up-to-date official travel info for Japan?

While you’re waiting for news on a possible Australia and Japan travel bubble, make sure to check out the latest information from the official government channels. Visit the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website and the Japanese Government’s Immigration Services Agency site, so you know when to book that long overdue flight to Japan.