Are there currently restrictions on travel to Hakodate related to COVID-19?
Yes, there are currently restrictions on flights to Hakodate along with the rest of Japan. Before you book or search for flights, consider the following restrictions: From October 1, Japan will allow the entry of foreign nationals who need to move to Japan to study, work or join their family, subject to necessary visa requirements. Foreign nationals visiting for short-term business purposes are also permitted to enter, provided that they have a visa. However, the number of people permitted to enter Japan under these rules will be restricted, with priority given to those moving to Japan.
All arrivals must present a negative COVID-19 test result issued within 72 hours of their flight departure time if they have visited these countries.
Japan has restricted the entry of travelers who have been in or transited through Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Eswatini (Swaziland), Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Congo, Romania, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome e Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, South Korea, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, the Vatican City, Venezuela, or Vietnam in the past 14 days.
Residents of Japan with “Permanent Resident”, “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”, “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” or “Long Term Resident” status who departed Japan with Re-entry Permission by April 2, 2020 may still re-enter the country, even if they have been in one of the above countries. Starting from 1 September, these travelers will also need to apply to their nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate to receive a “Re-entry Confirmation Letter”, and may need to provide a PCR test result on arrival. Check the Japanese government’s advice on this process on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
If they received re-entry permission between April 3 and April 28, 2020 they may re-enter if they have only been in Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Cape Verde, Colombia, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine or Uruguay.
If re-entry permission was granted between April 29 and May 15, 2020 they may re-enter Japan if they have only been in Afghanistan, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Cape Verde, Colombia, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Maldives, Pakistan, South Africa, Sao Tome and Principe, Tajikistan or Uruguay.
If re-entry permission was granted between May 16 and May 26, 2020 they may re-enter Japan if they have only been in Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ghana, Guinea, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, South Africa or Tajikistan.
If re-entry permission was granted between May 27 and June 30, 2020, they may re-enter Japan if they have only been in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Costa Rica, Cuba, Eswatini, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Iraq, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Senegal or St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Nationals of China with passports issued in Hubei Province or Zhejiang Province may not enter the country unless they can prove that they haven’t been in those provinces in the past 14 days.
Travelers who were on the cruise ship ‘Westerdam’ may not enter the country unless they’re nationals of Japan.
Nationals of Japan, their spouses and children who can present proof, travelers with Special Permanent Residence Permits with re-entry permits from a regional immigration officer, and US military personnel may still enter the country.
Travelers and airline crew who have been in any of the countries listed so far in the past 14 days must submit a quarantine questionnaire and undergo a PCR test upon arrival.
Special rules apply to airline crew members entering Japan. Crew members must submit quarantine questionnaires and “Plan of Stay in Japan” declarations. Crews should adhere to the instructions provided in the quarantine document “Notice: For Crews boarding vehicles from areas subject to strengthened quarantine.” Airlines should arrange chartered vehicles (as opposed to public transportation) to transport crews between the airport and their hotel, and ensure that crews comply with the other rules during their stay in Japan.
Visa exemption for travelers from many countries has been suspended, and visas from certain countries have been invaldated. For more info, check here.. If you are looking to book a trip to Hakodate and are outside of the restricted areas, please take the proper precautions and stay informed about traveling during COVID-19.
