November 19, 2020
Updated July 8, 2021
Updated October 11, 2021
Updated January 4, 2023
(changes from October version shown with yellow highlighting)
To: Students, Faculty, and Staff
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences

Notification Regarding Overseas Travel and Entry to Japan
During the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic(3rd Notification)
Due the global spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, we issued a“Notification Regarding Overseas Travel and Entry to Japan (2nd Notification)” onOctober 11, 2021. Although the pandemic is not expected to end any time soon, we areconcerned that long-term restrictions on overseas travel could be harmful to our
educational and research missions. In accordance with the “Guidelines for Permitting
Overseas Travel” prepared by the university’s Novel Coronavirus Taskforce, decisions
about whether people affiliated with the College or Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
should be able to travel internationally will now be made by the Dean’s Office.
We urge everyone to continue to keep up with the latest information and to makeplans accordingly.
Links to the websites mentioned below appear at the end of this document.
1.

Travel from Japan to Other Countries

If you are thinking of traveling to or from Japan, confirm all of the following items
and follow the guidelines given under either “3. Guidelines for Overseas Travel and Entry
to Japan for Research Purposes” or “4. Guidelines for Overseas Travel and Entry to Japanfor Educational or Study Purposes.” Also follow the guidelines herein regarding personal
travel for other purposes.
(1-1) Check the latest information regarding the risk levels of your intended destinationon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ overseas safety site (in Japanese). Pleaseconsider very carefully whether you should travel to any country or region with arisk level of 2 or above. Even if the level of your destination is 1, consider
carefully whether your trip is really necessary.
(1-2) If you are thinking of traveling outside Japan, check the government and embassy
websites for your intended destinations to confirm the latest information aboutvisa issuance restrictions, entry restrictions, quarantine procedures, andrestrictions on activities.
(1-3) Regardless of your citizenship, you might be subject to restrictions on youractivities upon entering Japan. Please read “2. Entering Japan” below carefully.
2.

Entering Japan

If you are thinking of entering Japan, confirm all of the following items and follow
the guidelines given below under either “3. Guidelines for Overseas Travel and Entry toJapan for Research Purposes” or “4. Guidelines for Overseas Travel and Entry to Japanfor Educational or Study Purposes.”(2-1) If you are entering Japan from overseas, check the Ministry of Health, Labour,and Welfare’s site about enhanced border restrictions for the latest information.
Note that these restrictions apply to all people entering Japan regardless ofcitizenship.
(2-2) The denial of landing that had been placed to all the countries/regions were lifted.
Check the website of the Ministry of Justice’s Immigration Services Agency (inJapanese, with machine translation into English and other languages).
(2-3) If you are entering Japan from overseas, check the latest information on theMinistry of Foreign Affairs’ site “Measures for Resuming Cross-Border Travel”(2-4) If you are required to quarantine in accordance with the MHLW’s guideline
specified in (2-1) above, please not come to the university until you complete yourquarantine period.
3.

Guidelines for Overseas Travel and Entry to Japan for Research Purposes

If you are thinking of traveling overseas or entering Japan for research purposes,
plan your trip in accordance with “1. Travel from Japan to Other Countries” and “2.
Entering Japan” above and the following guidelines. Depending on the situation of theinfection spreads, submission and assessment through “Overseas Travel Safety andInfection Control Assessment Form” might need to be resumed. In that case, anannouncement will be made, and we would ask to follow instructions by theannouncement.

(3-1) Please consider very carefully whether you should travel to any country or region
indicated as having an infection risk level of 2 or above on the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs’ overseas safety site (in Japanese).
(3-2) Even if the infection risk level of your destination is 1 or lower, restrict youractivities after re-entering Japan as explained in “2. Entering Japan” above. Makearrangements with your department in advance to ensure that your work is handledappropriately after you re-enter Japan.
(3-3) If your overseas trip has been approved by the Graduate School or the university
as part of a sabbatical, an international project for young researchers, etc., yet
decide to postpone your trip and your department is able to make the necessary
arrangements, the Graduate School will make adjustments accordingly. If you areplanning a future sabbatical, international project for young researchers, etc., you
may take the departmental application procedures regardless of the current
situation.
(3-4) Graduate students may accompany faculty on overseas trips only when clearlynecessary for research purposes. For educational purposes, see “4. Guidelines forOverseas Travel and Entry to Japan for Educational or Study Purposes” below.
4.

Guidelines for Overseas Travel and Entry to Japan for Educational or StudyPurposes

Although students’ traveling or entry to Japan are being eased, the COVID-19
pandemic has not come to an end and infectious rate could be higher depending onseasons, countries and regions you visit. With regard to short-term study programs inparticular, consider carefully whether participating in such a program would really be ofsignificant educational value despite the restrictions.

(4-1) Short-term Study Abroad Programs(4-1-1)Make every effort to substitute online learning for your study abroad
program. The application of information technology to education has great
potential, not only for online classes now during the COVID-19 pandemic but
also for international education in the emerging Society 5.0 era.
(4-1-2)
If you are planning a study abroad program that cannot be replaced with
online learning, then plan your trip in accordance with “3. Guidelines forOverseas Travel and Entry to Japan for Research Purposes” above. Faculty must
inform all participants and (in the case of minors) their guardians clearly andcompletely about the risks of sudden changes in conditions and the likelihood ofrestrictions on activities; they must also receive confirmation, such as through asigned statement, that those risks are understood.
(4-1-3)
Do not conduct or participate in any short-term study abroad programs
when the Komaba Campus is in Stage Red I or higher, when no face-to-faceclasses are permitted.
(4-1-4)
If you do travel internationally for educational or study purposes, follow
all of the regular safety rules and procedures specified by the university as well.
(4-2) Private Travel Overseas by Students(4-2-1)All students planning international travel, whether for personal oruniversity purposes, must follow “3. Guidelines for Overseas Travel and Entry
to Japan for Research Purposes” above.
(4-2-2)Students considering leaving Japan for personal reasons, such as to visit
their homes, check the latest border measures for re-entry restrictions. You must
apply for permission in advance even for short-term trips to your home country.
Submit the “Notification of Overseas Travel” as stated in the Administrative
Notification.
(4-3) Long-Term Study Abroad
If you are planning to enroll in a long-term study abroad program, follow theinstructions of the program’s operators. While this notification does not apply tostudents who take a leave of absence (for example, in order to enroll in a longterm study abroad program), you still need to submit “Notification of Overseas
Travel” in accordance with the Administrative Notification together with thenotification of your change in enrollment to the overseas university.
5.

Staff Members
Staff members traveling overseas or returning to Japan should follow “3.
Guidelines for Overseas Travel and Entry to Japan for Research Purposes.”

Websites mentioned above
MOFA’s overseas safety site (in Japanese)
https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/

MOFA’s “Measures for Resuming Cross-Border Travel” (in English and Japanese
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/cp/page22e_000925.html
MHLW’s “COVID-19: Current Japanese Border Measures” (in English and Japanese)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/bordercontrol.html
Immigration Service Agency of Japan’s site about entry restrictions related to the novel
coronavirus (in Japanese, with machine translations into other languages)
http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/hisho06_00099.html

Related websites
MOFA’s updated border restrictions (in Japanese)
https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/info/pcwideareaspecificinfo_2022C083.html
MOFA’s overseas travel registration service (in Japanese; for Japanese citizens)
https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/
WHO’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public (in English)
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
National Institute of Infectious Diseases on “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)” (inEnglish)
https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/en/Counseling servicesThe following counseling services are available for people experiencing anxiety or otherproblems:
International Student Advisory Roomhttps://www.globalkomaba.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp/inbound/support/advising.html (in Japanese)
https://www.globalkomaba.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/inbound/support/advising.html(in English)
Komaba Student Counseling Center
http://kscc.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ (in Japanese)
Office for Mental Health Support
http://dcs.adm.u-tokyo.ac.jp/mhs/en/ (in English)