Japan
Warnings and insurance
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Earthquakes and tsunami at the Noto Peninsula
A series of earthquakes hit the Noto Peninsula on 1 January 2024, causing minor tsunami, several fires and major infrastructure damage in various parts of Ishikawa Prefecture. Further aftershocks remain a possibility and transport links are disrupted. If you are in the affected areas of the Noto Peninsula, follow the instructions from the local authorities and monitor the media for updates. You can also check for information on the Ishikawa Prefectural Government website.
Further information on earthquakes and tsunamis can be found on the Japan Meteorological Agency website and the Japan National Tourism Agency website.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and any specific travel advice that applies to you:
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
Update history
2024-11-27 09:41
Updated information on drink spiking and new information about illegal drugs (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-09-02 11:21
Removal of advice on Typhoon Shanshan(See ‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-08-30 10:46
Information that Typhoon SHANSHAN is expected to cause disruption across southern and central Japan from 30 August to 2 September (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-08-28 11:40
Updated Information on location, dates and timelines on Typhoon SHANSHAN (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-08-26 15:29
Information about Typhoon SHANSHAN (Typhoon No10) (‘Warnings and insurance’)
2024-08-19 10:38
Removal of information about Tropical Storm AMPIL.
2024-08-15 02:45
Information about Tropical Storm AMPIL (Warnings and insurance.)
2024-08-12 14:25
Updated information on a ‘Nankai Trough megaquake’ warning issued on 8 August ( Warnings and Insurance’ page).
2024-08-08 14:24
Updated information following the earthquake in and around Miyazaki Prefecture on 8 August (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-08-08 10:54
Information that a magnitude 7.1 earthquake has hit southwestern Japan in and around Miyazaki Prefecture (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-06-18 11:38
This travel advice was reviewed for style and accuracy.
2024-02-21 15:48
Removal of outdated information about earthquakes and tsunami at Noto Peninsula (‘Warnings and insurance’ page) and addition of updated advice (‘Regional risks’ page).
2024-01-09 10:40
Removal of outdated information about Haneda Airport disruption (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-01-05 11:49
Information on Japan earthquakes and Haneda Airport disruption (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-01-02 12:58
Information added on potential disruption to flight schedules in light of Japan Airlines incident at Haneda Airport (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-01-02 04:35
Updated information on earthquakes and tsunami watch in Japan (‘Warnings and insurance’ page)
2024-01-01 10:20
Updated information on Japan earthquake and tsunami watch
2024-01-01 10:17
Updated informtaion on Japan earthquake and tsunami watch, 1 January 2024
2023-12-16 04:46
Removal of information relating to a landslide which occurred on 16 December in the Misorano area of Hakuba in Nagano (Warnings and insurance)
2023-12-16 02:15
Addition of information relating to a landslide which occurred on 16 December in the Misorano area of Hakuba in Nagano (Warnings and insurance)
2023-12-15 13:25
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-09-04 10:47
Removal of advice related to Typhoon Lan following its end (‘Summary’ and ‘Natural disasters’ pages).
2023-08-15 10:21
Updated safety advice related to Typhoon Lan (‘Summary’ and ‘Natural disasters’ pages).
2023-08-10 14:40
Updated safety advice related to Typhoon Lan (‘Summary’ and ‘Natural disasters’ pages).
2023-06-22 10:31
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-05-26 11:01
Information on the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi site and full clean-up of the surrounding area (‘Safety and security’ page).
2023-04-28 13:39
Update on removal of COVID-19 entry measures for all travellers to Japan from 29 April (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-04-27 12:02
New information on altitude sickness (‘Health’ page).
2023-04-18 11:54
Removal of information to submit information on Visit Japan Web (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-04-04 15:04
Information on passengers arriving from China being required to submit either a certificate showing a negative result of an approved COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours prior to departure or provide proof of being triple-vaccinated against COVID-19 (‘Entry requirements’ page). Updated information on what to do if you think you have Covid-19 symptoms (‘Coronavirus’ page).
2023-03-07 11:50
Updated information about travelling to Japan from China (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-02-09 09:57
Updated information on travellers entering Japan from China – excluding Hong Kong and Macao (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-01-06 09:26
Additional information on COVID-19 testing requirements for passengers arriving from China (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-01-05 11:49
Updated information on vaccination requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-12-30 12:35
Updated information on entry requirements to Japan for travellers arriving from (or with a recent travel history to) China, excluding Hong Kong and Macao (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-11-17 15:37
Updated information on entry requirements to Japan and the ‘fast track’ system (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-11-04 11:03
Removal of information on Typhoon Nanmadol (‘Summary’ page).
2022-11-03 11:57
Updated information on recent activity by DPRK (‘Summary’ page).
2022-10-11 09:58
Removal of Covid-19 restrictions for those who are vaccinated (Coronavirus page) and (Entry requirements page)
2022-10-04 01:12
Japanese Government announced a suspected North Korean missile was fired in the direction of Japan and landed in the Pacific Ocean just before 07.30 local time.
2022-09-20 03:16
Updated information on Typhoon Nanmadol (‘Summary’ page)
2022-09-18 05:53
Updated information on Typhoon Nanmadol (‘Summary’ page)
2022-09-17 02:58
Addition of information on Typhoon Nanmadol (‘Summary’ page)
2022-09-13 09:20
Updated information on entry requirements (Entry requirements page), as of the 7 September pre-departure PCR tests are no longer required to enter Japan.
2022-09-12 12:04
Removal of information on Typhoon HINNAMNOR and SAKURAJIMA eruption warning (Summary page) and information on Covid-19 related travel restrictions (Coronavirus page).
2022-09-04 13:27
Updated information on Typhoon HINNAMNOR (“Summary” page).
2022-07-24 16:55
On 24 July The Japanese Meteorological Agency raised the eruption alert for Sakurajima volcano to 5, its highest level. Local residents are advised to evacuate the area. (‘Summary’ page)
2022-07-24 16:54
On 24 July The Japanese Meteorological Agency raised the eruption alert for Sakurajima volcano to 5, its highest level. Local residents are advised to evacuate the area. Please follow the updates on news and social media and follow the advice of local authorities (‘Summary’ page)
2022-05-27 11:06
Updated information on the easing of COVID-19 entry measures for arrivals from the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-04-06 11:07
Updated information on the exemption from quarantine for children accompanying a fully-boosted parent now extended to all under-18s, and confirmation that no minimum period between booster and travel is required (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-03-21 11:40
Update on lifting of states of quasi-emergency (‘Coronavirus’ page). Update to information following changes entry rules (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-03-07 10:12
Update on states of quasi-emergency in 18 of Japan’s 47 prefectures (‘Coronavirus’ page). Update to information following changes entry rules (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-03-01 16:23
Updated information on new COVID-19 related border measures for Japan (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-02-22 12:19
Addition of information on the reduction of the number of prefectures under a Quasi State of Emergency (‘Coronavirus’ page)