The Bureau of Consular Affairs updated its Japan Travel Advisory page on September 28, retaining the Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) rating but adding detailed guidance on maritime safety, medical services in remote islands and documentation checks by domestic airlines. While the overall threat assessment remains low, the update emphasises that carriers may deny boarding to passengers whose passports have fewer than six months’ validity—a frequent issue for short-notice corporate trips. The advisory also points to extreme summer heat in Okinawa and limited emergency facilities on outlying islands, urging travellers to secure evacuation insurance. For U.S. companies sending staff to Tokyo for the October corporate-governance roundtable, the new language around dual-nationality exit requirements is noteworthy: Japanese-American duals must enter and depart on the same passport, and overstays of the 90-day visa-free window can lead to departure delays. Travel managers should disseminate the link to mobile employees and remind them to enrol in the Smart Traveller Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive seismic alerts and typhoon notices. HR teams planning holiday rotations should also verify that dependents’ passports meet the six-month rule. Although no COVID-19-related restrictions remain, the advisory still recommends travellers monitor CDC influenza guidance ahead of the winter season.
