Japanese boarder will be opened wider from 2022 October 11th. You will not be required to apply ERFS. In addition, some of you will not need a visa to enter Japan (https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_000921.html ).
Nevertheless, foreign visitors to Japan are recommended to check the conditions of visa issue and Japanese immigration in the web page of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Japanese Border Measures have been updated on 2023 January 8th. See this link.
Old news
There is a great news on September 23rd. See this NHK English news on September 23rd. We hope that most of our colleagues positively consider your visit to Japan in 2023 March.
As of March 1, everyone applying for a Japanese visa needs a receiving party to fill out a form called ERFS — short for 入国者健康確認システム (Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System=ERFS). It’s a system for COVID tracking. The receiving party must be an organization.
Link to ERFS application (Japanese only): https://entry.hco.mhlw.go.jp
FAQ (Japanese only): https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/faq/newentry.php
Short explanation in English:
・ https://en.fusuma-info.com/post/what-is-erfs-new-procedures-for-entering-japan
・ https://japanswitch.com/guide-to-erfs-certificate/
The institutes of the LOC (Kagoshima University and NAOJ) will support for the participant’s ERFS application. Please contact to the LOC co-chairs.
iaus_maser2023_contact _at_ ml.nao.ac.jp