Coronavirus in Japan: Q&A, resources, articles summary page

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19-causing new coronavirus in Japan there have been any number of questions on the City-Cost Q&A addressing concerns and looking to share advice regarding life as a foreigner in Japan during the coronavirus outbreak.  

On this page we have attempted to collate a number of the coronavirus-related content that has appeared on City-Cost to make it easier to navigate and jump into.  You'll also find links to useful resources related to life in Japan amid the spread of the virus as well as links to articles and news.

Latest from the Pop Survey

THOUGHTS ON JAPAN'S "GO TO TRAVEL" CAMPAIGN

(As of May 28:  Submit your answer via the top page of City-Cost)

Coronavirus threads on the Q&A

Below are listed those questions posted on the Q&A related to the outbreak of the coronavirus in Japan.  Some of these threads remain open-ended and ready for more answers.  Others may have naturally come to a close as the situation in Japan has developed.  However, they remain a valuable source of information, advice and opinion.

"Realistic Golden Week plans?" - April 30:  With Japan in a state of emergency, what's going on with your Golden Week?

"State of emergency in Japan, keeping your distance" - April 13:  About washing hands when doing the supermarket run, how to keep your social distance, meeting Abe's 70-80% reduction in contact, Netflix recommendations ... 

"Passing time wisely" - March 31: How expats in Japan are trying to spend their time indoors productively and creatively ... 

"Working from home?" - March 25:  With the spread of the new coronavirus showing now sign of slowing down companies in Japan begin to encourage teleworking.  This foreigner working in Japan asks how others are finding the work-from-home experience and whether or not their company asked them to do it, or the other way round ... 

"Is Japan Going to get worse before it gets better?" - March 19:  Sharing concerns that Japan might go the way of other countries and see an explosion of new coronavirus cases before the situation improves ... 

"Is Abe preparing to declare an emergency? And what would that mean?" - March 10:  As Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Cabinet pave the way for an ability to declare a state of emergency to curb the spread of the coronavirus, discussion turns to concerns about the kind of powers this would grant ... 

"Share your good news from recently!" - March 9:  Taking a break from the all the coronavirus-related news in Japan, this expat invites us to share our good news.  Keep your good news coming ...

"Schools in Japan to close amidst coronavirus - who's affected?" - Feb 27:  Reaction after Japanese PM Abe makes a sudden announcement asking local education authorities across Japan to close schools ...

"How concerned are you about the new coronavirus?" - Feb 14:  Sharing concerns after Japan confirms its first death from the new coronavirus ...

Coronavirus Resources in Japan

Guide to Special Cash Payments (100,000 yen one-off virus payments)

https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000685956.pdf

For data regarding PCD testing and coronavirus infections in Tokyo: 

https://stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/

Messages from the governor of Tokyo (in English):

https://tokyodouga.jp/en/5YhhWbweTiY.html

News and updates regarding the coronavirus from the Government of Japan: 

https://www.japan.go.jp/publications/news/

Stay abreast of the latest news regarding the coronavirus from across Japan:

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/coronavirus

Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare - About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): 

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/newpage_00032.html

Japan National Tourism Organization - Coronavirus (COVID-19) advisory information:

https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/

Updates from the Osaka Prefectural Government regarding the coronavirus (machine translation):

http://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp.e.agb.hp.transer.com/iryo/osakakansensho/corona.html

Japan National Tourism Organization - Multilingual Visitor Hotline (24H) on new coronavirus: "Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) operates a visitor hotline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Please feel free to call for tourist information or assistance in case of accidents or emergencies including new coronavirus.  Support is available in English, Chinese, and Korean."

PDF: https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/content/001327960.pdf

Hotline: 050-3816-2787

Related articles, videos, and blogs on City-Cost / City-Cost YouTube

Tokyo roadmap paves way toward new social, economic norms for the capital - May 24:

A look at the road map which authorities in Tokyo are hoping will guide the capital through a phased easing of social and economic restrictions.

How to complete a postal application for the 100,000 yen coronavirus payment - May 14:  There appear to be two versions of the form for the one-off 100,000 yen coronavirus payment postal applications.  We take a look at how to fill out both of them here.

Receiving your 100,000 yen virus payment: Gov't ministry English guide, other resources - May 6:  Closer look at the guidance offered from Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications regarding how to apply for the 100,000 yen virus payment.

State of emergency: Japan sets challenge to reduce contact by 80 percent - April 8: Residents of Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures of Japan wake up to their first morning in a state of emergency and the challenge to reduce person-to-person contact by 70 - 80 percent.

Kanazawa inn offers free stays to foreign tourists stranded in Japan due to coronavirus - April 1: Accommodation facility in the city of Kanzawa, central Japan, offers free accommodation to international tourists unable to return to their home countries due to travel restrictions put in place to control the spread of the Covid-19-causing coronavirus. 

On City-Cost YouTube: Go To Eat campaign, Japan: Discount dining during coronavirus pandemic?

<Video> Life in a #Japan state of emergency: Interview(1) with expats during coronavirus pandemic - Talking about life in Japan under a state of emergency with foreigners resident in the country.

<Video> Life in a #Japan state of emergency: Interview(2) with expats during #coronavirus pandemic - More about life in Japan under a state of emergency with foreigners resident in the country.

<Video> Interview with local business owners in Tokyo on coronavirus impact - 

#4 in a series of interviews with small business owners in Tokyo as the outbreak of the new coronavirus began to bite.

Pandemic preparedness from an expat’s perspective: how’s Japan doing? - April 2: An expat-in-Japan perspective on how prepared Japan was for the outbreak of the coronavirus, from the City-Cost Insiders account

10 ways to stay positive during social distancing in Japan - March 23: Tips for staying positive as we practice our social distancing (in Japan - 自粛 - lit. "self restrain") from the City-Cost Insiders account

If there are any useful resources that you've found that can help foreigners living in Japan during the outbreak of the coronavirus please feel free to share them in the comments below.