Is Japan safe to visit despite the coronavirus" At Boutique Japan, we have been monitoring the situation extremely closely, and recently have been answering lots of questions about travel to Japan in light of the global COVID-19 outbreak.
Along with our personal explorations of Japan, we are also in constant contact with our various colleagues and friends throughout the country, including guides, local experts, hotel and ryokan staff, and many others.
There is no doubt that the news around the coronavirus ? whether pertaining to Japan, Italy, the US, or elsewhere ? can feel alarming, but in our experience (both firsthand and based on frequent reports from trusted colleagues and friends) the situation on the ground is not necessarily as worrisome as media reports. Having answered countless questions from travelers over the past few weeks, we realize different people get their news and information from a variety of sources.
This post was last updated on March 1st, 2020.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), with regard to COVID-19, “Most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others.”
The coronavirus is sometimes compared to seasonal influenza, and while most experts agree that both pose serious public health challenges, it is also worth keeping in mind that the seasonal flu has led to many more deaths than the coronavirus.
The WHO generally appears to advise against travel restrictions, o...