[Manthink]

Such a mammoth surge in Japan...probably not a right time still to visit Japan.
The seasonal flu period is also adding to the problem.
If it gets worse, the Japanese government may make a U turn.

Too late liao - From what I gathered, the Japan now experience effect from "less deadly" Omicron variants  XBB and BQ.1
The same type we in SG got in recent waves after we opened from Q2 this year.

Interestingly, WHO did not name the source country XBB was 1st detected.
However, it did mentioned SG and India *HINT   reported major surge from this variant.

Then further mutate to XBB.1 which was first reported in US.
Now we have XBB1.5 which is even more vaccine evasive in US....
All that time, China was still under strict COVID-zero.
Now sound countries wanna do special check on China travellers BEFORE 8 Jan opening up.

Double standard ?
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/1...-variants/