A look at what quarantine is like in Olympic-host Japan

TOKYO (AP) — What’s it like traveling to Japan, six months ahead of the Olympics?

Almost impossible, unless you’re a Japanese national or a foreigner with resident status.

A state of emergency for a large part of the country means that even those special cases who are allowed in have to take multiple coronavirus tests and stay holed up in quarantine.

And what could the entry process be like for thousands of Olympic athletes scheduled to show up ahead of the July games?

Plans now call for the athletes to be tested 72 hours before they leave home; then again when they arrive, and then frequently when they are closed off in a "bubble” in the Athletes' Village alongside Tokyo Bay.

Here's a look at the strict entry protocols for the current handful of travelers coming into Japan, and what could happen with athletes during the Olympic Games.

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Q: What happens on the plane?

A: Before getting off, passengers need to fill in a “Kenko Card" (Health Card) that declares what countries they’ve been in during the past 14 days and where they will be self-isolating for the next 14 days in Japan.

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Q: Do I have to quarantine in Japan?

A: Yes.

Because of the emergence in Japan of new coronavirus variants, all people traveling from Level 3 countries and regions — the U.K., South Africa, Ireland and parts of Brazil — have to quarantine at a location designated by the government, usually a hotel near the airport, for at least the first three days.

Those who test negative for the virus on their third day can then leave, but they have to remain in self-isolation elsewhere for 11 more days to complete the quarantine.

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Q: How do you get out of the airport and into the country?

A: You will take another COVID-19 test at...