To tighten border measures against the Omicron coronaviruses variant, the Japanese government is asking all airlines to stop taking new reservations for all incoming international flights until the end of December.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, two major national carriers, have agreed and have stopped taking reservations on December 1.
There are more than 50 airline companies around the world that operate flights arriving in Japan. All agreed to comply with the government's request, according to the transport ministry.
The ministry issued a request on 29 November, as cases of the variant are reported in passengers arriving in Japan.
Japanese nationals who live abroad are planning to return home for the holidays.
Ministry officials said the request had been issued based on such a prospect.
The Japanese government has announced a policy to ban entry of foreign nationals.
The restriction allows only Japanese nationals and foreign nationals who are residents of Japan to enter the country.
The number of daily entrants was reduced from 5,000 to 3,500 from December 1.