Japan on Friday eased its travel warning for 106 nations including the United States and India over the coronavirus pandemic, no longer recommending Japanese nationals against traveling to the areas.

The Foreign Ministry lowered its travel advisories for those countries also including Britain, France and Germany from the second-highest Level 3 on its four-point scale to Level 2, under which Japanese citizens are asked to refrain from all nonessential overseas travel.

Meanwhile, 56 nations and regions remained under the Level 3 warning, including 40 in the Middle East and Africa, 10 in Europe and six in Latin America.

"Although the situations are different among nations and areas, the number of new COVID-19 infections and deaths has been on a decreasing trend globally, and risks of dying and developing serious symptoms have been reduced on the back of progress in vaccinations," Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference.

Hayashi also cited gradual easing of restrictions on economic activities and traveling overseas in many countries.

The ministry left unchanged Level 2 advisories for 39 nations and regions. Among them are China, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia, for which the warning was lowered from Level 3 to Level 2 in October 2020.