Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says the Japanese and US governments have agreed to restrict outings by US military personnel in Japan.

The Japanese government had been urging tougher measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus to ease local residents' concerns about the surge in infections at US installations in Japan.

Kishida said on an NHK program on Sunday that he is deeply concerned about the spread of the virus in and around US military facilities.

He said the United States had agreed in principle to restrict non-essential outings by its military personnel.

Kishida added that he had instructed the relevant ministries to set up a joint committee of working-level staff from the foreign and defense authorities of both countries to discuss health and hygiene matters.

Japanese government sources say the US military will start restricting non-essential outings by its personnel from Monday. It also plans to make face masks mandatory for personnel at US bases.

The US Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, confirmed five new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday.

US officials have not disclosed their nationality or gender, or whether they were barred from leaving the base, but say they will undergo quarantine until they recover in accordance with the US Navy's guidelines.