Synopsis
Even when outdoors, visitors should make sure that they wear masks and should continue wearing one in situations where people are conversing in close proximity.
As per the latest development, foreign travellers visiting Japan will be required to have private medical insurance, wear masks, and be chaperoned throughout their stay. This was recently announced by the government, as it plans to reopen gradually after two years of COVID-19 restrictions.
As per the news reports, only visitors visiting on tour packages will be allowed to enter during the first phase of reopening, from June 10. Referring to this the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) stated that the travel agency guides accompanying visitors will be ensuring that visitors wear their masks all the time. The JTA stated in its guidelines that tour guides should frequently remind the tour participants of necessary infection prevention measures, including wearing and removing masks, at each stage of the tour.
Even when outdoors, visitors should make sure that they wear masks and should continue wearing one in situations where people are conversing in close proximity.
As most of the countries are opening up from COVID lockdowns, Japan is also relaxing its rules. Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pledged to ensure that border measures will be brought into line with other wealthy nations.
If reports are to go by, the Japan Government recently began relaxing mask guidance for the general public, however, wearing masks was common in Japan even before the pandemic to prevent the spread of germs and fend off pollen.
Reportedly, Japan also conducted ‘test tours’ of groups consisting around 50 people last month, who were mostly travel agents, however, one of the participants tested positive for COVID. One of the travel agents who took part in the said test tours stated that the rules would likely put some people off for now.
