Do I need to quarantine? What should I do if I get sick?
In principle, visitors will no longer be required to isolate upon arrival, meaning they can move freely other than in cases where they have been diagnosed with the coronavirus after arrival in Japan.
In the event a traveler to Japan suspects they may have caught COVID-19 following their arrival, the government recommends that they contact the Japan Visitor Hotline at 050-3816-2787 for an over-the-phone consultation with a health professional who will determine the severity of the case and offer advice on the next steps to take. The service is offered in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.
Do I need to wear a mask?
As a general rule — yes.
The situation is complicated as, despite the government’s repeated calls for the public to remove their face masks while outdoors, the majority of Japanese people still continue to wear masks while outside the house, even in situations where overseas travelers might consider it unnecessary.
The government is expected to revise legislation to allow hotel operators the right to refuse entry to anyone not wearing a mask.
Until a surge in cases over the summer temporarily made Japan the nation with the highest number of daily cases in the world, the country’s infection rate has remained low in comparison to other countries. Many in Japan attribute this, at least in part, to the ubiquitous use of masks throughout the pandemic.
While overseas visitors may see Japanese individuals not wearing a face mask in public, a variety of cultural reasons — including for some, admittedly, attitudes toward foreign nationals — make it advisable for visitors to wear a mask in public situations, such as when riding crowded trains and buses and when entering hotels or restaurants, if only to avoid causing discomfort for those around you.