I haven’t been to Japan since the restrictions began, and after hearing about them starting to loosen up, I’ve been curious as to what things are like at the moment.
So how overbearing is all the covid stuff really? For example, do shopkeepers actually still check your temperature and make you use hand sanitiser when you go in? Are there still plexiglas shields, masks and passive-aggressive signage everywhere?
I’ve been getting mixed responses from my Japanese friends, and when I look at Japanese TV, it just feels like 2020 never ended.
And is the “gaijin pass” still valid if you decided to flout the rules?
If there’s anyone on the ground who could give me a more straightforward answer, I’d be interested to hear it.
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/zjpvav/current_situation_regarding_covid_restrictions/
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>So how overbearing is all the covid stuff really? For example, do shopkeepers actually still check your temperature and make you use hand sanitiser when you go in? Are there still plexiglas shields, masks and passive-aggressive signage everywhere?
Mostly yes to all (might be a bit less checking than last year). The signs are not specifically “passive aggressive”, they are just straightforward (“please wear a mask”).
Honestly it all feels a very small inconvenience at most…
A lot of places still check temperature and have alcohol dispensers around the premises. Most people still wear masks indoors because omicron is still widespread in Japan. About the only people I see wearing plexiglass face shields are health care workers. The signs that are around usually just ask people to wear a mask. Most people are so used to the covid precautions that I don’t think it’s really a big deal.
In my experience >99% of people still wear masks indoors and >90% wear them outdoors, too. Sanitizer stations are still about as common as they were when they were introduced, but it’s up to you to use them. I haven’t had my temperature taken or sanitizer doled out to me in a good while, but admittedly I don’t go to a wide variety of staffed locations.
Plexiglass etc. shields still exist at pretty much all checkouts, service counters etc., as do demarcations for social distancing in lines. I’ve seen some signs reminding people to wear masks etc. even this past week.
The government advised people that it’s fine to unmask outdoors, so you won’t be breaking any unwritten rules by doing so even if it appears almost no one else is. Between lingering fears of the virus, the usual habitual masking of many Japanese and the newfound face-shyness a lot of people have (unmasking in public has been likened to removing one’s underpants in front of people), masks are still ubiquitous and will probably remain so for many years.
You can probably get away with not wearing a mask in stores etc. but you’ll get dirty looks from other customers and staff in some places will ask you kindly to put one on. I don’t think they can actually kick you out for not wearing one, though, but refusing their request would make everyone supremely uncomfortable.
If you want to go around everywhere like it were still 2017, and refuse to perform any pandemic-related behaviours on principle, then Japan is best avoided until if and when the government gives the recommendation to unmask everywhere and to end social distancing measures.
If a mask bothers you, don’t come.
There are no restrictions but generally everyone wears a mask to be courteous. Most business request that you wear a mask and use sanitizer.
Can you go maskless while outside? Sure. Can you not wear a mask indoors? Sure, but you’ll get a lot of stares and it’s pretty rude to do so.
I can’t speak for the whole country but at least in my slice of Tokyo the only times I have had my temperature taken is when dropping my kids off at school or when I went to a hospital or health clinic, although in the case of the latter it’s routine anyway. The Uniqlo near my house has some kind of thermometer near the door but I’m pretty sure it’s just for display because it’s definitely not enforced – I’ve shopped in there with a fever before. I don’t think they even turn it on anymore. As for sanitizer, there are dispensers at the entry of many places but it’s not like it’s enforced. I use it anyway though because I like it and regularly used it even before covid so for me it’s just a free bonus now.
The plastic barriers are still a thing. I haven’t seen face shields since the very early days. Masks are definitely still a thing but I also see lots of people who don’t wear them outside such as when running on the nearby track, or students walking home from school with their friends. There are still lots of people wearing them outside though. It doesn’t really matter, but you are supposed to wear them when entering private businesses. As for signage, the only signs I’ve ever seen are the ones that say a shop is following guidelines and to be honest I’m not sure if those are even still up. Oh, and one store has a sign that says wear a mask inside. There might be other signs but if so they weren’t very obvious except stuff like “wash your hands” but we already had those in some places during flu season anyway. The only one that really seemed to stick around are the signs in restrooms that say not to steal the toilet paper.
>when I look at Japanese TV, it just feels like 2020 never ended.
Does it? I don’t watch as much these days since I prefer to use YouTube and Abema for background noise but when I do turn on the TV it seems pretty relaxed. I watched a program recently where some idols were exploring in Kamakura and they didn’t wear any masks while outside – not even those stupid plastic ones. Based on the programs I’m watching, I have to disagree. 2020 felt remarkably different. I understand some stuff has stuck around, but it’s definitely not like it was in 2020.
>And is the “gaijin pass” still valid if you decided to flout the rules?
It was never actually valid. It only exists if you don’t care about your reputation.
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There aren’t actually restrictions. Basically all that really matters is wear a mask when you’re inside a private business you need to wear a mask. Beyond that, nobody really cares. It’s flu season so you’re going to see more masks outside than a few months ago anyway – not just for corona, but because of flu prevention. but if other people wearing a mask bothers you then maybe you should reconsider – they’re not going to go away for a while because for Japanese people it’s as easy as wearing socks.
I don’t know why people keep saying “restrictions”. There are no restrictions, just “suggestions” to keep everyone safe. Shockingly, it mostly works? (Go figure! Following the advice of medical professionals and specialists!) I only know a few people in my social circle who have had COVID and they mostly got it from their children. If you think the things you mentioned are that big of a deal I don’t know what to tell you other than maybe it would be best if you didn’t come.
> it just feels like 2020 never ended.
FWIW, in this season many people wear masks regardless of COVID. [1 in 2 wore mask in 2018 Winter](https://weathernews.jp/s/topics/201801/260055/) (before COVID).
It sucks, don’t come! Tell other gaijin
Just returned from Japan. No restrictions but everyone wears masks and sanitises everywhere. Loved it, felt safer than here and did not get sick!
For everyday life, it’s not too bad. But there are still instances where they are overbearing, in specific circumstances. But it’s definitely not enough of a reason to avoiding visiting IMO.
One thing I find is that they can be a little frustrating when the restrictions appear to be performative rather than being actually evidence-based. By this, I mean restrictions which are obviously misguided and ineffective at preventing spread, but are still followed with an obsessive vigour.
For example, many izakaya require loose sheets of plastic between diners (often only covering a small portion of the empty space between diners and flapping around wildly). It makes conversation pretty frustrating, with the added bonus of having a 0% impact on reducing infection, haha. The virus spreads through aerosols.
Speaking broadly, there are still a suite of covid prevention activities here which are not reflective of the fact that the disease primarily spreads through aerosols instead of droplets. The actions taken put too much focus on hand sanitiser, unsealed surgical masks, and cleaning surfaces (droplet theory mitigations), and not enough on ventilation, or using tightly-fitting masks ala N95s (aerosol theory mitigations).
These are silly and annoying, but they don’t greatly impact my life. It’s hardly Communist China over here haha.
There’s also organisation-level restrictions which reflect a borderline irrational risk preference though. For example, I’m in grad school here, and our professors have instructed us to “never go to an izakaya, never attend a party – just go from your house to the university and home again immediately afterwards” (actual quote from our guidance session this semester). We are also not allowed to speak whilst travelling (for field trips etc), or in the cafeteria. I (and every other student) ignore these rules and it doesn’t seem to cause issue.