UPDATE :
Although masks are mostly off now in Japan, it’s good to have some in your bag for moments where you can’t social distance (or incase you just feel you’re in a germy spot.)
It’s also a good idea to have some incase YOU get sick while you are in Japan.
Personally, my family and I are choosing not to wear masks in Japan except for places where we cannot social distance. Also, of course, in hospitals and at the doctors. This is a stance we are comfy with so I’m not looking for advice or messages on this topic please.
So will I still need to bring masks to / carry masks in Japan ?
Yes. There will be times you will be either asked or required to have a mask in Japan so day to day activities will be more convenient for you if you have masks ready to go in your bag.
Does that mean I’ll see mostly maskless faces in Japan from March 13?
No.
I’ll explain a few reasons why here:
-Many Japanese people are still nervous that they will get sick ( especially by being in contact with travellers – this stigma will take a while change as Japan’s borders were closed for so long which heightened the sense that outside of Japan is not as safe.).
-Also, many people in Japan are nervous to be the first in their group/ work space to remove masks.
-It is also important to note that mask-wearing has also been embraced as a sign of being a polite and a considerate person – so it will take a while before the removal of masks becomes more normalized and isn’t seen as a statement such as ” I don’t care about others getting sick by being close to me.”
-You will also spot lots of workers, especially in customer-facing environments still with their masks on as their employers will still “strongly recommend” mask-wearing. ( See below how I explain how mask-wearing has never been “mandatory” in Japan but Japan has had one of the most compliant mask-wearing in the world over the past few years). I know organizations like 7-Eleven for example are still strongly suggesting masks for their staff members, for example. For this reason, you will see many masked up employees wearing masks but then removing them for a catch up with friends once their shift is over.
-An additional reason masks will remain for many? Like the rest of the world, everyone is a bit more suspicious/ self-conscious of sneezing, coughing and other covid-like symptoms. That means the person walking next to you in a mask may only be wearing that mask today as they are over-coming a cold or are experiencing hay fever or allergies. Friend to friend? I advise that if you have covid like symptoms that you do the same – I mean, why wouldn’t you?
Below is the article I wrote prior to March 13.
I have adjusted some information but I will keep it here as I hope that my tips are still useful for those times that your child is asked to wear a mask in Japan (although it won’t be that often now.)
I feel that many of the information still stands – especially regarding the “policing of masks” in Japan, for example.
I’ve been meaning to do a big write up on kids and masks in Japan for a few weeks now but I also wanted a chance to really “watch and see” the vibe for myself too -especially from the point of view of, not only a parent in Japan, but also as a non-Japanese parent in Japan.
And also… I might add … as a parent who has been travelling to Japan after being in Australia and the UK where, at this point in time, mask mandates (and even the expectation for the majority to wear a mask) has now mostly come to an end.
Since borders re-opened for travel back in to Japan towards the very end of 2022 , the questions about children (and adults too, actually) fill up my inbox daily – and I get it.
I understand the concern regarding mask wearing in Japan – especially for young families- because I know that they want to :
–be sensitive to the sensitivities and expectations of the local population around them
–be sure that they are not breaking any rules or laws while travelling in a foreign country ( and a foreign country operating in a different language )
–set expectations for all family members before they travel *
*The setting expectations part resonates with me, in particular as a Mum, as this is the way that we tend to talk to our children before we travel anywhere. Ie. “when we get to this restaurant, they might ask us to take off our shoes… “or … “when we go in to this room, it might be a little dark at first so maybe decide if you’d to hold hands…” etc..
I’m mostly asked questions from those who are living in countries where there have been very strict regulations on mask-wearing over the past few years – Many countries have had regulations punishable by law and could see those refusing to mask not only be refused entry to certain places but also receiving a fine for lack of compliance ( I was in Melbourne for the 260+ days of hard lockdown too – so I remember it all way too clearly.)
So, let me put my thoughts and information in Q&A form to, hopefully, make this post more scroller friendly…
Are you guys all wearing masks because they are mandatory in Japan?
The answer? No. Masks are not mandatory in Japan. They actually never have been mandatory or forced onto people by law at any part of the pandemic.
Japan has been one of the most compliant nations in the world for mask-wearing and, even in 2023, the majority of Japanese people can be seen wearing masks at all times – indoors and outdoors.
So I need to wear a mask in Japan at all times?
Well… no…but also yes.
Let me try to explain.
The current Japanese government regulations regarding mask usage indoors and outdoors (as listed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) states that mask wearing is not required outdoors as long as you can socially distance by 2 metres from others.
I see on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare mask advice link that they also say that masks are also no longer required indoors if you can socially distance too though? So is that fine then too?
This is where it all gets a bit tricky.
Firstly because, in the cities in Japan at least… well… good luck finding options where you are 2 metres away from your group at all times….but also.. it’s tricky because private businesses can lay out their own mask rules and refuse entry ( or ask you to leave, of course.)
So the guidelines set by the government are all well and good in public spaces but you can require a mask in a private business – and that includes hotels, restaurants, trains, buses etc.
So, is mask-wearing strictly policed everywhere then?
No. It actually isn’t.
Many businesses will have a sign in the window asking customers to wear masks.
You will find that very touristy spots will have very strict signage about masks and even frequent announcements as a reminder to mask on up (us foreigners have a pretty bad reputation when it comes to masks, you see.)
Do you get the feeling that most Japanese people are really scared and that’s why they wear masks?
Hmmm… this is all, of course, my opinion…
I believe that many people are understandably afraid of getting really sick and also, we need to remember that Japan is an aging population so even many of the youngies want to help protect their elder relatives who may or may not live with them, work with them etc.
But I get the feeling that mask wearing is still such a thing because of social pressure. Everyone is doing it so it does mean that you are the odd one out if you don’t ( and, don’t worry, the fact that this will most likely mean that this will be a vicious, on-going cycle in Japan for many, many years to come is not lost on me either…)
I also feel that masks are now part of the norm now. Grab your keys, wallet, watch, mask… and go!!
It’s now become habitual and, as we all know, habits are tough to break once they become a set part of our day.
But even more than that?
I feel that mask wearing has now become a part of exercising proper social etiquette in Japan. Along the same lines of having good personal hygiene and nice manners. It is seen as an additional step in showing that you are a courteous member of society ( which is not wrong in one bit by the way…)
This can be a hard thing for many, including me, to get my head around but some people in Japan prefer wearing masks as a way to lean harder into an already introverted personality. I’ve had friends tell me they enjoy wearing masks as they don’t have to do a full face of make up or worry about their smile or their double chin… However, this is a whole new level… and a different stratesphere of mask-wearing chat, if you ask me. Nothing health, science or “caring for the community” vibes here so … yeah… I’m putting this reasoning in a… err.. “I don’t know what to do with this right now” box….
So what about children? From what age are they expected to wear a mask?
According to the Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare guidelines, children under the age of 6 do not need to wear a mask if they can social distance and babies do not need to wear a mask if they are 2 or younger – regardless of the scenario.
There have also been some changes that suggest that elementary students no longer need to wear a masks – as long as they can socially distance.
Why do we all ( as in, my family and I) wear masks in Japan then?
From March 13, we will not be wearing masks in Japan unless we are in crowded spaces, in aged care or medical facilities. For social settings such as a catch up with friends, I will ask them if they are comfortable for us to not wear masks and go from there.
The below information was my/ our stance prior to March 13
For us (and this is our own personal preference), no matter how long we have been in Japan we will always look like outsiders so we feel like following along with the majority when it comes to mask wearing ( for now) is the least we can do.
As I said earlier, I was in Melbourne for lockdown and even for many many months after that my kids were expected to wear masks so the switch back to masks again wasn’t ideal BUT also wasn’t completely foreign to them.
So, the short answer is: we wear them in an attempt to be considerate, fit in and also show respect for those who are still adjusting to global pandemic life with borders open ( and on the very rare, but much required occasion where our kids have had enough but just need to pop them on to get somewhere… ? Well, I guess then, in those instances, our reasons are also (for a fleeting moment) performative.
Do your kids mind or complain about wearing masks in Japan?
They didn’t love it but they are often better about it than my husband and I. We just keep masks by the front door next to the hats an coats and it’s literally an additional layer to be added before we go out.
That being said, no one is ever sad to peel off their mask at the end of the day- that’s for sure.
We tried our best to make it more pleasant by buying them masks with their favourite characters on them ( Toys r Us, the Disney Stores, Akachan Hompo and many 100 yen stores have lots of colourful options.) As a side note ( and this also applies to adults, by the way) the masks in Japan we have found to be of much higher quality ( especially the drugstore options) than overseas and also much more comfortable. The fabric is often lighter and the straps are stretchy and have more give so they are easier to wear for longer periods of time.
What about when I’m eating or taking photos?
Most Japanese people remove masks for photos. Absolutely.
The “mask etiquette” in restaurants is to keep your mask on until your food and drinks arrive – and then pop your mask in your bag, pocket or a paper mask case ( if provided by the restaurant.)
If you are at a restaurant with any type of salad bar or “serve yourself” section – you will, most likely, be asked to also wear gloves ( once again, provided by the restaurant.)
Was there anywhere in Japan that surprised you regarding particularly strict mask regulations – even for children?
Most indoor places will ask for children to wear masks as a part of their rules of entry but I was surprised to see that the strictest of places were the theme parks Disneyland, Disneysea and Universal Studios. Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studios Japan have relaxed their mask rules starting March 13th. However, they may ask guests to wear masks in certain places / crowded spots in the parks so you will need to have masks on hand at all times. See here for the latest rules and guidelines at Universal Studios Japan. See here for the latest rules and guidelines at Tokyo Disney Resort.
My child just won’t wear a mask -should I not go to Japan right now?
No. I don’t think you need to take Japan off the list BUT you may want to wait a little bit if they won’t wear one at all and they are over 6-8 years old. I feel this still stands for post-March 13. There will most likely be at least one time in your trip where your child will be asked to wear a mask at some point of your trip to Japan. For this reason I recommend reading the passage above where I talk about managing everyone’s expectations before you travel.
Rules are slowly easing up but they will still take a while to be mask free in most spots.
If you still want to try.. maybe try practicing mask wearing for short amounts of time? Bribery? A friend of mine pops a little m&m in her little girl’s mouth before the mask goes on – I know this kind of parenting strategy isn’t for everyone …but sometimes you’ve just got to go with what works when you need to get somewhere, right?
If there is no way your child can wear a mask at all -definitely cross Disneyland etc off your list as well as restaurants with indoor seating. It will be very tricky.
This is a bit controversial but if your child wears a mask sometimes and not others you can always do a bit of “performative mask wearing” for a few minutes and a time and repeat when you are reminded after apologizing a lot ( I only suggest this for child as… kids are kids, right? Personally, I have practically zero empathy when it comes to adults refusing to wear masks when asked…)
We have done this on days where my kids just needed a few minutes break or we were somewhere outdoors where we felt that our children weren’t too close others. Kids are kids and they are just trying their best, after all.
Are there exceptions for children with disabilities (including children with invisible disabilities such as autism and sensory issues) ?
The MOFW website ( you may need to use google to translate this page for you) says yes but I must be honest that I haven’t seen a lot of understanding with my own eyes. Without going into too much detail, I saw a child who was refused a place on ride at a theme park a few days ago and this child had an intellectual disability and that made me feel very sad..
You could always print this very basic phrase out to show someone:
ごめんなさい、この子にとってマスクの着用が大変難しいです
I’m sorry but wearing a mask is very difficult for my (for this) child.
A beautiful friend of mine also found this link for downloadable/printable/copyable little “I can’t wear a mask” signs which read and “I have a reason for not being able to wear a mask” in Japanese available in PDF form here ( once again, these signs do not guarantee automatic understanding and permission to go mask free but may aid in explaining what you want to say.)
But, once again, it will be up to that establishment to decide if they will allow your child to go mask free.
Unfortunately, Japan still has a long, long, long way to go to become a truly inclusive country when it comes to those with special needs (and , no, I don’t think it’s ok.)
*A friend of mine has let me know that more exceptions appear to me made for children with more “visible” disabilities – such as children in wheelchairs. This doesn’t make anything about this exclusionary approach “better” per se – but just sharing information.
My friend tells me that Japanese people have always worn masks and this isn’t new though?
There is this story that seems to be shared by non-Japanese people who have lived in Japan for a while that is being told to tourists ( mostly in facebook groups.) It drives me crazy.
Yes masks have been worn in Japan for a long time. But only by those who are sick or have recently been sick in order to protect others. This meant that it was not uncommon to see masked people walking around Japan – but not like it is right now.
Do you think the rules will change anytime soon?
Update: Mask wearing guidelines in Japan have eased from March 13, 2023. This means that in most indoor and outdoor spaces in Japan mask-wearing is up to the individual. The government will still recommend (and that means you will be asked to and strongly encouraged *) wearing masking in hospitals and other medical institutions and crowded trains.
I’m only guessing but I think mask-wearing won’t change until there is like some kind of big advertising campaign about going mask-free and even then only after masks are no longer required in workplaces. I think this will take several years to change – but… that’s just my guess. Japan is slow to change.
Maybe when Japanese people start travelling more ? Perhaps? Perhaps then we will see change bit by bit…? I am seeing SOME change… but still a long way to go.
If you’d like other general tips for travelling to Japan with kids see my “Packing for Japan with kids” blog post too.
