Japan To Ask Foreign Tourists To Wear Masks and Get Insurance

Above, the good ol' days before the pandemic at Toho Studios in Setagaya.

Here's the old "good news, bad news" thing rearing its ugly head.

The good news is that foreign tourists can travel to Japan (with a group tour) again starting Friday. But the bad news is that they will have to follow guidelines of such things as wearing masks and taking out insurance.

Kyodo News reported:

The government said Tuesday it will ask foreign tourists to wear face masks and take out insurance to cover medical expenses in the event they contract COVID-19 as Japan restarts accepting visitors in stages later this week.

The tourism ministry has compiled guidelines for travel agencies and hotels ahead of Friday's resumption of accepting arrivals for the purpose of tourism. Entry will be initially restricted to guided tours from 98 countries and regions presenting the lowest risk of infection, including the United States, Britain, China, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand.

"Understanding of the guidelines and compliance will lead to the smooth resumption of inbound tourism and its expansion," Tetsuo Saito, minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism, told a press conference.

Under the guidelines, travel agencies will gain the consent of tour participants to comply with the measures by explaining upon sales or reservation of tours that they will not be penalized for failing to comply but may not be able to take part in tours.

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