Japan is taking a cautious approach to restarting inbound tourism, asking travel companies to book tours only for customers who agree to comply with mask-wearing and other guidelines announced by the government on June 7.

The rules, which call for travel agents to plan tours that avoid crowds, keep records of movements, and accompany those testing positive for Covid to isolation facilities, are not based on scientific evidence and are unfriendly to travelers, Research Director Kenji Shibuya told Bloomberg. “There’s no evidence that being accompanied by tour guides will lower the risks of infection,” he said, adding that Japan has acquired high immunity against Covid now and can further ease its infection controls to boost social activities.

“Tourists Told to Wear Masks in Japan or Risk Getting Kicked Out,” Bloomberg.com
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-07/tourists-to-japan-must-pledge-to-wear-masks-or-risk-expulsion

Profile of Research Director Kenji Shibuya
https://www.tkfd.or.jp/en/experts/detail.php?id=653