Fabric face mask on a table with pink flowers and sunglasses — Photo: Bára Buri/Unsplash

Guide to buying, wearing and caring for your face masks

Where to buy or how to make our own face masks, plus caring tips, donations and more coronavirus-related mask information

Thursday 16 July 2020

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Written by Time Out Tokyo Editors

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From Tokyo to Toronto, face masks have become an integral part of daily life for many of us as we get used to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. Whether you’re looking to buy face masks, make one yourself, donate them, or even find tips on how to wear and care for them, we've compiled all our face mask features into this handy guide.

RECOMMENDED: Read our guide on how to go out safely in Tokyo, or anywhere for that matter

How to make your own face mask

Things to do

How to make a DIY no-sew face mask from t-shirts, socks and paper towels

Follow these videos to make a simple non-medical face mask – no sewing required

Things to do

Make your own face mask with these simple step-by-step guides

If you're having a hard time finding face masks in stores, these DIY masks are a handy backup

Art

Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch designer has made a DIY face shield for coronavirus protection

Download Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka’s emergency face shield template for free

Things to do

Make this fish face mask with the free template by Kindai University

For a bit of comic relief

How to care for your reusable face masks

Things to do

How to wash and care for your reusable cloth face masks

Keep your reusable face masks safe, clean and ready to use with these simple tips

Things to do

How to wear a face mask without fogging up your glasses

Use these simple tricks to keep your lenses clear while wearing a face mask

Things to do

How to avoid discomfort when wearing a face mask

Use these handy tips and tools to help alleviate pain and soreness around your ears while you’re masked up

Where to buy or donate face masks

Shopping

Where to buy face masks online in Tokyo and Japan

Stores ran out of masks? Here's a list of online shops to purchase reusable face masks or materials to make your own at home

Shopping

Cool and quirky new face masks and accessories in Japan

Take your face protection to the next level with these creative face masks and accessories

Shopping

These face masks are made from vintage kimono – and they ship overseas

Stay safe and stylish with these sustainable face masks that give new life to former kimono

Shopping

Uniqlo has redesigned its Airism face mask for better breathability

The new masks, redesigned following customer complaints, are available online now and in stores

Things to do

A vending machine in Okayama is selling chilled face masks for summer

As Japan enters rainy season, wearing a face mask can become quite uncomfortable with the rising temperatures and higher humidity. Shibutani Shoten, a car-seat...

Shopping

These gorgeous face masks are made from Japanese washi paper – and they're reusable

The woven washi paper face masks come in multiple colours and pair perfectly with a kimono

Things to do

Here’s how you can donate face masks to medical workers around Japan

Tokyo businesses are getting behind the Fukushigenba ni Mask wo project – you can, too

Things to do

Donate your unused face masks to charity through this volunteer organisation in Tokyo

Help those at risk of coronavirus by donating your unopened and unused face masks

More mask-related news

Shopping

This smart face mask can translate Japanese into eight different languages

Made by a Japanese start up, the C-Face mask translates spoken Japanese into text in English, Chinese, Korean and more

Things to do

Japanese chemistry professor tested three types of face masks for their efficacy

According to one test, disposable paper masks, fabric masks and paper towels could be effective at filtering out particles from the air

Shopping

This Japanese robot can detect whether a person is wearing a face mask

Hamamatsu city in Shizuoka is testing out a robot which politely asks bare-faced visitors to mask up

Restaurants

Coronavirus is changing the way Japan thinks about drinking parties

As more and more businesses start reopening in Tokyo and across Japan, people are being encouraged to adapt to a new lifestyle to curb the spread of Covid-19...

Things to do

Tokyo Q&A: Why do so many Japanese people wear masks?

Jump on any train walk down any street or enter any workplace in urban Japan and you’ll find many people hiding the lower half of their faces. With so many...