World Heritage sites in Nikko close amid outbreak

Apr 15, 2020 | News On Japan

Apr 15, 2020 (NHK) - Shrines designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in Tochigi Prefecture's Nikko, north of Tokyo, have temporarily closed to prevent infections of the new coronavirus.

Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji Temple and Futarasan Shrine made the announcements on Monday.

They come after the Japanese government declared a state of emergency last Tuesday and the governor of Tochigi Prefecture asked residents to refrain from going out on Friday.

This is the first time the three sites have closed to visitors. They are expected to remain shut until April 22.

The three sites welcome more than three million visitors a year. Even after the coronavirus began to spread in Japan, the sites had nearly 1,000 visitors on holidays.

The gates of the Toshogu Shrine usually open at 9:00 a.m. but on Tuesday morning, they remained shut. The approach to the shrine, which is usually packed with crowds, was empty.

Senior priest Abe Keiichiro said they take the government's state of emergency and request by the prefectural governor seriously. He said they have decided that a closure was inevitable, and depending on circumstances, they will extend the measure beyond April 22.

Source: ANNnewsCH

Typhoon No. 30 Unleashes 10-Meter Waves as Heavy Rain Spreads Across Japan

Typhoon No. 30 remained nearly stationary west-northwest of Yonaguni Island at 5 a.m. on October 24, bringing severe weather and waves exceeding 10 meters to Okinawa's Sakishima Islands, while an increasingly active weather front threatens to deliver heavy rainfall across western and eastern Japan through October 27.

Typhoon Threatens Wider Transport Disruption Across Japan

Typhoon No. 30 continued to disrupt air and sea transport across Okinawa on October 24, with additional flight cancellations, prolonged ferry suspensions and the closure of Ishigaki Airport's terminal facilities, while forecasters warned that railway services and highways across western Japan could face major disruption from the evening of October 25 through the morning of October 26.

Japan's Terra Drone Supplies Weapons to Ukraine as Russia Warns of Retaliation

Japanese drone manufacturer Terra Drone has delivered interceptor drones to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense for the first time, prompting Russia to threaten retaliatory measures on October 21, as Japan considers expanding domestic drone production and strengthening its coastal defenses through thousands of unmanned aircraft.

PHP Security Flaw Forces Shutdowns Across Japan, Including Takaichi's Website

A critical security flaw discovered in PHP, a programming language used by an estimated 70% of the world's web systems, has triggered widespread disruptions across Japan since October 21, forcing banks, restaurant chains, government agencies and other businesses to suspend online services as a precaution against potential cyberattacks.

Cyberattacks Hit Japanese Police and Businesses

A growing wave of cyberattacks across Japan has raised concerns over the possible use of Chinese-developed artificial intelligence in hacking operations, with personal information belonging to tens of thousands of police employees potentially exposed and major companies forced to suspend online services, while cybersecurity experts warn that slow decision-making within Japanese organizations is allowing damage to spread.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Fire Breaks Out at Kurosawa Film Studio Warehouse

A fire broke out at a warehouse believed to belong to Kurosawa Film Studio in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, shortly after midnight on October 23, prompting the dispatch of 40 emergency vehicles after a report that a battery was burning, with witnesses describing explosion-like sounds and vibrations strong enough to shake nearby windows.

Four Mutilated Fawn Carcasses Found at Nara Temples

Four dead fawns with missing body parts have been discovered around Kofukuji and Todaiji temples in Nara between August and October, prompting Nara Prefecture to hold an emergency press conference on October 23 after experts determined that wild animals were unlikely to have caused the injuries, raising suspicions that humans may have deliberately harmed the young deer.

Copper Thefts Spread Across Japan

A wave of copper thefts has struck public facilities across Japan, with thieves stripping metal from bridges, park shelters and shrines, including a park known as a popular anime pilgrimage site, while police in Nagano Prefecture have made arrests following a series of similar incidents.

Footage Released of New Year's Day Motorcycle Rampage in Kochi

Police in Kochi Prefecture have released footage of a group of teenagers riding motorcycles recklessly through Kochi City on January 1st, 2026, in a New Year's Day incident known as a "first sunrise motorcycle rampage," with 18 people aged between 15 and 19 arrested or referred to prosecutors for suspected violations of the Road Traffic Act.

Japan's Former Empress Turns 92 as Family Gathers to Celebrate

Empress Emerita Michiko celebrated her 92nd birthday on October 20th, receiving birthday greetings from Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other members of Japan's imperial family at her residence in Tokyo, as concerns grow over her declining physical strength and signs of fatigue.

Deputy Mayor Fatally Crushed by 3-Ton Festival Float

The deputy mayor of Saijo City in Ehime Prefecture died after being crushed beneath a festival float weighing approximately 3 tons while participating in a traditional autumn festival on October 17.

Princess Aiko Smiles at Detective Conan

Princess Aiko, the only daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, arrived in Tottori Prefecture on October 19 for her first visit to the region, where she is scheduled to attend a national disaster prevention conference and a symposium on disaster preparedness.

Gunma Police Rearrest Man in Murder of Mother-in-Law

Police in Gunma Prefecture rearrested a 30-year-old man on October 18 on suspicion of murdering his former mother-in-law at her home in Ota City last month, following an attack that also left the woman's eldest son injured.

< 2 3 4 5 >