News On Japan

Popular tourist spots in Kyoto look like a ghost town due to coronavirus

Apr 17 (soranews24.com) - Everyone staying indoors means no one is going sightseeing.

Coronavirus is becoming more serious in Japan by the day. Some areas are currently in the middle of a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic, and residents are being strongly urged to stay indoors. Tokyo, for example, is eerily desolate now that non-essential businesses such as karaoke joints, game arcades and Internet cafes have been temporarily closed down. However, there are still some areas in Japan that are not yet in a state of emergency. Kyoto Prefecture, for example, though it asked to be included as one of the emergency areas, currently has less infected people than other prefectures like Osaka and Hyogo.

Kyoto is a prefecture well-known for its beautiful sightseeing spots, and on a usual day there are likely to be many tourists there. And while we previously reported that the tourism business in Kyoto was really taking a hit due to the outbreak, that was before coronavirus had really become a problem here in Japan. Now that there are new cases being reported daily, how are tourist spots fairing?

At Arashiyama in Ukyo Ward. Arashiyama is an area that is popular for its beautiful cherry blossoms and gorgeous fall leaves, and is also home to many famous landmarks. Within Arashiyama is the Togetsukyo Bridge, a famous landmark. There are many souvenir shops near the bridge, and Tenryuji Temple and Nomiya Shrine are close by too. With an abundance of things to see, Arashiyama is usually super crowded, especially on weekends. And with April bringing the cherry blossom season, it would be hard to even walk around due to the sheer amount of people.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Typhoon No. 24 is currently located over the southern seas and is expected to track westward toward Vietnam later this week, with no direct impact anticipated on Japan. As of now, the storm’s central pressure is 1000 hectopascals, with maximum sustained winds reaching 20 meters per second. Satellite imagery shows a significant cloud mass developing in the southern region, indicating intensified activity around the system.

Japan’s streaming industry is under growing pressure as foreign giants tighten their grip on the domestic market, with Netflix’s latest move to secure exclusive broadcast rights in Japan for every game of the World Baseball Classic next March highlighting the widening gap.

Investigators from the Immigration Services Agency conducted on-site inspections in Osaka on October 14th amid a surge in so-called 'paper companies' created by foreign nationals seeking residency.

The first grand sumo tournament in London in 34 years opened on October 15th, transforming the iconic Royal Albert Hall into a little corner of Japan and drawing more than 5,400 spectators for a spectacular night of traditional wrestling.

The relocation of Arimasu Tobiru, a distinctive architectural landmark on Hijirizaka in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, was carried out between August and October after nearly two decades of construction.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

A violent attack early on October 20th in Ibaraki Town, Ibaraki Prefecture left one man dead and another injured after they were stabbed with what appeared to be a bladed weapon inside an apartment. Police are investigating the case as a murder.

A woman in her 40s suffered a serious injury after being trapped in a mechanical parking system in Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward on October 19th.

A former pet shop owner convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting several female employees and sentenced to 30 years in prison appealed his case at the Fukuoka High Court on October 14th, again claiming that the acts were consensual.

The relocation of Arimasu Tobiru, a distinctive architectural landmark on Hijirizaka in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, was carried out between August and October after nearly two decades of construction.

A Brazilian man has been arrested and indicted for smuggling cocaine into Japan by swallowing the drugs and concealing them inside his body.

Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for a man accused of killing three family members and seriously injuring another with a crossbow in 2020 in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture.

A police officer approaches a parked car in a dark city parking lot — and what emerges from inside is shocking. How do professionals detect crimes that hide in the night? This investigation looks into the work of officers on the front line.

A woman who had been in critical condition after being struck by a small car near JR Nagoya Station was confirmed dead on October 15th, according to Aichi Prefectural Police. The 49-year-old victim was among three pedestrians hit at an intersection in Nakamura Ward when the vehicle veered out of its lane.