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

Apr 17, 2020 | News On Japan

Apr 17, 2020 (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.

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