'Pedestrian paradise' reopens in Tokyo's Ginza

Jun 14, 2020 | News On Japan

Jun 14, 2020 (NHK) - For the first time in nearly three months, a street in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district has been reopened to pedestrian traffic only.

On Saturday morning, police officers set up fences along the street in central Ginza to block vehicle traffic.

The car-free zone, known as "Ginza Pedestrian Paradise", reopened at noon with a clock tower chiming a special tune to pay tribute to medical workers who are at the forefront of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The bell will ring again on Sunday.

The pedestrian paradise had been closed since late March following the outbreak of the coronavirus.

A man who was shopping with his family said that he felt so excited as it was the first time he has come into central Tokyo in two months.

A woman in her 40s said that she moved to Tokyo from Fukuoka City just before the Tokyo Metropolitan Government asked citizens to stay at home as part of the state of emergency. The woman said she was happy that she could finally visit Ginza.

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