Crowds shrink at tourist spots outside Tokyo

Dec 01, 2020 | News On Japan

Dec 01, 2020 (NHK) - Data from mobile phones show that considerably fewer people went to tourist spots outside Tokyo over the weekend, compared to the 3-day holiday that ended on November 23.

IT firm Agoop estimated the number of people at specific locations across Japan based on mobile phone data gathered with users' consent. Privacy was protected.

Analysis of the flow of people across the Kanto region as of 3 p.m. on November 22 and 29 - both Sundays - showed that the number of people at entertainment districts in Tokyo remain unchanged in most areas.

The number of people near Shibuya Station decreased by a mere 8 percent. Hardly any change was seen around Omiya Station in Saitama City near Tokyo.

At the same time, the flow of people declined considerably in tourist destinations near Tokyo this Sunday.

The number of people decreased by 48 percent in Atami hot springs in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, and 38 percent near the Chinatown district in Yokohama City, near Tokyo.

Likewise, the number decreased by 29 percent in Tokyo's Odaiba district and Hakone Yumoto in Kanagawa Prefecture.

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