Mt. Takao To Be Closed For New Year Sunrise
One of Tokyo's most popular spots for viewing the first sunrise of the year will be closed on New Year's Day, due to precautions against the spread of coronavirus infections.
Mount Takao in western Tokyo usually attracts large crowds of people hoping to observe the year's first sunrise from the summit.
Metropolitan government officials say as many as 2,000 people have flocked to the 600-meter peak in previous years, making entry restrictions inevitable.
This year they will close the Omiharashi-Enchi lookout at the summit between 5 p.m. on December 31 and 7 a.m. on January 1.
Officials judged that infection risks would rise if groups of people drink or sleep overnight in the summit area.
They say the overnight closure of the peak will be the first time ever for the year-end. But they say visitors will still be allowed to trek up to Yakuoin Temple.
