NHK has learned that Japan's government is planning to arrange buses to shuttle people arriving from overseas from the international airports in Haneda and Narita to some hotels in Tokyo.

The Japanese government is asking people who arrive from overseas to avoid using public transportation and arrange their own vehicles to leave the airport, even if they test negative for the coronavirus.

E-commerce giant Rakuten says more than 700 hotels on its travel website can accommodate patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus.

Rakuten officials say they want to help free up space at overburdened hospitals. They say they are approaching 36,000 accommodations, and that so far, 744 say they are available. Rakuten says this would open up about 91,000 rooms.

Sources familiar with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's health policy say officials are working to secure hotels for currently hospitalized coronavirus patients whose symptoms are mild.

The sources say doctors will be at the hotels to monitor patients. They add that patients will be hospitalized again if their symptoms worsen.

Hotels in Japan are concerned about the possible impact of China's decision to halt overseas group trips beginning Monday in a bid to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

One hotel in central Tokyo usually has about half of its 90 rooms occupied by guests from China.