NHK has learned that Japan has stationed a narcotics control agent in Hong Kong to strengthen information-gathering on drug smuggling attempts.

The health ministry last year assigned an official from the narcotics control department as a consul at a consulate-general there.

People are returning to airports and train stations in Japan, as the government lifted its restrictions on cross-prefectural travel on Friday.

At Tokyo's Haneda airport, many businesspeople and families were seen at a domestic terminal.