Tourists Go Sightseeing Despite Coronavirus Risk

Tourists go sightseeing despite coronavirus risk

Sightseeing spots across Japan have been welcoming visitors on the first Sunday since the government declared the next three weeks as crucial to curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

Popular tourist attractions in Tokyo were mainly visited by local residents who had decided against long-distance travel.

Tokyo Residents, Other Tourists Crowd Kyoto Temple

Tokyo residents, other tourists crowd Kyoto temple

A famous Buddhist temple in Japan's western city of Kyoto drew crowds of tourists on the first weekend since the government's domestic tourism incentive campaign started including Tokyo residents earlier this month.

Visitors to Kiyomizu-dera and nearby places included sightseers from Tokyo.

Grape Orchard In Yamagata Opens For Tourists

Grape orchard in Yamagata opens for tourists

A grape orchard in northeastern Japan has opened for fruit-picking, allowing visitors to enjoy the seasonal fruit.

Two farms in Sagae City in Yamagata Prefecture accept more than 1,000 tourists every year. Large grapes such as Kyoho and Suiho are the city's specialty.

Tourists Enjoy Fresh Seafood In Northern Japan

Tourists enjoy fresh seafood in northern Japan

A large number of people visited a famed food market in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido on Thursday, the start of a four-day weekend.

More than 40 fishmongers and other workers serve a variety of delicacies fresh from the sea and farms at Washo Ichiba market, which is located in the center of Kushiro city.

Overnight Stays By Foreign Tourists Dived In March

Overnight stays by foreign tourists dived in March

The Japan Tourism Agency says the number of foreign visitors who stayed at hotels and inns in Japan in March plunged 85.9 percent from a year earlier to 1.18 million.

Agency officials say it was the sharpest fall ever, topping an 81.3-percent fall in April 2011, just after a massive earthquake and tsunami hit northeastern Japan.

Hotline For Foreign Tourists On Virus Concerns

Hotline for foreign tourists on virus concerns

The Japan National Tourism Organization is offering phone consultation services for foreign tourists who are concerned about the new strain of coronavirus.

The Japan Visitor Hotline offers 24-hour services in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean.

Videos Show Japanese Customs To Foreign Tourists

Videos show Japanese customs to foreign tourists

The Japan Tourism Agency has made video clips showing manners and customs of the country amid the rise in the number of foreign travelers.

The ten one-minute videos seek to cope with a phenomenon known as "over-tourism," which causes tensions between visitors and residents.

Chinese Tourists Buying Facemasks In Japan

Chinese tourists buying facemasks in Japan

Chinese tourists visiting Japan are buying facemasks to take home to protect themselves from the pneumonia outbreak believed to be caused by a new coronavirus.

Many Chinese travelers were buying masks at a drugstore in a departure lobby at Narita Airport, outside Tokyo, on Thursday.