Yamagata Governor Worried About Travel Campaign

Yamagata governor worried about travel campaign

A governor in northern Japan has expressed concern that the central government's nationwide travel campaign could help spread coronavirus infections.

The government's Go To Travel Campaign, aimed at boosting domestic tourism with offers of discounts and subsidies, kicks off on July 22.

Travel From Japan To Vietnam Partially Resumes

Travel from Japan to Vietnam partially resumes

A plane full of Japanese business travelers has landed in Vietnam for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic prompted each country to issue travel bans.

The countries agreed to ease restrictions since local infections appear to be under control.

European Businesses Ask Japan To Ease Travel Bans

European businesses ask Japan to ease travel bans

A group of European companies operating in Japan has called on the Japanese government to ease travel restrictions with Europe as soon as possible.

Michael Mroczek, the Chairman of the European Business Council in Japan, was speaking at a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.

Data Shows Jump In Long-distance Travel From Tokyo

Data shows jump in long-distance travel from Tokyo

Mobile phone data shows that long-distance travel from Tokyo rose sharply during the first weekend since restrictions between prefectures were relaxed last week.

NHK analyzed anonymous network data tallied by mobile carrier NTT Docomo. It shows that arrivals from Tokyo last Saturday and Sunday rose in all other prefectures compared to the final weekend of May.

Travel Within Japan Rises After Restrictions Eased

Travel within Japan rises after restrictions eased

More people in Japan crossed prefectural borders on the first weekend since the government eased restrictions on such travel.

Cell phone data show the number of people who went from Tokyo to other prefectures on Saturday and Sunday rose 11 percent from the previous week. Travel to Tokyo from other prefectures grew by 14 percent.

Green Light For More Travel In Japan

Green light for more travel in Japan

People in Japan are moving about again on the first weekend since authorities lifted cross-country travel restrictions. On Saturday, crowds were seen venturing to distant tourist attractions.

NHK footage of the Tomei expressway shows the roadway is packed with vehicles. The cars are moving at a crawl. This is the first weekend since the government lifted the nationwide request to refrain from cross-prefectural travel.

Abe: Domestic Travel Curbs To Be Lifted On Friday

Abe: Domestic travel curbs to be lifted on Friday

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo says the government will lift travel restrictions across prefectural borders on Friday, as the daily number of coronavirus cases continues to fall nationwide, except in a few localities.

Abe made the announcement at a meeting of the government's taskforce on the coronavirus on Thursday.

Melting Snow Creates Gigantic 'dragon Eye' On Mountain

Melting snow creates gigantic 'dragon eye' on mountainHACHIMANTAI, Iwate Prefecture--As the seasons change, the melting snow has revealed the "Hachimantai dragon eye" at Kagaminuma swamp near the top of Mount Hachimantai, which borders Iwate and Akita prefectures.

Snow remains near the peak of the 1,613-meter-high mountain. The swamp, about 50 meters in diameter, is said to look like a huge "dragon eye" when seen from above.

Abe Urges People To Avoid Travel During Holidays

Abe urges people to avoid travel during holidays

Japan's Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has repeated his call for people to avoid travel during the upcoming holidays, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus from urban to rural areas.

Abe was speaking at a news conference on Friday, one day after a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak was expanded nationwide. The declaration had covered Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures.

Governors Want Steps To Curb Domestic Travel

Governors want steps to curb domestic travel

Japan's prefectural leaders want the central government to take steps to discourage people from traveling to other prefectures.

About 30 governors took part in an emergency online meeting of the National Governors' Association on Friday. The central government expanded the state of emergency for the coronavirus outbreak to the entire country on Thursday.

Govt. To Say Avoid Travel To Other Prefs

Govt. to say avoid travel to other prefs

Japan's government is set to ask residents in designated prefectures to refrain from travelling to other prefectures as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

The government is set to revise its basic guidelines to deal with the outbreak. This comes as the prime minister is expected to declare a state of emergency on Tuesday.

Japan Raises Travel Alert For Entire World

Japan raises travel alert for entire world

Japan's foreign ministry has raised its travel alert for the entire world to level 2 on a four-level scale due to the global spread of the new coronavirus, urging Japanese people to refrain from non-essential overseas trips.

This level of alert for the entire world was issued for the first time.

Japan To Raise Travel Alert For Entire World

Japan to raise travel alert for entire world

Japan's foreign ministry is to raise its travel alert for the entire world to level 2 on a four-level scale due to the global spread of the new coronavirus, urging Japanese people to refrain from non-essential overseas trips.

This level of alert for the entire world would be issued for the first time.

Olympic Flame To Travel Japan Without Torch Relay

Olympic flame to travel Japan without torch relay

NHK has learned that the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee has decided not to hold a torch relay, but will instead use a lantern to carry the Olympic flame across Japan.

Officials close to the matter say the committee decided that the torch relay won't come until it reaches a final conclusion with the International Olympic Committee on whether or not to postpone the Games.