The second half of the Golden Week holiday period began Saturday with people seen sparsely at major train stations and tourist sites amid the spread of the new coronavirus.
The Japanese archipelago had a quiet start to the five-day holiday bloc despite fine weather suitable for vacation travel.
According to Central Japan Railway Co. and East Japan Railway Co., unreserved seat occupancy rates for Shinkansen bullet train services were 10% or lower as of 10 a.m. Saturday. All extra train services that had been scheduled to run during the Golden Week period on the Tokaido Shinkansen line have been canceled. Many Shinkansen trains not in service were lined up at a depot in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo.
Also, few people were seen on platforms of the Tokaido Shinkansen line.
"I can't believe we are now in the middle of the extended holiday period," said a 40-year-old company employee from Sakura, Chiba Prefecture, who was heading to Wakayama Prefecture on a business trip.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
