The spread of the new coronavirus is casting a shadow over the upcoming cherry blossom season.
With local governments, including Tokyo, calling on people to refrain from holding drinking parties, a series of cherry blossom viewing events at popular spots have been canceled.
Ueno Park in Taito Ward, Tokyo, has been famous for its cherry blossoms since the Edo period (1603-1867). About 1,000 cherry trees have been planted at the park, drawing more than 3 million visitors during the cherry blossom season. The 71st Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival, which was scheduled to start Friday, has been canceled.
"This never happened before," said Tadao Futatsugi, the 66-year-old chairman of the Ueno Tourism Federation, which organizes the festival. "As the time of cherry blossom viewing is a high business season for local stores, they will suffer big economic losses."
Areas around the Sumida River are also known as spots to view cherry blossoms. The Bokutei Cherry Blossom Festival, which usually starts in late March and attracts about 200,000 people, has been also called off.
"This mood of self-restraint is unfortunate, but we want to offer our products as usual, so that people can enjoy them at home," said Yuko Yamamoto, 66, of Chomeiji Sakuramochi Yamamotoya, a store in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, established in the Edo period and famous for sakuramochi, a Japanese confection wrapped in cherry leaves.
Maruyama Park in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, is known for the "yozakura of Gion" in which cherry blossoms are illuminated at night. But the illumination, scheduled to start late this month, has been canceled.
"With there being a chance that the area becoming crowded, we have no choice but to cancel [the event]," a city government official said.
Outbreaks of the new coronavirus occurred on the Diamond Princess cruise ship and Japanese-style yakatabune cruise boats in Tokyo. This situation has had a negative impact on cherry blossom viewing cruises.
Anniversary Cruise offers cherry blossom viewing plans along the Meguro River, which runs through Tokyo. According to its operator, the cruises are scheduled to start Friday by implementing thorough infection control measures and reducing the number of passengers, but reservations have been made up to below 40% of the usual number.
"Viewing cherry blossoms from boats is a special experience that we would like many people to enjoy, but ..." an official of the company in charge said.
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