Imperial Palace's East Gardens in Tokyo reopen
The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, which were temporarily closed due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, opened to the public Tuesday for the first time in about two months.
Few people were spotted, with only two visitors lining up before the 9 a.m. opening. They then disinfected their hands and entered the gardens.
A man in his 80s from Hachioji, Tokyo, said he visits the Imperial Palace almost every year.
"This is the first time I've seen the Imperial Palace so empty," he said. "It felt good walking through."
Last year, a record 2.2 million people visited the East Gardens, a popular sightseeing spot established on the site of the former Edo Castle's keep and other areas.
The free guided tour of the Imperial Palace also resumed Tuesday.
The Yomiuri Shimbun
A visitor disinfects his hands at the Ote-mon gate of the Imperial Palace on Tuesday.
People stroll through the Ninomaru Garden of the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace on Tuesday.
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