Municipal zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens are set to resume operations in Tokyo on Friday, after the metropolitan government decided to allow municipal parks to reopen gates that were closed last December to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. However, the facilities will still be asked to take infection control measures, such as limiting the number of visitors until further notice in a bid to keep the flow of people in the capital in check.
Greenlighted facilities include the Ueno Zoological Gardens in Taito Ward, Tama Zoological Park in Hino, Tokyo Sea Life Park in Edogawa Ward, the Hama-rikyu Gardens in Chuo Ward and the Rikugien Gardens in Bunkyo Ward. All had been ordered to temporarily close on Dec. 26 amid an uptick in coronavirus cases.
The metropolitan government's move to reopen the sites follows its own decision to ease COVID-19 restrictions on large-scale facilities when the central government extended the current state of emergency until June 20.
Reservations made online or by other means will be required to enter the facilities. A metropolitan government official said prospective visitors should check admissions details in advance, along with each park's infection control requirements, when making their reservations in order to avoid being turned away at the door.
-- Hana-Biyori to reopen June 1st
Hana-Biyori, a sprawling botanical garden enhanced with digital attractions in Inagi, Tokyo, will resume operations on Tuesday.
Yomiuriland amusement park operator Yomiuri Land Co. announced on Saturday that the garden will reopen with a daily attendance cap of 5,000 visitors and take thorough measures to prevent transmission of the coronavirus.
Although the garden has been closed since April 25 following the state of emergency declared in Tokyo, neighboring amusement park area was reopened on May 12 with similar daily attendance limits. Yomiuriland straddles the border between Inagi and Kawasaki.
Meanwhile, Oriental Land Co. said Saturday it will keep shortened operating hours in place for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, both located in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, until June 20, citing the central government's decision to extended emergency-level priority measures in the city. Both amusement parks will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
-- Calls for vigilance
A day after the central government decided to extend until June 20 the coronavirus state of emergency currently in effect for nine prefectures, Tokyo metropolitan government officials could be seen in front of JR Harajuku Station in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, on Saturday, urging people to stay at home as a steady stream of visitors headed off into bustling Harajuku district for shopping and other activities.
The officials handed out leaflets bearing the message, "curbing the flow of people is the top priority [to prevent infection]," and cautioned that even young people were at risk of becoming severely ill due to the novel coronavirus variants.
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