KYOTO -- Kyoto's famous sightseeing spots have nearly been devoid of visitors. Saturday marked the start of the first weekend after the government announced the nationwide suspension of its Go To Travel tourism promotion campaign due to a recent surge of novel coronavirus infections.
The front approach to Kiyomizudera temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site generally bustling with lively activity in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, was seen deserted.
"Compared to last week, the number of people has visibly decreased," said a 77-year-old man who runs a pottery shop on the approach. "It's unlikely that we'll see crowds around here during the year-end and New Year holidays."
A 23-year-old man who visited Kyoto by night bus from Fukuoka said: "I was surprised to see almost no other passengers on the bus. I want to check out some of the spots and I'll wear a mask to prevent the virus from spreading."
A record 97 people were confirmed to be infected with the virus in Kyoto Prefecture on Wednesday. The virus has recently become more widespread, as other areas such as Hiroshima and Kochi prefectures have also confirmed record numbers of infections between Tuesday and Thursday.
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