Tourists without foreigners ... May 20 16:30
In Dazaifu Tenmangu, Fukuoka Prefecture, which is popular with foreign tourists, some shops that sell famous Umegae Mochi on the approach have resumed operations. However, there are no foreigners in sight, and there is no prospect of recovery in the number of people.
Dazaifu Tenmangu, which has been visited by 10 million people from Japan and overseas every year.
Some of the famous Umegae mochi shops lined up on the approach have resumed business.
However, the appearance of tourists is sparse, and there are no foreigners.
A woman who came from Iizuka city said, "I'm really scared of it. It's lonely."
According to Dazaifu City, the number of large buses for foreign tourists visiting Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine last year exceeded 2000 units a month, but in March this year it was only 5 units and last month was zero.
At this shop, which was reopened on the 20th, in order to avoid the risk of infection, sales were limited to take-outs and food and drinks were stopped inside the shop.
Mr. Tadashi Furoyasu, president of Umegae Mochi store "Kasa no Ie" said, "I don't think that tourists will return without opening the store, so I decided to open it today. It's good, but it's a very difficult situation. "
While tourists did not return in earnest, at other stores, there were shops that shortened business hours, and some shops forgot to resume business on the 20th.
“I think there would be some difficulties without being able to move domestically, but we would like each of you to open a store and be ready to meet you,” said Shoichi Oyabu, Executive Director of the Dazaifu Tourism Association.
Sightseeing river descent It's been about a month since the first reopening ... Fukuoka Yanagawa
In Yanagawa City, which is known as a water town, part of the famous sightseeing river descent resumed for the first time in about a month.
However, there are almost no passengers on board, especially the number of foreign tourists who occupy half of the average year is zero, and we cannot predict how many tourists will return in the future.
Most of the boat companies in the city were closed after the announcement of an emergency, which is a famous sightseeing tour of Yanagawa, which is used by about 400,000 people a year.
Of these, "Yanagawa Tourism Development", which was the oldest in the company, took about 1 measure after taking the anti-infection measures such as placing a disinfectant solution at the dock and ordering the face shield used by the boat after the declaration was lifted. It resumed from this week for the first time in a month.
However, on the 19th, only a few people from within the prefecture boarded the ship, and especially every year, there were no foreigners who accounted for almost half of the passengers.
In order to accommodate foreign tourists, the company continues to study simple English conversation every morning, but there was almost no sales during the spring tourist season when scraping, and how many tourists will come in the future. I can't see if I'll be back.
Shuya Tanabe, a boatman, said, “I'm reopened and I'm resting, but I'm worried about the second wave of infection. Currently, overseas customers are not coming, but I will continue to speak English so that I can give a good guide. I want to continue studying. "
The number of tourists who are looking for Mt. Fuji has decreased dramatically. Yamanashi Fujikawaguchiko Town
The large decrease in the number of foreign tourists has seriously damaged the tourism industry in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, where many foreigners visit Fuji for the sake of sight.
In the Kawaguchiko area of Fujikawaguchiko Town, there are many foreign tourists visiting Mt. Fuji, and according to the local tourism federation, about half of the guests last year were foreign tourists.
At the hotel "Shiki no Yado Fujisan" on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi, nearly 80% of the guests are tourists from overseas, and it is said that the hotel is almost fully booked from January to May every year, but from February it is overseas. The number of customers has decreased, and last month there were only a few overseas customers, and most Japanese bookings were canceled.
The hotel was open last month only on the day it was booked, and sales were severely impacted by a 98% drop from last month.
I haven't had much reservations since this month, and 14 of the 16 employees have taken vacations.
Akiko Yamanaka, the chief of the hotel, said, "There are a few reservations even after the declaration of emergency has been lifted. I am anxious, but I am fully prepared to welcome the customer again."
Shigeru Yamashita, President of the Fujikawaguchiko Tourism Association, said, “The number of foreign tourists has dropped to zero, and the town looks like a ruin. It's a tough time for a while, but when we're finished, we'll prepare to enjoy it. I want to do it. "