To prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, the three prefectures of Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa have requested railway operators and the government to stop the operation of Omisoka overnight to avoid congestion at the beginning of the shrine.
The request was made by the governors of Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, with a total of six railway companies including JR East, private railway companies in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and Tokyo Metro.
Among them, "As we approach the year-end and New Year holidays, there are more situations where many people are expected to come out, and there is concern that the risk of infection will increase."
On top of that, he said, "Especially for the first visit, we are calling on the citizens of Tokyo and the prefecture to avoid crowded days and hours," and ask for cooperation to stop the overnight operation of Omisoka.
Governor Koike of Tokyo told reporters, "We are in a very difficult situation in each of the three prefectures of Tokyo. We would like to work together to proceed."
JR East "Consider support"
JR East has already announced that it will operate all night on the Yamanote Line and Chuo Line from midnight on New Year's Eve to the morning of New Year's Day, almost as usual.
In response to a request from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to cancel, he commented, "We will consider taking measures in the future."