Bullet trains, expressways, airports deserted ahead of Golden Week

Many of the shinkansen trains that left Tokyo Station were over 90 percent empty,

Airlines have also drastically reduced their services with 88 percent of domestic flights and 97 percent of international flights canceled during the holiday week.

Does this mean we can finally get a discount during GW?

If Fox News existed in Japan: "This is the time to travel and have a vacation."

Guess you haven't been watching Fox News, only reading other posters' inaccurate comments.

Well, baring the overhead Flight path changes, it's been wonderfully quiet here in Central Tokyo. Nothing but the wind rustling the leaves of my Bamboo trees, and the sound of small frogs chirping away uninterrupted - even the highway bikers aren't out and about - so Kudos to them, the right-wingers, et al, for following the Government request to not venture out. I'm enjoying the peace and tranquility whilst it lasts, though that won't be for long... suggest you all make the best of it and relax your minds too!

I understand the penultimate paragraph but I also know of a lot of companies not implementing such holiday.

What companies? Out them here and let's see the response, otherwise it's just hearsay!

"A shinkansen platform at JR Tokyo Station is deserted on Saturday. One train left with no passengers. Photo: KYODO"

The photo shows the calm before the storm...

All should stay at home and observe all Abe government's directives to fight spread of CORONA virus. This gesture of the people will certainly make the Week Golden in reality for JAPAN .

Italy has the highest number of old people. Not a surprise to have seen a high degree of mortality when Covid-19 was taking its heavy death toll. However, Italy has realised an important economic factor and is unlocking the lockdown...The old people, the pensioners, like Japan, are the engine drivers of the economy. If this age group is told “stay at home”, guess what happens next. Hospitals, clinics pharmacies will not only go bankrupt, there will be a new ugly threat that will emerge as the economy goes into tatters and the young lose their jobs by the million! Danger will lurk in the dark streets and robbery will be the order of the day. “Stay home” is a double edged sword! Please enlighten me!

Social distancing never existed. A new weird experience not being close to fellow human beings. I wonder how parents are coping up with their kids at home.

Well, this certainly refutes what I thought would be many Japanese who would ignore social distancing guidelines.

Pachinko parlours are still open though.

Supposedly flights to Okinawa are fully booked, though. Poor Okinawa.

@Mark

I bought some extra takeout this afternoon, karage and yakitori from a little izakaya in my neighborhood who is struggling since closing his dining area two weeks ago.

He was so appreciative he threw in some gyoza! I told him if he's open I'll stop by everyday. I'm going to have to watch mx weight though!

but the Tokyo metropolitan government is asking companies to implement a 12-day holiday

Some holiday!

Got all my Pink Floyed records lined up ready to turn starting tonight.

Support your local businesses by buying their goods when possible on short trips. they are struggling too, and aid is NOT on the way as promised. My friends in business are struggling.

Something like 30K plus have reservations down here in hotels, the Gov is pleading with people to not come.

Personally speaking, let them come, and make sure they ALL are placed into quarantine for 2 weeks, paid by themselves, and THEN after they have PCR tests, paid for on their own, let them spend their "holiday" here!

If you cant stop them, make them pay for it!

"Social distancing does not mean you can never go out. Shopping and exercise ie walking to the park/beach etc is acceptable as long as you keep two metres apart"

That's EXACTLY what many posting here think/advocate' the y should relocate to China and Korea where enforced house confinement is part and parcel of their Democratic credentials.

The park near me (Regents, London) is full; picnics and footie games galore. Would like to see all the grampa's who post here managing the 2 metres distance during a match.

Going back out again; will not be arrested by the Old Bill,

You are allowed to come out; and you should.

We didn't survive the black death (Spanish flu) by staying indoors permanently. Or SARS and Ebola.

Evidence of lots more damaging stress related consequences of house "imprisonment" is creeping out.

Domestic violence,child abuse, separations, i,e. household breakdowns are on the increase in the UK because of this.

Roughly 600.000 + people are planning to travel by air or rail during Golden Week.

Guess we can expect a soaring COVID 19 infections soon after.

Ah, same soar we saw 2 weeks after the initial hanami, and the one 2 weeks after the full bloom hanami.

That's very heartening to see. Well done folks.

Good. Sadly my coworker is an anti-science idiot who’s traveling when we were told not to. But it’s okay, because he doesn’t believe in going to the doctor, so he’ll be fine. :|

Tokyo is a microcosm of the country however much it is hyped.

Coronavirus fears left shinkansen bullet trains and expressways deserted on the first day of the Golden Week holiday on Saturday as the pace of infection in Japan has yet to show a clear sign of slowing.

Maybe ,every paragraph should be qualified by’in Tokyo’ because outside of Tokyo there were plenty of people moving around via trains and plenty of people not on holiday from today.

And In prefectures well away from Tokyo the corona virus isn’t even on anyone’s mind.

Tokyo is the exception,definitely not the rule!

Good stay home!

It’s just shocking to read that people are still socializing, going to the beach, parks etc. It just seems that people here can’t keep themselves inside for a few days! Might as well end the state of emergency and return these people to work. After all, seems like they are just having free time away from the office but end up elsewhere! People here just can’t make a few sacrifices!

Social distancing does not mean you can never go out. Shopping and exercise ie walking to the park/beach etc is acceptable as long as you keep two metres apart. Good luck with staying indoors indefinitely.

@TonariNoTotoro If you don’t understand social distancing; you are supposed to keep two metres away from anyone you do not live with. We were able to social distance from others, but many, like those meeting friends chose not to distance. This is how the virus spreads.

Everyone understands what SD means. But unfortunately the virus doesn't know what it means. Ergo everyone is being asked to stay home as to not catch and spread the virus further.

Thanks for doing your part by going to the beach.

UV-light may kill virus and bachteria. Plus spraying of desinfection.

Good to see the weekly infected total down in Tokyo. Assuming they are doing the same amount of testing or more, it is a good sign.

527 - Four Weeks Ago

1012 - Three Weeks Ago

1076 - Two Weeks Ago

862 - This Past Week (just published hours ago)

The sudden spikes we saw in other big world cities aren't happening as quickly here and the death total is relatively low. Obviously the Covid-19 cases are much more prevalent than reported since they are doing so little testing. That means the death rate is even lower. Let's all hope the hospitals are using this time to get ready for any further increases.

The only safe way to travel is in quarantine and time with a book and your imagination. Today I've been in Scotland spending a congenial time in the 18th century with Robert Burns and then in 19th century Italy with poor, silly Pinnocchio sharing his tribulations. Stay home, stay safe.

@TonariNoTotoro If you don’t understand social distancing; you are supposed to keep two metres away from anyone you do not live with. We were able to social distance from others, but many, like those meeting friends chose not to distance. This is how the virus spreads.

I hope you understand now, so maybe you will start social distancing too.

This is how it should be under the current circumstances. It would seem the message is finally getting through to people.

We walked to our local beach this afternoon, small but nice. As it was a nice day there were quite a few people there; families, couples and lots of teenagers and young people meeting up with friends. It was possible to keep 2 metres apart, but so many friends meeting up is a red flag as they are not distancing.

It seems that the message is starting to sink in, stay at home, save lives, this virus is a killer. I dont know if Golden week will be postponed until later in the year, is this possible? or is that it for the big Holliday until next year? will companies say "well your at home that's your two weeks Holliday pay" If this is the case I can see that there will be a lot of disgruntled people, stuck at home for more than two weeks with out any chance of a holiday. The next question the airline are closing down flights due to the lack of passengers, will the JR train system start to close down travel if there is empty trains, may be cut the service by 50-60%?

I understand the penultimate paragraph but I also know of a lot of companies not implementing such holiday.

12 days and nothing to do. Beach was empty today, but got cold. Parking lots blocked.

Stay Home, Save Lives! Not stay in Home Centres with all kids and your wife!

GW starts on the 29th...

If Fox News existed in Japan: "This is the time to travel and have a vacation."