Official messages on travel remain mixed, with the central government ignoring calls to halt a national tourism campaign launched last month while urging people to do all they can to prevent further spread of the virus.
"With the Obon holidays approaching, people should avoid crowded situations, talking loudly, and gathering in large groups to eat meals," Abe said.Aichi governor Hideaki Omura, who instituted a state of emergency in his prefecture from Thursday through Aug 24, took a slightly more cautious stance. "We'd like people to discuss with their families and, if possible, avoid inter-prefectural home visits this time around," he said.
There were some early signs that people were taking heed. The bookings website for tickets on Shinkansen bullet trains from Tokyo to other parts of the country, which normally sell out within minutes of going on sale, showed notable vacancies for the holiday period.