Photo/Illutration Tokyo’s Asakusa district is crowded with tourists on April 29. (Shinnosuke Ito)

Crowds returned to popular tourist destinations across the nation on April 29, the start of the Golden Week holidays, as novel coronavirus restrictions have been substantially relaxed and traveling became the norm again. 

However, while many people were not wearing masks, some businesses remain wary about a resurgence of infections.

Kazuhiko Yoshioka, 62, a high school teacher from Hokkaido, was visiting Tokyo’s popular Asakusa district with his son, his son’s wife, a 1-year-old grandchild and other family members. It was his first long-distance family trip in about three years.

“Now, we can breathe much easier because we can take off our masks in many settings,” he said. “I am having a good time being with my grandchild.”

Jidaiya Corp., which offers rickshaw rides and kimono rental services in Asakusa, is struggling to meet a sudden rise in demand because the number of workers fell during the long pandemic.

“We are grateful for the return of customers,” said Hidenori Fujiwara, head of the company. “But we are short-handed and are preoccupied with day-to-day operations.”

Jidaiya does not ask customers to wear masks although its workers don one. Concerns about infections remain because workers personally help dress customers in rental kimono.

“No one can tell whether customers will continue to visit Asakusa in large numbers,” Fujiwara said. “We are uncertain about the future.”

Some workers are taking nine consecutive days off through May 7.

The main eatery of the popular Kani Doraku crab restaurant in Osaka’s bustling Dotonbori district is almost fully booked throughout the period.

“We are both overwhelmed and delighted,” said Taizo Kobayashi, manager of the store. “We are fully prepared for large numbers of customers.”

Sales in April were roughly double those of the same month the previous year.

The establishment will continue to take precautions against novel coronavirus infections during Golden Week, such as employees wearing masks, offering alcohol disinfectant to customers and putting up signs about antivirus measures.

Reservations for All Nippon Airways Co.’s domestic flights between April 29 and May 7 have returned to 93.5 percent of the pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels in 2018. The ratio for Japan Airlines Co. is 98.6 percent.

Reservations for seats on Tokaido Shinkansen Line trains during Golden Week exceeded the 2018 level as of April 26, according to Central Japan Railway Co.

Japan Railway companies said reservations for seats on all bullet train and conventional railway line trains returned to 90 percent of the 2018 level.

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