TOKYO: Tokyo Tower's two observation decks were reopened to the public on Thursday, following Monday's lifting of the state of emergency declaration over the new coronavirus in the Japanese capital.

To avoid infection risks from using elevators, the facility operator recommends that visitors use the 600-step outdoor staircases to go up to the tower's main deck, 150 meters above the ground.

Elevators to the main deck are available for use mainly by elderly people and young children, and only up to five people including staff can ride together at one time.

The outdoor staircases, usually open only on Saturdays and Sundays, now can be used every day.

To go up to the top deck, 250 meters above the ground, visitors will use an elevator from the main deck that will carry a group of up to four people for each ride.

The tower in Tokyo's Minato Ward had been closed since April 8. It reopened with shortened business hours, moving up the closing time by two hours to 9 p.m., according to the operator.

The operator put tapes at various places on the decks to show the distances visitors should keep from each other for preventing infections. Depending on congestion levels, the facility will introduce entry restrictions.

"The wind was pleasant and the view was great," said Atsuko Ishii, a 47-year-old self-employed woman from the eastern Japan city of Yokohama who visited the tower with her daughter, an elementary school fifth grader.

"My daughter's school will resume classes in June, and my work will restart too, so we decided to come here to have fun before that," Ishii said with a smile.

JIJI Press