TOKYO: Tokyoites started leaving for their original hometowns Saturday to see relatives there, a day after the full end to a government request for voluntary restrictions on travel across prefectural borders.

Aki Onodera, a 29-year-old resident of Mitaka, has decided to take a Shinkansen bullet train to give birth in her hometown in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

"I worried whether I should return, but I decided to rely on my parents' home as I have a little daughter," Onodera said, adding her visit to the home will be the first since the New Year's holiday.

Since then, her 2-year-old daughter has learned to speak a lot. "My parents are also looking forward to meeting her," Onodera said with a smile.

A 29-year-old woman of Meguro Ward will visit Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, with two family members for sightseeing.

Her child care leave has been extended by three months until July due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. "I want my child to play to the fullest before I become busy," she said.

On Friday night, passengers on their ways to family homes were seen at the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal, connected to JR Shinjuku Station.

Among them, a 41-year-old nurse of Tachikawa was heading for her family's home in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, western Japan, with her 11-year-old daughter.

Her 96-year-old grandmother in Takamatsu repeatedly said she wants to see them, but their visit was delayed for three months, the nurse said.

"We can't tell when a second wave will come," she said. "We should meet while we can."

Shu Hiramoto, a 21-year-old senior at Keio University who lives in Minato Ward, was returning to Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, western Japan.

Since he was fired from his part-time job in March, he has drawn on his savings. His worried parents asked him to return home.

Hiramoto is still concerned that he "might bring the coronavirus home" and infect his grandparents in their 80s.

On Friday, the Tokyo metropolitan government fully lifted its request for voluntary business suspensions, allowing hostess bars and other establishments with hospitality services as wells as live music facilities to resume operations.

The Catfish Tokyo live music facility in Ota Ward held its first event with an audience in three months, limiting the number of participants to half the normal level and introducing partitioning screens and vinyl curtains to prevent infection from droplets.

Players also took precautions, wearing face masks or face guards and keeping distances between themselves.

"It's good we were able to reopen at long last, but we can't do (business) as before," said Chikara Matsumoto, 42, who manages Catfish Tokyo.

Yumi Ito, 60, reopened her luxury hostess bar in the upscale Ginza district after a break of two and a half months.

"I put on kimono for the first time in a while," she said delightedly.

Hostesses at the bar serve customers without wearing face masks because the use of masks "is not elegant," Ito said.

Meanwhile, customers are required to take their temperatures before the entrance and keep distances with others.

JIJI Press