TOKYO: Many Japanese went out to town and traveled to sightseeing spots in the first weekend since the country fully lifted requests for voluntary restrictions on travel across prefectural borders Friday.

"Crowds have come back at last," said Kosuke Kajiwara, 38, who works for a rickshaw company in Tokyo's Asakusa district.

On Saturday, the major tourist spot was crowded with visitors from other parts of Tokyo and other prefectures. But foreign tourists were few.

"We were able to come without worries now that the restrictions were removed," said Miyu Kikuchi, 18, from Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture. "We'll enjoy ourselves to the full while taking precautions, wearing masks and using disinfectants."

A mountain resort town of Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, had many visitors from the Tokyo metropolitan area and elsewhere.

Streets were crowded with families. At a popular shopping mall, some of the parking lots became full. Many parked cars carried licenses registered outside Nagano.

"I'm happy, though I'm a bit worried I may be criticized for coming from outside the prefecture," said a self-employed man, 39, from Tokyo.

The Ikaho hot spa resort in Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture, also had many tourists.

A visitor from Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, in his 30s said he stayed a night in Ikaho with his family. His wife said, "I feel healed now, after being stressed out for staying home with kids."

An official of a local tourism association said many accommodations enjoy brisk reservations.

JIJI Press