Cherry blossoms but stores empty in virus-hit Japan

Cherry blossoms are in season and the ancient Japanese capital of Nara, with its majestic Todaiji "Big Buddha" temple and its herds of deer, would normally be packed.

This year, it's almost deserted, as are most other tourist attractions in Japan as foreign visitors stay away and locals heed warnings to stay home to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The tourism industry, heavily reliant on foreign travellers, has taken a beating since Beijing banned group tours in late January. But there's a silver lining for some Japanese living in popular locations like Kyoto who were getting fed up with the crowds and disruptions from legions of visitors.

Tadayuki Takiguchi's souvenir shop was the only one open on a recent weekday on a street near Nara's famous deer park, where tourists usually stop to take photos and feed the animals.

"Sometimes I don't see anyone on the street," Takiguchi said. "I've never seen anything like this."