West Japan amusement park famed for pandas partly reopens to local residents

SHIRAHAMA, Wakayama -- The Adventure World amusement park in this western Japan town partly reopened to prefectural residents on May 21 after closing temporarily due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The number of daily visitors has been capped at 5,000 for now to prevent infections. The park, which had been shuttered since April 7, asks that visitors bring their own mask, and will check their temperatures at the gate. Anyone with a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher will be refused entry.

The park has also spaced out the seating for its dolphin shows and other events. Indoor facilities that are difficult to ventilate and the safari tours by car will remain closed.

On May 21, fans eagerly awaiting the park's reopening streamed in after showing identification. They were seen enjoying the sight of the giant pandas.

Tomomi Yamazaki, 36, a resident of the town who came with her 3-year-old daughter, said, "I came with my little girl as I thought the limited entry made it safe. It was good to see the pandas so healthy."

A park representative commented, "We want to spread smiles to society as much as we can while hoping for the end of the pandemic, which will lead to a full-scale reopening."

(Japanese original by Satoshi Mogami, Wakayama Bureau)