2 June

An increasing number of Tokyo residents are traveling outside the capital after the state of emergency was lifted last week.

Mobile carrier NTT Docomo collects information about people's locations across Japan using network data, which it says protects privacy.

NHK used the company data to compare the number of Tokyo residents who traveled to other prefectures during the last week of May, compared to the previous week.

The broadcaster tracked the movements of residents between noon and 4 p.m., the busiest time of day.

The team found a six percent rise in the number of people traveling out of the city during weekdays.

On Saturday and Sunday, the number doubled to 13 percent.

Data showed that some destinations were nearby prefectures, such as Shizuoka and Ibaraki, where Tokyo visitor numbers rose by about 20 percent compared to the previous week.

Kyoto and Nara in western Japan also saw an increase of around 15 percent.

The figures show that people in Tokyo are gradually starting to enjoy their leisure time by traveling to nearby areas and sightseeing spots, especially on weekends.

NHK