In photos: Kyoto's most popular tourist attractions are now completely empty

After a sharp rise in Covid-19 coronavirus cases, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a nationwide state of emergency on April 16 to help flatten the curve as soon as possible. Some of the busiest streets in Tokyo were already looking like a ghost town before that, but with tourist arrivals to Japan dropping an alarming 93 percent to its lowest since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, tourist destinations all over the country are now sitting empty.

The contrast couldn't be more apparent in Kyoto, Japan's most famous and popular tourist destination. This ancient city has one of the world's largest collections of Unesco World Heritage Sites; its top attractions including Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Gion district and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest are always packed out with tourist crowds every day. But no more; these once busy venues are now completely deserted, and these photos show what they look like now.

Kiyomizu-dera

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Nishiki Market

Kyoto Station

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Hanamikoji Street

Gion

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