As Japanese authorities prepare for the two-day summit of Group of Seven leaders in central Japan from Thursday, travelers and commuters have begun to see a heightened vigilance level in the capital with more uniformed officers on the streets and other security measures implemented.
Although Tokyo is about 300 km away from the venue of the G-7 summit, the Metropolitan Police Department is mobilizing up to 19,000 police officers to tighten security.
East Japan Railway Co. will seal off trash receptacles in bullet trains on Thursday and Friday in addition to those in major stations such as Tokyo and Shinjuku.
Security has also been tight near the summit venue in Mie Prefecture and Chubu International Airport in neighboring Aichi Prefecture, with authorities deploying up to 23,000 police officers in the two prefectures.
Visitors to the airport have seen enhanced security checks, including physical inspection of carry-on luggage, boarding passes and IDs even before entering the airport terminal building.
The airport's observation deck has been also closed.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force deployed vessels in the waters off the summit venue of Shima — including the 19,500-ton helicopter carrier Izumo. The Japan Coast Guard is also patrolling near the venue with some 100 small vessels.
Because of security-driven traffic restrictions, some elementary schools and junior high and high schools called off classes in Mie Prefecture.