Tokyo was slowly getting into motion Tuesday with some people returning to their office and others heading to the park a day after Japan lifted a state of emergency over the novel coronavirus pandemic.

"There seems to be slightly more people," said a male worker in his 30s who was among the people headed for their office in front of JR Tokyo Station.

"It's not like we can immediately return to our previous lives. I pray that there won't be a second wave (of infections) due to everyone letting their guard down," he said.

A woman in her 40s, who had been commuting throughout the state of emergency period, which began April 7, said she is "happy that our daily lives are returning to normal," but expressed worries that some people were not wearing a mask.

The metropolitan government has decided to ease its business suspension request in three steps, and the capital is now in the first stage.

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