We would like to express our sincere congratulations on the new year.
It was an unexpectedly confusing year last year, but we would like to thank everyone who has taken care of us for their continued patronage.
In the new year, all the staff will continue to do their utmost to provide safe and secure services to everyone.
As a countermeasure against the new coronavirus infection, we will continue to carry out regular PCR inspections of staff, install a partition between the driver's seat and the rear seat in the car, and thoroughly disinfect and clean.
We look forward to working with you this year as well.
2021 New Year's Day Hokuto International
[Empire State Building, 90 years old this year! ]
The Empire State Building is one of New York's leading buildings and a standard tourist attraction. The name of the building, the Empire State, is also another name for New York State (Empire State), and it can be said that it is a building that truly symbolizes New York.
This Empire State Building is celebrating its 90th birthday this year. It was completed on May 1, 1931. Despite the Great Depression in 1929, it is still reported as a surprising fact that the construction was completed in 1 year and 45 days and the 102-story building was completed (about 400 m).
The building that was built with much effort was not filled with tenants after that, and it was also called Empty Building (empty building) ironically.
The observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors are popular with tourists. When it's crowded, you can line up for three hours before you reach the observatory. The view from the observatory is exceptional. When the visibility is good, you can see up to about 100km away.
As long as the Empire State Building seen from the outside is beautiful. Not only in Manhattan, but also in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Empire State Building on the other side of the neighboring state of New Jersey.
The Empire State Building is lit up in different colors for events and holidays (usually white lights).
You can check the color of the light up on the official website (↓).
https://www.esbnyc.com/…
The business hours of the observatory within the year from March 1, 2021 are as follows.
March 1-13: 12PM-9PM
March 14-28: 1PM-10PM
March 29th-April 11th: 11AM-11PM
April 12th-June 30th: 1PM-10PM
July 1st-November 24th: 11AM-11PM
November 25-28: 9AM-12AM
December 1-16: 11AM-11PM
December 17th-31st: 9AM-12AM
* May change in the future
[Resumption of sports and entertainment one after another]
In March, there are movements to resume various economic activities in New York City.
Sports and entertainment are attractive attractions not only for New Yorkers but also for tourists visiting the city. It has been closed or closed for the past year or so, but finally ...! It will be resumed.
◆ Sports:
Resuming watching games with spectators in the arena and stadium. Mask-wearing social distance required, accommodation rate 10%, staff / spectators need corona infection negative proof within 72 hours ... There are other regulations (detailed confirmation required).
In New York City, the NBA / New York Knicks home game was played at Madison Square Garden on February 23rd.
◆ Movie theater:
From today (March 5th), it will resume for the first time in about a year. Masks must be worn, social distance required, and accommodation rate is 25% (up to 50 people).
◆ Live performance:
From April 2nd, live performances such as concerts, live performances, and plays will resume. Wearing a mask, social distance required. Capacity 33% (up to 100 people indoors, up to 200 people outdoors).
* In addition, if there is a negative proof of the COVID test, it is possible to hold an event for up to 150 people indoors and up to 500 people outdoors.
◆ Lincoln Center performs outdoors! :
MET Opera, New York Philharmonic, Ballet ... and Lincoln Center, a leader in New York entertainment, have announced that they will open an outdoor performance and rehearsal space on April 7.
http: //www.aboutlincolncenter.org /.../ RestartStages_FINAL ...
I'm looking forward to the culture and art, performances, and what it will look like under the blue sky.
In addition to eating and drinking in restaurants, cafes and bars, the resumption of the entertainment and sports industry is good news for tourists.
It seems that it will take some time before free travel abroad, but we would like to believe in the step-by-step progress with the spread of vaccines.
[Touch & Go] is the mainstream at subway stations in New York! ?? ]
The subway is an indispensable means of transportation in New York City not only for New Yorkers but also for tourists from all over the world. The New York Subway, which opened in 1904, celebrates 117 years of history this year. The subway has been restored and improved along with the turbulent history of New York, but this time, the New York subway is undergoing a major transformation.
A "touch and go" system has been introduced at the subway ticket gates!
In Japan, automatic ticket gates have been passed through cards with IC chips, which have already been popular under the names such as "Suica" and "Pasmo" for quite some time, but this is now possible in New York as well. Its name is "OMNY".
Passing the metro card through the special entrance of the ticket gate (some people have a trick in this work and have a hard time passing the card for the first time ...) The iron bar was unlocked, but this time the metro card is unnecessary The ticket gate is unlocked when you hold a bank card, credit card, debit card, mobile phone terminal, etc. over the dedicated LCD. On December 31, 2020, this OMNY system was installed at all subway stations (472 stations) in New York City. Currently, the existing metro card ticket gates are also used, but the metro card will be abolished in 2023, and all subway ticket gates are expected to be OMNY specifications.
Due to the pandemic, the number of subway passengers in 2020 is down 70% from the previous year (2019), and the reality is that the number of passengers is steadily decreasing, but it is new news for tourists who will come back to New York in the future. & It will be an experience! ?? This OMNY can also be used on buses in the city. It is already installed on the bus.
By the way, the existing metrocard was introduced in 1993. Before that, coins called tokens were used, and tokens first appeared in 1953. After that, it was used together with the metro card, but in 2003 the token was completely abolished.
History of New York Subway Ticket Gates:
Token (1953-2003) → Metrocard (1993-2023) → OMNY (2019-???)
From tokens that lasted 50 years to metrocards (30 years), what kind of subway era will the new OMNY build ... Stay tuned!
