| May.15 SAT. |
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Hiroshima's citizens turned out in great numbers to see the various attractions of the Flower Festival. May 4 was wet, but the rain did not prove much of a deterrent. According to the festival organising committee and the police, in all, some 1,400,000 people attended the 3-day event.
The Flower Festival took place at the same time as events marking the opening of the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido, the new route which links Honshu and Shihoku, and, again, large numbers of people turned out to take part in the various events. Between 70,000 and 90,000 vehicles passed over the three main bridges on the route and around 420,000 people took part in the events organised by the two prefectures at either end of the route. Traffic congestion occurred, especially in the 18 km section between Nishi-Seto Onomichi and Ikuchijima-Kita interchanges. At some periods the line of vehicles grew as long as 16 km.
Figures are not yet available for the number of tourists visiting the island of Miyajima in Golden week, but if the statistics over the past ten years are anything to go by, there is no cause for any optimism. From a record high of 3,119,065 in 1997, the number of tourists saw a sharp drop to an all-time low of 2,539,136 in 1998. Figures for the first three months of the year show that 544,403 people visited the island, a drop of 71,000 compared with the same period the year before. The record numbers in 1997 were linked with the island's inclusion on the list of World Heritage Sites and the NHK series devoted to Mori Motonari. It is also thought that the opening of the Shimanami Kaido will attract visitors from Shikoku to Kurashiki and the eastern part of the prefecture. The town hopes to link up with Hiroshima and Iwakuni and make the island more attractive as a family leisure spot.
Hiroshima Prefecture is rebuilding Hiroshima Port at Ujina. A new terminal building is to be constructed about 150 m to the west of the present building. In an effort to separate vehicles from their occupants using the ferry and pedestrians, the waiting rooms were put on the 2nd floor of the building. However, elderly and infirm ferry passengers complained at having to climb up to the second floor and then climb down again to catch the ferries and a petition was submitted with about 14,000 signatures. The prefecture changed its mind and the plans are to be changed. Plans will be finalised by fiscal 2000 and the work is expected to begin in fiscal 2001. The completion date is set for fiscal 2002.
Paris Orangerie Exhibition What: An exhibition organised as part of the celebrations of the opening of the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido. The paintings, from the Orangerie in the Tuilleries Gallery in Paris, are works by famous artists: Modigliani, Renoir, Rousseau, Cezanne, Monet, Sisley, Matisse, Derain, Van Dongen, Picasso, Laurencin, Utrillo and Soutine. When: 10 - 6, April 17 - June 27. Where: Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum (near the Shukkeien). Admission: Adults: \1,300; Students: \700; Elem. & Jnr. High Sch. Pupils: \400. (Reductions for parties & advance booking.) Information: Tel. (082) 221-6246; (082) 249-1303. |
「ゴールデンウィークの混雑」
多くの広島市民が、フラワーフェスティバルのさまざまな催しを見ようと集まった。５月４日は雨模様だったが、客足は衰えなかった。フラワーフェスティバル実行委員会や警察によると、３日間であわせて１４０万人の人出だった。
フラワーフェスティバルと同時に、本州と四国を結ぶ瀬戸内しまなみ海道の開通を記念するイベントも開かれ、たくさんの人々が参加した。７万から９万台の車がしまなみ海道の３つの主な橋を渡り、約４２万人が橋の両端の県が主催するイベントに参加した。特に、西瀬戸尾道−生口島北インターの１８キロの区間では、渋滞が起き、渋滞の列は１６キロにも及んだ
「宮島へ？」
ゴールデンウィーク期間中に宮島を訪れた人の数はまだ明らかになっていないが、過去１０年の統計を見ると、楽観的にはなれない。１９９７年の３１１万９０６５人に比べ、１９９８年は過去最低の２５３万９１３６人と急激に減っている。今年１月から３月までの３カ月間は５４万４４０３人で、前年より７万１０００人減少した。１９９７年の記録は、世界遺産に登録されたことや、ＮＨＫの「毛利元就」の影響を受けたものだ。また、しまなみ海道の開通によって、四国からの観光客が、倉敷や広島県東部に奪われてしまうことも予想される。宮島町は、広島市や岩国市と手を結び、家族のレジャースポットとしてより魅力的な島にしようと考えている。
「２階、１階」
広島県は宇品にある広島港を改装している。新しい旅客ターミナルビルは、現在の建物から西へ１５０メートルのところに建設される。フェリーを利用する乗用車を、乗用車の持ち主や乗客と分けるため、待ち合い室は建物の２階に設ける予定だった。しかしフェリーを利用する高齢者や身体障害者などから、いったん２階へのぼり、フェリーに乗るために再び１階へ降りなくてはならないことに対する不満が高まり、この計画に反対する請願書が、１万４０００人の署名と共に提出された。そのため県は方針を変え、計画を変更した。２０００年度に最終的な計画をまとめ、２００１年度に着工する。完成は２００２年度になる見込み。
