By the pool or ferris wheel Japanese theme park becomes new office for teleworkers

The coronavirus pandemic has turned one Japanese theme park into a new workplace for teleworkers, with a haunted house for the bargain.

Yomiuriland (pictured), an amusement park in Tokyo, launched an "amusement workation" package to include a working booth next to its pool, and a ride on its observation ferris wheel with a portable WiFi router.

"I love working outside. This is a good plan, and it feels great," said Tatsuki Yamamoto (pictured) 47, president of a IT solutions firm FLEQ, sitting on a white pool chair with his laptop. Employees at his company are also working remotely, Yamamoto said.

Yamamoto points his laptop camera outside a window of a Ferris wheel to show the scenery to his employees who are on an online meeting with him at 'Amusement Workation'. A third of Japanese firms are reassessing using offices as 65% of firms allowed or encouraged employees to work from home due to the pandemic, a Reuters poll showed in August.

Yamamoto and his business partner use laptops while they have a meeting on a Ferris wheel. Many workers in Japan, and globally, began telecommuting as the coronavirus spread and governments imposed strict restrictions to contain it.

The Yomiuriland theme park sells day passes for 1,900 yen ($18.05) per person on weekdays, and 2,000 yen for weekends and holidays, including a workspace rental on the pool side, and a ride on the giant ferris wheel, as well as after-work free golf balls at a driving range inside the park.

Several tourists attractions in Japan have been hit by the pandemic, and some amusement parks have explored other ways to lure visitors.

About ten customers including Yamamoto used the park with roller coasters and a haunted house as their alternative office.

On the slowly moving ferris wheel, Yamamoto dialled into an online conference call and showed off the height to his co-workers through a camera on his laptop. However, it was hard to focus in the air, he said. "I don't know whether to enjoy the view or do the work."