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The coronavirus pandemic has turned one Japanese theme park into a new workplace for teleworkers, with a haunted house for the bargain.
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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.
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"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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Several tourists attractions in Japan have been hit by the pandemic, and some amusement parks have explored other ways to lure visitors.
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About ten customers including Yamamoto used the park with roller coasters and a haunted house as their alternative office.
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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."
Image Credit: REUTERS