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New Year holiday exodus begins across Japan

11 Comments

The New Year holiday exodus from Tokyo and other cities began on Friday, with vacationers crowding train stations, airports and expressways.

JR East, JR West and JR Tokai all reported load factors of 120-190% and said reserved seats on shinkansen trains are fully booked for Saturday and Sunday. JR West said strong winds delayed services for about 40 minutes on Friday morning.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways said flights from Haneda and Narita airports were about 90% full on Friday. Around 53,000 people are expected to depart from Narita airport, 33,000 from Osaka's Kansai airport, and about 8,000 from Chubu airport in Nagoya by Friday night, the airlines said.

Travel agents and airlines said about 880,000 people are estimated to depart and return to Japan by plane between Friday and Jan 3. Travel agents said the most popular destinations this year are Hawaii, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Cebu in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, traffic was moving smoothly on outbound expressways from Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya early Friday afternoon, the Japan Road Traffic Information Center reported. Traffic was backed up for about 16 kilometers on the Tomei Expressway at noon, the center said.

The return rush is expected to peak on Jan 3.

© Japan Today

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11 Comments
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most popular destinations this year are...Hong Kong

Yes, why not take a break from this overcrowded and heavily urbanized Asian country by visiting another overcrowded and heavily urbanized Asian country?

8 ( +8 / -0 )

This isn't news, it happens every New Year, Golden Week etc. It's just stating the bleeding obvious, like all those OTT reports on the weather.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Thank god I left last week. Immigration and customs were a breeze. I'll be back after the mad U-turn rush. I appreciate that many people can't take the time off to avoid the rush, but I'm sure glad I can.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Hey! I think I see you in that picture!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Okinawa for me" - hope you have a great time.....however much you paid for your tickets (as it is none of our business). On my way back to Jp so hope the New Year's eve arrival is as easy as it has been in the past

1 ( +1 / -0 )

okinawa for me. No security checks and no pesky currency stuff.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The lines were definitely absurdly long at Haneda when I flew back to Tokyo after Christmas. You really have to be determined to get through the whole process.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yes, why not take a break from this overcrowded and heavily urbanized Asian country by visiting another overcrowded and heavily urbanized Asian country?

Could also be HK, Taiwanese, Chinese etc expats/students going back home during the festive season?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yes, Okinawa!! A great place to go! Shogatsu is my least favorite time of year in Japan. Nothing is open hardly, can't get anything done. We hunker down at home while in Japan. Waiting on spring!! もうすぐ春ですね。。。

0 ( +0 / -0 )

tokyo needs 3rd international airport

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"okinawa for me."

Wow. Mr. Money Bags. Did you pay about 2k for 200$ tickets?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

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