Return rush of holidaymakers begins at airports, train stations

Saturday 16th August, 05:19 PM JST

TOKYO —

The return rush to major cities of holidaymakers who spent their midsummer vacations overseas or in various parts of Japan started Saturday at airports and train stations. Narita International Airport, near Tokyo, is expecting around 54,500 travelers to arrive Saturday and the rush to continue until Monday, airport officials said. Kansai International Airport, serving the Osaka metropolitan region, is expecting around 19,700 arrivals.

Japan Railway group companies said reserved seats on Shinkansen bullet train services are fully booked on the Tohoku and Tokaido lines. The return rush on domestic flights and trains is expected to peak Saturday afternoon and Sunday, according to railway and airline operators. Outbound travel of holidaymakers for Japan’s relatively short ‘‘bon’’ holiday period peaked Aug. 9.

Kyodo

4 Comments

chibaman at 10:18 PM JST - 16th August

Not really news. News would be Fukuda admitting the whole country is stupid for taking vacation at the same time.
Sarge at 11:02 PM JST - 16th August

"Not really news"

Sure it is. It's just that we hear this news every year at the same time ha ha ha!
some14some at 03:40 PM JST - 17th August

It was the **only news **at NHK 3pm broadcast today.
LIBERTAS at 03:59 PM JST - 18th August

As a follow up, I had the opportunity to observe a dreary-faced crowd emerging from the main station today. Some tanned, most tired, and NONE wanted to be back at work today, with the next prospect of time off in January! You know, if the rest of the work can stagger vacations, why can't Japan? Being employed and being effective at work are not the same thing! Talk about quality of life! Not!