Trains were packed, flights full and highways congested on Sunday afternoon as the Obon holiday return rush peaked in Japan.
 
Narita and Haneda airport officials reported that almost all inbound flights were full, with around 65,000 travelers expected to return by the end of the day, Fuji TV reported. Hawaii and Guam were among the most popular destinations this year, travel agents said.
 
Meanwhile, JR officials said shinkansen trains returning to Tokyo and Osaka were running at 140% capacity on the Tokaido and Tohoku lines from Sunday morning.
 
Fireworks, the sound of cicadas and shaved ice desserts are some of the seasonal traditions this time of the year in Japan. But summer isn’t quite complete without the news of dreadful traffic congestion that takes place during the country’s Obon holiday period.

 

During Obon, people  living in the city typically return home to visit their parents or grandparents and honor their ancestors by paying a visit to their graves.
 
According to the Japan Road Traffic Information Center, traffic on the Kanetsu expressway in Saitama prefecture extended for 62 kilometers at one point Wednesday morning.
 
“Heavy traffic is expected again on Saturday nationwide” when those who spend the Obon season outside the city return home, a spokeswoman at JARTIC said.



(source : newsonjapan.com & wsj.com)