Return rush of "bon" summer holidaymakers in Japan

Return rush of "bon" summer holidaymakers in Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows Tokyo-bound lanes (R) on the Tomei Expressway packed with cars near the Ebina junction in Kanagawa Prefecture on Aug. 17, 2025, as the "bon" summer holiday season nears its end.

Summer holiday traffic congestion in Japan

Summer holiday traffic congestion in Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the Tomei Expressway's outbound lanes (R) packed with cars headed to holiday destinations on Aug. 10, 2024, near Ebina Junction in Kanagawa Prefecture, eastern Japan.

Return from holidays amid pandemic

Traffic is light at the Ebina junction of the Tomei Expressway linking Tokyo and Nagoya on Jan. 3, 2021, as seen in this photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter. In ordinary years, roads are crowded on Jan. 3 as many people return from holidays. Fewer people than in ordinary years are seen at a shinkansen bullet train platform at JR Tokyo Station on Jan. 3, 2021, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Return from holidays amid pandemic

Return from holidays amid pandemic

Traffic is light at the Ebina junction of the Tomei Expressway linking Tokyo and Nagoya on Jan. 3, 2021, as seen in this photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter. In ordinary years, roads are crowded on Jan. 3 as many people return from holidays.

Return from holidays amid pandemic

Return from holidays amid pandemic

Traffic is light at the Ebina junction of the Tomei Expressway linking Tokyo and Nagoya on Jan. 3, 2021, as seen in this photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter. In ordinary years, roads are crowded on Jan. 3 as many people return from holidays.