The rush to leave Japan for people planning to spend the New Year holidays abroad is at its peak.
It's the first year-end and New Year holidays since the drastic relaxation of measures against the new corona, and it's crowded with many tourists from the morning.
Among them, in the departure lobby of the international flight at Narita Airport, families with large suitcases formed a long line in front of the airline counter from the morning.
According to the Narita Airport Company, between December 23rd and January 5th, more than 618,000 people will enter and leave Narita Airport, an increase of more than 12 times from the same period last year.
The departure rush will peak on the 28th, and it is expected that more than 25,000 people will leave the country.
On the other hand, the use of international flights has not recovered in earnest, and is less than half compared to the same period in 2019 before the spread of the new corona infection.
Destinations for this year are that Asian countries, which are relatively close to each other, are popular due to the effects of soaring oil prices.
A man visiting Thailand with his family said, "I used to go abroad every year before Corona, but I haven't been able to go for a long time, so I'm looking forward to it. I want to enjoy golf."
The return rush at Narita Airport is expected to peak on January 4th.
Departure rush begins at Kansai International Airport
Also, at Kansai Airport, the departure rush will start on the 28th, and about 14,000 people are expected to leave the country per day until the 30th.
The departure lobby of the international flight was crowded from the morning with families carrying large luggage and suitcases, and a long line was formed for departure procedures.
A 45-year-old man heading to Guam with three generations and six people said, "Before Corona, I spent New Year's abroad every year, and it was the first time in three years. I was worried about the yen's depreciation, but recently it has calmed down. I was relieved," he said.
My 10-year-old and 8-year-old sons said, "I want to swim in the sea or the pool," or "I want to touch fish."
A 42-year-old woman staying in Thailand with nine family members of three generations said, "My children will be overseas for the first time in their lives, my parents will go golfing, and we will go to the pool and remote islands."
According to Kansai Airports, which operates the airport, South Korea is the most popular destination, followed by Southeast Asia.
By January 5th, the number of people departing from Kansai Airport is expected to average 13,200 per day, about 34% of the number before the spread of infection.