The number of reserved seats on the Shinkansen during the Obon period, which is the first time since the new coronavirus was moved to "Class 5", has increased by about 1.5 times from last year, and has recovered to 93% compared to before the spread of infection.

Shinkansen reservations: 1.52 times higher than last year

JR companies have summarized the reservation status for the Obon period from August 8 to 10 as of August 17.

As a result, the total number of reserved seats on the Shinkansen for the entire JR Group was 26.217 million, an increase of 1.52 times from last year, and has recovered to 5% compared to five years ago before the spread of infection.

Compared to before the spread of infection, ▽Tokaido Shinkansen is 93%, ▽Tohoku Shinkansen is 95%, ▽Sanyo Shinkansen is 92%, ▽Kyushu Shinkansen is 89%, etc.

Peak booking 11 days downhill 15 days up

The peak of reservations is August 8 for the downhill and August 11 for the uphill, and some trains are already almost full on the peak day.

JR companies say, "With the transition to Class 8 of the new coronavirus, I feel that travel demand is increasing, such as the increase in long-distance use.

Highway congestion expected to exceed last year

Expressways during the Obon holidays are expected to experience frequent traffic congestion from August 8 to 11 for the down line and from August 13 to 13 for the up line, and expressway companies are urging people to avoid busy days and times.

Expressway companies have released forecasts for traffic congestion during the Obon holiday from August 15 to 8.

Downlink peak from 11th to 13th

Of these, the peak of the downlink is expected to be from the 11th to the 13th.

Especially on the 11th, severe traffic congestion is expected in various places, ▽ On the Tohoku Expressway, around 10 a.m., near the Yaita Kita parking area in Tochigi Prefecture, ▽ On the Tomei Expressway, around 6 a.m. near the Hadano Nakai Interchange in Kanagawa Prefecture,


▽ On the Chuo Expressway, traffic congestion of 6 kilometers is expected at around 45 a.m., starting near the Sagami Lake Interchange in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Also, in Nishi-Japan, a 5-kilometer traffic jam is expected on the Meishin Expressway around 30 p.m., starting near the former Yamashina bus stop in Kyoto City.

Uplink peak is from 13 to 15 days

On the other hand, the uphill line is expected to experience the peak of traffic congestion from the 13th to the 15th.

Especially on the 13th, severe traffic congestion of 5 kilometers is expected around 45 p.m. on the Tomei Expressway near the Ayase Smart Interchange in Kanagawa Prefecture,
and
5 kilometers on the Kanetsu Expressway around 40 p.m. near the Takasaka service area in Saitama Prefecture.

Number and scale of traffic jams expected to exceed last year

Expressway companies are expected to see more traffic congestion this year than last year, and are urging people to check the latest information and avoid busy days and times.