Golden Week Begins with Traffic Jams Expected to Peak on May 3rd

Apr 27, 2025 | News On Japan

SAPPORO - Although the calendar alignment is less than ideal this year, taking weekdays off could turn the upcoming Golden Week into an 11-day holiday starting from April 25th.

Transportation congestion is expected to peak on May 3rd, which falls on a Saturday. In particular, heavy traffic is forecasted during the latter half of Golden Week, when weekends and public holidays cluster together.

According to East Nippon Expressway Company (NEXCO East Japan), the heaviest congestion on the Dōō Expressway is anticipated on May 3rd between Ōyachi Interchange and Eniwa Interchange, with up to 15 kilometers of traffic from around 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On the Dōtō Expressway, traffic heading toward Obihiro is expected to peak between Oiwake Town Interchange and Mukawa Hobetsu Interchange from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with congestion stretching up to 10 kilometers. For those returning to Sapporo, peak congestion is predicted between Tomamu Interchange and Mukawa Hobetsu Interchange on both May 3rd and May 5th, with traffic jams reaching up to 15 kilometers.

As for railways, trains departing Sapporo for destinations across Hokkaido are expected to see reservation peaks on May 3rd, while trains heading into Sapporo are likely to peak on April 25th. Combined reservations for the Hokkaido Shinkansen and conventional lines have increased by 7.6% compared to fiscal 2024.

JR Hokkaido plans to operate additional trains during the holiday period, including extra services on the Hokkaido Shinkansen and the limited express Hokuto connecting Sapporo and Hakodate.

Meanwhile, major airlines report that bookings are heavily concentrated around May 3rd. Travel agencies such as H.I.S. also note a trend toward overseas trips to nearby destinations like Seoul and Taiwan, as the less favorable calendar layout this year encourages travelers to choose locations requiring shorter travel times.

Source: HBCニュース　北海道放送

Typhoons No. 28 and 29 Bring High Waves to Japan's Pacific Coast

Two typhoons moving across the Pacific southeast of Japan are expected to remain well away from the Japanese mainland, but powerful swells could bring rough seas to a wide stretch of the country's Pacific coastline throughout the three-day holiday weekend, according to forecasts updated at 3 a.m. on October 10.

Cyberattacks Spread Across Japan

A series of cyberattacks has disrupted business operations and exposed millions of customer records across Japan, with a ransomware attack on a cloud service provider affecting 495 companies and local governments nationwide, while convenience store operator Lawson has disclosed a separate breach involving more than 2.15 million personal information records.

Japan's First 360-Degree Projection Mapping Opens in Osaka

Japan's first 360-degree projection mapping show will open at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts on October 10, transforming the historic building into an immersive world of light, music, and seasonal imagery, with organizers hoping the attraction will also help stimulate the city's nighttime economy.

Tokyo University Professor Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Tokyo University of Science professor emeritus Kenzo Soai has been awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with French chemist Henri B. Kagan for discoveries that transformed scientists' understanding of how chemical reactions can favor one of two mirror-image forms of a molecule.

US Military Halts All Okinawa Operations for 48 Hours

The US military suspended activities by all forces stationed in Okinawa for 48 hours from noon on October 7, an unusual measure following the arrest of a US Marine in connection with a robbery and murder case that has renewed scrutiny of crimes involving American service members.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Monkeys Hit Popular Hot Spring Resort

A man in his 40s was injured after being attacked by a troop of wild monkeys in Yugawara, a popular hot spring resort town in Kanagawa Prefecture, on September 17, marking the area's first reported case of a person being bitten by a monkey and prompting authorities to strengthen monitoring of the animals using GPS tracking devices.

Tokyo Ward Expands Short-Term Rental Restrictions

Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward will expand restrictions on private lodging businesses across the entire ward from January 2027 after the ward assembly approved an ordinance amendment on October 7 aimed at tightening controls on minpaku short-term rentals.

Acorn Shortage Raises Fear of Bear Attacks

Bears are becoming increasingly active across Japan ahead of winter, with poor acorn harvests in parts of the country raising concerns that hungry animals may venture closer to homes and tourist areas in search of food.

JAL Unveils Revamped Domestic Lounge at Haneda Airport

Japan Airlines has revamped its domestic lounge at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, adding private workspaces, meal options timed to passengers' departures and facilities for families as it seeks to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse range of travelers.

Fans Gather at Furano Filming Locations After Screenwriter's Death

Fans from across Japan gathered in Furano, Hokkaido, on October 3 to visit filming locations from the television drama "From the Northern Country," marking the first weekend since the death of the series' screenwriter, So Kuramoto.

200-Year-Old Horse Festival Begins

Young men leaped onto horses racing at full speed through the grounds of Kasuga Shrine in Takahama, Aichi Prefecture, on October 3 as the city's traditional Takahama Omanto Festival got underway.

38,000 Dolls Farewelled at Tokyo Shrine

Around 38,000 dolls, including traditional Japanese dolls and stuffed animals, were brought to Meiji Shrine in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward for the annual Doll Appreciation Festival, where visitors bid farewell to old and damaged dolls in a ceremony expressing gratitude for the years they had been cherished.

A Year After Osaka Expo, a Peaceful Forest Remains

Nearly one year after the Osaka-Kansai Expo closed, the former exhibition grounds were opened to the media on October 2, revealing that around 90% of the pavilions and other facilities have been demolished, while the Forest of Tranquility remains a peaceful green space at the center of the site.

< 2 3 4 5 >