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

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