Traffic congestion peaks in Japan as people travel during Bon holidays

Congestion on expressways, trains and flights has peaked in Japan as people flocked to resorts and their hometowns during the annual Bon holidays.

Japan Railway companies say congestion on Shinkansen bullet trains outbound from Tokyo peaked on Saturday.

Trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line left Tokyo at almost full capacity from the morning through the early afternoon. Nozomi services with reserved seats only were the most crowded.
Cars with non-reserved seats of many outbound trains on the Tohoku and Hokuriku Shinkansen Lines were carrying more passengers than their capacities from the morning through the early afternoon.

Traffic jam along the outbound lanes of expressways is also expected to peak from Saturday through Sunday.

Most domestic flights from Tokyo were also mostly packed on Saturday.

All Nippon Airways had 91.5 percent of its seats booked, while Japan Airlines had 84.4 percent.