Northbound traffic on several Japanese expressways reached peak congestion on May 5, 2024, with some jams extending 41 km [1].
These delays reflect the intense travel demand characteristic of the second half of Golden Week. As millions of residents travel to leisure destinations, the resulting volume often exceeds the capacity of major arterial roads, causing systemic delays across the national highway network.
The Kan-etsu Expressway experienced the most severe delays, with a traffic jam measuring 41 km near the Kawagoe Interchange [1]. On the Central Expressway, congestion near the Kobutsu Tunnel reached 19 km by 6 p.m. [1]. Other significant delays were reported on the Keiyo Road, where a 28 km jam formed near the Funabashi Interchange [1].
Further congestion occurred on the Tomei Expressway, with an eight km jam reported near the Ashigara Bus Stop [1]. These bottlenecks were concentrated on northbound lanes as motorists traveled toward their destinations during the holiday peak.
Forecasters expect the congestion to persist into the following day. Projections for May 6, 2024, suggest a 40 km jam on the Kan-etsu Expressway near the Sakado-Nishi Smart Interchange [1]. Additionally, a 35 km jam is predicted on the Tohoku Expressway near the Kazo Interchange for the evening of May 6 [1].
Authorities said that high travel volumes are expected to continue through the remainder of the holiday period. Motorists are encouraged to monitor real-time updates as the return trip phase of Golden Week typically creates similar pressure on opposite-facing lanes.
“Traffic jams reached 41 km on the Kan-etsu Expressway.”
The scale of these delays highlights the recurring infrastructure strain during Japan's Golden Week, one of the country's busiest travel seasons. The concentration of traffic on northbound lanes during the second half of the holiday indicates a specific wave of leisure travel that often outpaces the ability of the expressway system to distribute volume, necessitating strategic travel planning for motorists.
