Golden Week Brings Crowds and Concerns
Japan's Golden Week holidays kicked off on Saturday, with a surge in travelers at train stations and airports across the country. While the easing of COVID-19 fears has encouraged people to travel, the yen's sharp decline against other currencies has made overseas trips more expensive.
At Tokyo's Haneda Airport, the international departures hall buzzed with activity, having reopened in July 2022 after a three-year pandemic closure. Rika Uechi, a 26-year-old university graduate, expressed excitement about her trip to Singapore with a friend. "I'm going on a graduation trip that I couldn't make due to the pandemic. I want to enjoy a night safari," she said.
Concerns about the weakened yen were evident among travelers. A woman returning to Taiwan from Japan shared her worries about the cost of souvenirs upon her return. "I've prepared more money than usual," she said.
Despite lingering concerns about COVID-19, the downgraded threat level and relaxed health measures have encouraged people to venture out. Chiho Okamura, traveling to Hyogo Prefecture with her three-month-old son, expressed her anticipation for the trip. "It's still hard to take off my facemask, but I'm looking forward to meeting my parents," she said.
The holiday period has seen a significant increase in travel bookings. Airlines reported over 2.6 million domestic flight bookings between Saturday and May 6, nearly matching last year's holiday period. International flight bookings also rose by 20%, reaching 490,000.
Similarly, Japan Railway operators reported 2.96 million seat reservations for shinkansen bullet trains and other rail services between Friday and May 6, a 16% increase from last year and a 7% increase compared to 2018, before the pandemic. Peak congestion is expected on May 3 and 6.