Airports and railway terminals in urban areas were jammed with holiday makers Saturday as a record number of people headed overseas for the end of year holidays.
At Haneda Airport, about 130 people waited for seats on flights to Fukuoka and Sapporo that might have become available through last-minute cancellations. Most flights were booked to capacity, with clogged luggage inspections causing some delays. At Kansai International Airport, those hoping to bring in the new year abroad packed the international departure lobby.
The airport branch of the local immigration bureau said that 23,800 people, about 8,000 more than usual, were expected to depart for other countries Saturday.
The bureau estimates the number of international travelers departing from the airport between Dec. 23 and Jan. 4 at 256,200.
South Korea and Taiwan were reportedly popular holiday destinations. Japan Airlines said that most international flights from Kansai airport on the day were filled to capacity.
Meanwhile, some 43,000 people departed the same day for overseas trips from Narita airport in Chiba Prefecture. Narita officials estimate that nearly 600,000 people will leave Japan through the airport from Dec. 22 to Jan. 8.
"I was prepared for the congestion (at the airport) but I'm afraid we will all be exhausted by the time we reach our destination," said Atsuko Shigeyama, a 41-year-old housewife from Kodaira, western Tokyo, who will travel to Guam with her husband, son and friends.
Trains were also crowded, with Tokaido Shinkansen bullet trains leaving Tokyo Station filled to 150 percent of seating capacity in nonreserved cars.
Shinkansen bound for northern Japan were also filled to more than 100 percent of their seating capacity.
Road traffic was relatively light on expressway routes out of Tokyo as holiday motorists tried to stay off the roads during rush periods.