Long lines of cars clogged expressways leading out from the Tokyo metropolitan area Saturday as the rush to leave the capital for the "Bon" midsummer holiday reached its peak.
The annual exodus caused bumper-to-bumper traffic for up to 60 km on some expressways while railway stations and airports were jammed with vacationers heading home or to resorts. The return rush is expected to peak around Tuesday.
According to the Japan Road Traffic Information Center, traffic was backed up Saturday morning for 64 km to Yaita Interchange, Tochigi Prefecture, on the Tohoku Expressway. Traffic also moved at a snail's pace for 52 km on the Chuo Expressway, Yamanashi Prefecture, which joins Tokyo, Nagano and Nagoya, and for 35 km on the Tomei Expressway, Kanagawa Prefecture, which links Tokyo and Nagoya.