The departure rush for overseas travelers during the Golden Week holidays began Wednesday at Narita and Kansai airports, Japan's two major international gateways.
Airport operators expect a sharp recovery from last year, when the number of holidaymakers traveling abroad plunged due to the SARS outbreak and the Iraq war.
Golden Week, which encompasses the national holidays on April 29 and May 3 through 5, is also convenient this year for those who wish to travel abroad because a weekend falls in between the holidays, creating a relatively long vacation period.
At Narita airport, customs and police officers handed out leaflets cautioning travelers about terrorism, smuggling and other possible trouble.
Narita International Airport Corp. expects 808,800 passengers to use the airport during the holiday period this year, up 70 percent from a year earlier and about the same as two years ago.
The immigration office at Kansai airport near Osaka expects 292,000 passengers, up 90 percent from a year earlier.
