The rush of travelers heading overseas for the New Year's holidays began Wednesday at Narita and Kansai airports.
Narita International Airport Corp. expects a record 1.44 million people traveling abroad to use the airport, which serves the Tokyo area, from Dec. 22 to Jan. 9.
The rush is expected to peak Thursday with about 51,000 people leaving, airport officials said.
According to airlines, many travelers are visiting South Korea and resort areas, including Hawaii, while the number of people traveling to China is low in the wake of anti-Japan demonstrations there earlier this year.
Kansai International Airport Co. estimates about 430,000 travelers will use the airport near Osaka from Dec. 28 to Jan. 9, 3 percent more than last year.
The departure rush is expected to peak Thursday and returns will peak Jan. 4, it said.
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