Travelers Crowd Airports and Stations as Japan’s Five-Day Silver Week Holiday Begins

Airports and major railway stations across Japan were crowded on Saturday as millions of people began travelling for the country's Silver Week holiday period, which this year provides five consecutive days off for the first time in 11 years.

The five-day holiday runs from September 19 through September 23, combining the weekend with three national holidays. The unusually long break has prompted large numbers of people to travel for holidays, family visits and trips to events taking place around the country.

Crowds were visible at major transport hubs from the beginning of the holiday period, with passengers carrying luggage filling airport terminals and railway stations as they headed away from Japan's largest cities.

Five Consecutive Days Off Draw Travelers Across Japan

Silver Week is created when several holidays in September fall close enough together to produce a longer break. In 2026, September 21 is Respect for the Aged Day and September 23 is the Autumnal Equinox Day, while September 22 becomes a holiday between the two dates under Japan's holiday system.

Combined with the weekend of September 19 and 20, the arrangement produces five consecutive days without a normal working day for many people.

The 2026 holiday period is particularly notable because the country has not had a five-day Silver Week stretch since 2015. The prospect of five consecutive days off encouraged many people to make longer domestic trips than would normally be possible during a standard weekend.

Travel demand was therefore concentrated around major transport hubs as people left cities such as Tokyo and Osaka for destinations around the country.

Airports Fill With Holiday Travelers

Airports were among the busiest locations at the beginning of the holiday period. Passengers arrived with suitcases and other luggage as domestic and international travel increased.

Tokyo's Haneda Airport was among the major airports experiencing heavy passenger traffic. The airport serves a large number of domestic routes, making it one of the principal departure points for people travelling to other parts of Japan during national holidays.

Narita Airport was also expected to experience increased demand as people travelled internationally during the extended break. The combination of domestic holiday travel and international trips contributed to higher passenger numbers across the country's main aviation hubs.

Airlines had been preparing for the increased demand, with bookings concentrated around the beginning and end of the five-day period. Travelers were advised to allow additional time at airports because of the expected crowds.

Railway Stations Also Packed

Major railway stations were similarly busy as travelers began journeys by train. Tokyo Station, one of the country's most important long-distance rail hubs, was crowded with passengers heading towards destinations across Japan.

The Tokaido Shinkansen connecting Tokyo with Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka was expected to be particularly busy because it provides one of the country's main high-speed links between eastern and western Japan.

Other Shinkansen routes were also experiencing strong demand as people travelled north, west and south from Tokyo. The extended holiday encouraged many passengers to make longer journeys that would normally require taking additional days away from work.

The scale of demand meant that travelers using the bullet trains were encouraged to make reservations in advance rather than relying on finding an available seat at the station.

Nozomi Trains Operating With Reserved Seats Only

One of the measures introduced for the holiday period was the temporary use of reserved seating on all Nozomi services on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen routes.

The arrangement applied from September 18 through September 23, covering the period around the five-day holiday. Passengers travelling on Nozomi services therefore needed to have a reserved seat rather than relying on the non-reserved cars normally available on these trains.

The measure was intended to help manage the exceptionally high demand expected during Silver Week. Nozomi trains provide the fastest regular services between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka and are heavily used during major holiday periods.

Passengers without reservations could therefore not simply arrive at the station and board a non-reserved Nozomi car as they might on a normal day.

First Day Expected to Be Particularly Busy

September 19, the first day of the five-day holiday, was expected to see particularly heavy outbound travel as people left major cities for destinations across Japan.

The concentration of travel was a direct consequence of the unusual length of the holiday. Because many people had five consecutive days available, there was greater scope for taking longer trips rather than simply making short weekend journeys.

Travelers heading away from Tokyo were expected to contribute to congestion on Shinkansen services and major roads, while airports faced increased demand from passengers taking domestic and overseas trips.

The return journey was expected to produce another major peak towards the end of the holiday, particularly on September 22 and 23 as people prepared to return to work and school.

Highways Also Expected to Be Congested

The holiday rush was not limited to railways and airports. Japan's expressway operators were also warning motorists about substantial traffic congestion during the five-day period.

NEXCO companies forecast 279 instances of traffic congestion exceeding 10 kilometres nationwide between September 19 and September 23.

In the Tokyo metropolitan area, outbound traffic was expected to reach its peak around September 20, while inbound traffic was forecast to be heaviest on September 21 and 22.

The forecasts reflected the tendency for people travelling by car to leave major urban areas at the beginning of a long holiday and return shortly before the break ends.

Motorists were therefore encouraged to check traffic forecasts before setting out and consider travelling outside the busiest periods where possible.

No Highway Holiday Discounts During Silver Week

Another consideration for motorists was the absence of the usual highway holiday discounts during the Silver Week period.

The discounts were not being applied during the five-day holiday in an effort to prevent additional demand from contributing to already expected congestion.

People planning to drive were therefore advised to take the toll costs into account when planning their journeys as well as considering the likely travel time.

The combination of heavy traffic and the lack of holiday discounts meant that travelling outside peak periods could provide both a less congested journey and a different overall cost.

Travelers Head to Destinations Across Japan

The Silver Week holiday is an important opportunity for domestic tourism because people can travel considerably farther when several days are available in succession.

Popular destinations included areas known for autumn scenery, historic attractions, food and cultural events. Major cities also expected increased visitor numbers as people travelled from other parts of Japan.

The timing of the holiday comes as Japan moves from summer towards autumn. Although temperatures can remain relatively high in some areas, cooler conditions in northern and mountainous parts of the country make late September a popular period for travel.

The extended break also coincided with the opening of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 19, bringing additional travel demand to central Japan.

Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Add to Travel Demand

The 2026 Asian Games opened in Aichi and Nagoya at the same time as Silver Week began. The event was bringing athletes, officials, spectators and other visitors to the region.

Nagoya Station was therefore among the locations experiencing additional passenger traffic as visitors travelled to the city for the sporting event.

The combination of the Asian Games and the national holiday created an especially busy period for transportation in central Japan. Visitors attending competitions were travelling at the same time as domestic tourists taking advantage of the five-day break.

The Games were scheduled to continue into October, meaning that the increased movement of visitors was expected to continue beyond the initial Silver Week rush.

Weather Creates an Additional Complication

The holiday travel period also began with unsettled weather in parts of Japan. Rain was affecting areas including the Kanto region as Typhoon Dujuan approached from the south.

The weather created an additional concern for people travelling during the holiday because heavy rain and strong winds can affect aircraft, trains, roads and ferry services.

The Japan Meteorological Agency was monitoring the typhoon closely as it moved towards eastern Japan. Forecasts indicated that the storm could approach the Kanto region during the holiday period.

The potential impact of the typhoon meant that people travelling during Silver Week needed to monitor weather and transportation information as well as normal holiday congestion.

Travel Plans Could Be Affected by Typhoon Dujuan

The possibility of severe weather was particularly important because the busiest return travel days coincided with the period when Typhoon Dujuan was expected to approach eastern Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that the storm could bring heavy rain, strong winds and high waves to parts of the country. Transport operators were consequently monitoring the situation for possible disruptions.

The prospect of weather-related cancellations added uncertainty to an already busy holiday travel period. Passengers were advised to check the latest information from airlines and railway companies before setting out.

For travelers with flexible plans, changing departure times could help avoid both the worst congestion and periods of particularly severe weather.

Travelers Urged to Stagger Journeys

With hundreds of traffic jams expected and large numbers of passengers using airports and railway stations, transport authorities encouraged travelers to spread their journeys across different days and times where possible.

Even small changes to travel plans can reduce pressure on transport networks. Leaving earlier in the morning, avoiding the busiest return periods or choosing less crowded travel dates can make journeys easier during a major holiday.

The same principle applied to Shinkansen travel, where advance reservations were particularly important because of the temporary removal of non-reserved seating from Nozomi services.

Travelers were also encouraged to check accommodation arrangements and local transportation before leaving, particularly if they were heading to destinations affected by the typhoon or other weather conditions.

One of Japan's Biggest September Travel Periods

Japan's Silver Week does not occur every year with the same number of consecutive holidays. The five-day break in 2026 was therefore an unusual opportunity for people to take longer trips during September.

That rarity helped explain the high level of demand seen at airports, Shinkansen stations and on major roads as the holiday began.

The combination of domestic tourism, family visits, international travel and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games placed additional pressure on transportation networks across the country.

At the same time, the approach of Typhoon Dujuan meant that travelers faced an additional variable that could not easily be planned around in advance.

Large Crowds Mark the Start of Silver Week

The crowds at Japan's airports and major railway stations on September 19 marked the beginning of an unusually long autumn holiday period.

With five consecutive days off for the first time in 11 years, many people were taking advantage of the opportunity to travel farther from home, while the Asian Games were bringing visitors to Nagoya and the surrounding region.

Transport operators had introduced measures including reserved seating on Nozomi trains, while highway companies were warning of hundreds of significant traffic jams during the holiday.

The situation was further complicated by the approach of Typhoon Dujuan, which threatened heavy rain and strong winds in parts of Japan during the same period.

For travelers, the start of Silver Week was therefore a combination of strong holiday demand and changing weather conditions. With crowded airports, packed stations and busy roads expected throughout the break, checking transport and weather information remained essential for anyone travelling across Japan during the five-day holiday.