Golden Week traffic is indeed a challenging issue every year. NEXCO East Japan, NEXCO Central Japan, NEXCO West Japan, and the Japan Road Traffic Information Center have announced traffic congestion predictions for the Golden Week period (11 days from April 26th to May 6th, 2024) on the expressways. This guide provides detailed predictions and points for you to take care of during this season, as well as a useful tool to plan your journey.
Table of Contents
Congestion prediction on Expressway
NEXCO predicts traffic congestion for major roads as follows: Because there were fewer outings in 2023 due to rough weather, congestion in 2024 is expected to increase compared to last year. The number of congestions exceeding 10 km is predicted to total 386 times for both directions, exceeding the 298 times in 2023.
Additionally, NEXCO predicts that outbound traffic will be most congested on May 3rd and 4th. May 3rd, a Friday, is expected to be the peak day for outbound traffic. Furthermore, for inbound traffic, May 3rd, 4th, and 5th are expected to be the most congested days, with Sunday, May 5th, being the peak day for returning to Tokyo. The Tomei Expressway is particularly prone to congestion, with traffic jams expected to reach up to 45 km in length, as well as Chuo Expressway.
| Direction | Direction | Road | Peak time | Traffic Jam Length | Starting Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Eastern japan |
Outbound |
Tohoku Expressway |
May 3rd, Fri 8:00 |
40-kilometer |
Hanyu Parking Area |
|
Inbound |
Kanetsu Expressway |
May 5th, Sun 16:00 |
40-kilometer |
Takasaka Parking Area |
|
|
Central Japan |
Outbound |
Tomei Expressway |
May 3rd, Fri 6:00 |
45-kilometer |
Hadano Nakai IC |
|
Outbound |
Chuo Expressway |
May 3rd, Fri 6:00, 4th, Sat 6:00 |
45-kilometer |
Sagamiko IC |
|
|
Inbound |
Chuo Expressway |
April 29th, Mon 16;00, May 5th Sun 16:00 |
30-kilometer |
Kobotoke tunnel |
|
|
Inbound |
Tomei Expressway |
May 3rd, Fri 9:00 |
30-kilometer |
Okazaki IC |
|
|
Inbound |
Tomei Expressway |
May 5th, Sun 15:00 |
30-kilometer |
Ayase SIC |
|
|
Western Japan |
Outbound |
Kyushu Highway |
May 3rd, Fri 9:00 |
30-kilometer |
Tsukushino IC |
|
Inbound |
Meishin Expressway |
May 3rd, Fri 9:00 |
35-kilometer |
Ootsu IC |
|
|
Honshu-Shikoku |
Outbound |
Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway |
May 3rd, Fri 10:00 |
40-kilometer |
Awajishima-Chuou SIC |
|
Inbound |
Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway |
May 5th, Sun 17:00 |
25-kilometer |
Awaji IC |
Source: Nexco West Japan
What to Take Into Account before traveling
When planning your travel during Golden Week, consider the following:
Peak Travel Dates: May 3rd to 5th are expected to be the busiest days, so plan your travel accordingly.
No Discounts During Golden Week: When using expressways, using ETC for payment can provide you with discounts. The holiday discount is available for regular and light vehicles equipped with ETC when using expressways on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. However, during Golden Week, holiday discounts are not applied to avoid worsening congestion.
Travel Time: Allow extra travel time to account for potential delays due to congestion.
Public Transportation: Consider using public transportation, such as trains, which may be less affected by traffic congestion.
Rest Areas: Plan your rest stops in advance, as popular rest areas may be crowded.
Navigation Apps: Use navigation apps to check real-time traffic conditions and find the best routes.
Useful Tool to Manage Your Plan
DoraTora is a useful website for checking real-time traffic information, congestion forecasts, and work-related restrictions across Japan. It is available in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Thai. This service is provided by Zenrin, a long-standing company that conducts research, production, and sales of map information. It could be helpful to check traffic information on the day of your outing.
Reference: West Nippon Expressway Company Limited, ゴールデンウィーク期間の高速道路における渋滞予測について【全国版】, April 2024, https://corp.w-nexco.co.jp/corporate/release/hq/r6/0327d/
