The three NEXCO companies, JB Honsha Expressway, and the Japan Road Traffic Information Center have announced traffic congestion forecasts for the year-end and New Year period (December 26 – January 4, 2026). They are calling for the decentralization of use, such as changing the days and times of use.
The number of traffic jams is expected to decrease slightly from the 2024-2025 results, with 84 (-4) downstream and 126 (-7) upstream traffic jams of 10 km or longer, although both downstream and upstream traffic jams will be more frequent on January 2 and 3. Of these, particularly long traffic jams of 30 km or longer are forecast to be 0 (-1) downhill and 6 (-3) uphill.
Traffic congestion peaks at a maximum of 35 km near the Kazo IC (uphill) on the Tohoku Expressway and near the Maiko Tunnel exit (uphill) on the Kobe-Awaji Naruto Expressway, 30 km near the Suzuka IC (uphill) on the Higashimeihan (Ise Expressway), 25 km near the Hanyu PA (downhill) on the Tohoku Expressway, Ayase SIC (downhill) on the Tomei, Otsu IC (uphill) on the Meishin and Hirokawa IC (uphill) on the Kyushu Expressway, Up to 20 km near the former Yamashina bus stop (downhill) on the Meishin Expressway.
Please note that the holiday discount will not be applied during this period to ease traffic congestion.
© Source travel watch