NEXCO East Japan, NEXCO Central Japan, NEXCO West Japan, JB Honshikoso, and Japan Road Traffic Information Center have announced traffic congestion forecasts for the Golden Week period (April 25 to May 6).
The number of traffic jams is expected to increase to 152 (+28) for downlink and 223 (+37) for uplink traffic jams of 10 km or longer against the actual results for 2025, mostly on May 2-3 for downlink traffic and May 4-5 for uplink traffic. Of these, particularly long traffic jams of 30 km or more are forecast to be 8 (-2) downstream and 7 (-4) upstream.
Traffic peaks at up to 45 km at the Sagami Lake IC (down) on the Chuo Expressway, up to 40 km at the Hanyu PA (down) on the Tohoku Expressway and Sakado Nishi SIC (up) on the Kanetsu Expressway, and up to 35 km near the Chikushino IC (down) on the Kyushu Expressway and the exit of the Maiko tunnel (up) on the Kobe-Awaji Naruto Expressway.
As an example of how to avoid traffic congestion, the report states that if you drive between Kawaguchi JCT and Tatebayashi IC (off-road) on Tohoku Expressway between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. on May 2, the peak traffic time, the estimated time required will be 1 hour and 20 minutes, about four times longer than usual, and calls for diversified use by changing the time zone to be used.
Please note that the holiday discount will not be applied during this period to ease traffic congestion.
© Source travel watch