Japan transportation trends show rising rail use and declining airline numbers during Obon

During the Obon holiday period, Japan saw diverging trends between rail and air travel. Major JR companies reported a slight increase in passenger numbers for Shinkansen and limited express services, totaling approximately 13.2 million people. Notably, the Tokaido Shinkansen saw its highest daily ridership of 415,000 since records began in 1991. The Sunrise Seto/Izumo sleeper train also saw a 113% increase in volume compared to the previous year.

In contrast, major airlines such as ANA and JAL reported lower passenger numbers compared to the same period last year. While ANA saw record numbers for its Hawaii routes, overall domestic and international passenger counts for the major carriers were down. Analysts suggest that rising fuel surcharges and high international airfares are driving a shift toward domestic travel and shorter, more affordable trips, a trend described as ‘land high, air low’.