Strong Demand for JR Trains During Bon Holiday Celebrations
Increase in Train Usage During Japan's 2021 Bon Holiday
Japan experienced a significant rise in Shinkansen (bullet train) and limited express train usage during the 2021 Bon holiday, marking a resurgence in domestic travel as pandemic restrictions eased. This increase was partly due to pent-up demand for travel and reunions during the Bon holiday, a key period for family visits and cultural observance, and the convenience offered by advance reservation systems and maintained schedules.
The easing of COVID-19 restrictions in 2021, marketing and promotions by JR companies, and improved services all contributed to the increase in ridership. Regions connected by Shinkansen and limited express trains, especially those with traditional Bon festival celebrations and ancestral hometowns, saw increased passenger volumes. Kyushu, Tohoku, and rural areas popular for Bon observances experienced higher inbound traffic, prompting capacity adjustments by JR to handle demand.
Despite localized challenges from weather events such as heavy rains in southern Japan during the period affecting some routes, overall travel volume on major JR lines increased, demonstrating resilience in holiday travel demand. However, train usage in the Kyushu southwestern region decreased due to service disruptions caused by record-breaking heavy rainfall.
The boost in Shinkansen and limited express train usage during Japan's 2021 Bon holiday reflected a combined effect of improving public confidence in travel, cultural travel motivations during Bon, and operational readiness of JR services to accommodate the surge. This trend benefited regional connectivity and the tourism sector, with passengers using the Sanyo Shinkansen services for visiting the Kansai western region increasing by 7%, and the Tokaido Shinkansen services for the same destination increasing by 13%.
Train usage for trips to cooler destinations in eastern Japan, such as Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture and the Tohoku northeastern region, also increased during the Bon holiday period. The increase in passengers partly reflected steady demand for visiting the 2025 World Exposition in the western Japan city of Osaka.
In summary, the 2021 Bon holiday saw an increase in train usage overall compared to the previous year, reflecting a resurgence in domestic travel as pandemic restrictions eased and the operational readiness of JR services to accommodate the surge in demand.
