New Year exodus peaks

The exodus of people heading for their hometowns and resorts for the New Year holidays peaked on Wednesday.

Shinkansen bullet train stations and an airport in Tokyo were crowded from early in the morning.

Japan Railways says almost all the bullet trains leaving Tokyo are operating at full capacity on Wednesday, with the non-reserved section of the first west-bound Nozomi train, 30 percent above capacity.

Seats on some north- and northeast-bound bullet trains, including the Yamabiko trains bound for Morioka, were also booked above capacity on Wednesday morning.

At Tokyo station, families and travelers carrying large pieces of luggage and souvenirs lined up on the Shinkansen platforms before getting on trains.

An elementary school boy says he was looking forward to playing games and soccer with his cousins at his grandmother's home in the west of Tokyo.

A man on his way to his hometown in western Japan, says he plans to relax at his parents' place with relatives.

Airlines say most flights leaving Tokyo's Haneda Airport were full in the morning.

The return rush is expected to peak from January 2nd to the 3rd on expressways and on January 3rd on trains and domestic flights