As the Japanese tradition of Obon Festival begins, the country's transportation system faces a peak surge of people returning to their hometowns. The lead-up to this holiday period witnesses a major spike in road traffic, necessitating meticulous planning and management from local authorities to avoid chaos. Congestion reports are businesses' and commuters' main tool to navigate through this yearly event that puts the country's infrastructure to the test.

In Japan, the Obon Festival is a time when many residents return to their ancestral homes, making it one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The topic of road congestion during this time is handled with great seriousness, as it deeply affects the daily life, business operations, and overall logistics in the country.

Similar to the Thanksgiving holiday traffic in the U.S., the Obon return rush is a major event in Japan. However, where the U.S. Thanksgiving travel period typically extends over a week, the Obon travel rush primarily concentrates in just a few days, putting even more pressure on the transportation system.