Golden Week travel sees boost amid easing of COVID protection measures

With the easing of measures against COVID-19, Japan's Golden Week holidays have seen travelers — some no longer wearing face masks — crowding train stations and airports, with a growing influx of foreign travelers adding to the bustle. Experts on infectious diseases, however, are calling on elderly people and those with underlying conditions to protect themselves from the virus by wearing masks and taking other countermeasures. Shinkansen bullet trains, airplanes and expressways reached peak congestion Wednesday, the first day of the five-day weekend, with more people enjoying long trips this year. The holiday mood has also been boosted by the government's decision to reclassify the virus as an infectious disease on par with seasonal flu from next Monday, paving the way for the full normalization of social and economic activities. The international departure lobby at Narita Airport near Tokyo was bustling with travelers, with many lining up at currency exchange counters. All Nippon Airways said its domestic flights from Tokyo's Haneda Airport were almost fully booked, while Japan Airlines said 90% of its flights departing the capital were sold out.<br/>