Traffic congestion forecast for Expressway during the Silver Week period [Tohoku region edition]

~ Out-bound will be up to 10km on Tohoku Expressway before noon on September 20th, and In-bound will be up to 10km on Tohoku Expressway after noon on September 22nd~

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August 28, 2020
East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd.
Tohoku Regional Head Office

NEXCO EAST Tohoku Regional Head Office (Miyagino-ku, Sendai City) is announcing its Expressway congestion forecast (traffic congestion of 5km or more) for expressways in the Tohoku region during the Silver Week period [September 19th (Sat) to September 23rd (Wed), 2026: 5 days].
To alleviate traffic congestion, we ask for your cooperation in "distributing usage" by avoiding crowded days and times.
Furthermore, serious accidents have occurred on Expressway due to vehicles driving in the wrong direction. Driving in the wrong direction is a life-threatening act. Please check your direction of travel and drive safely.

1. 1. Congestion forecast

On Expressway in the Tohoku region, we predict a total of six traffic jams exceeding 5km in length: three on Out-bound lanes and three on the In-bound lanes.

Forecasting the longest traffic jam in the Tohoku region

[Details of the traffic congestion forecast are provided in Attachment 1 [PDF: 255KB]and Attachment 2 [PDF: 262KB]]

  • Out-bound line:
    September 19th (Sat) and 20th (Sun)
    E4 Near the Fukushima Tunnel Tohoku Expressway
    (Nihonmatsu IC ⇒ Fukushima Nishi IC) Maximum 10km
  • In-bound line:
    September 22nd (Tuesday)
    E4 Near the Fukushima Tunnel Tohoku Expressway
    (Fukushima JCT ⇒ Fukushima Matsukawa PA) Maximum 10km
Image illustrating the predicted number of traffic jams (traffic congestion of 5km or more) Out-bound lanes during the 2026 Silver Week holiday.
Image illustrating the predicted number of traffic jams (traffic congestion of 5km or more) In-bound lane during the 2026 Silver Week holiday.

Comparison of traffic congestion levels during the Silver Week and Golden Week periods of 2026.

Traffic jam scale Traffic congestion forecast for the Silver Week period in 2026
September 19th (Sat) - September 23rd (Wed)
Traffic congestion data for the Golden Week period in 2026
May 2nd (Sat) - May 6th (Wed)
Traffic jam prediction count Total traffic count Number of traffic jams due to traffic congestion *
5km or more 6 10 3

* "Number of traffic jams due to traffic congestion" refers to the number of traffic jams excluding the effects of accidents, etc.

2. Information on special website for traffic congestion season, traffic jam forecast guide, etc.

The customer website "DraPla" has set up a special site for traffic congestion periods. It provides a traffic congestion forecast guide and videos explaining tips for avoiding traffic congestion.
In addition, information about Expressway is also provided through the official LINE account and the official X account, so please make use of it when you go out.

NEXCO EAST official Image image of traffic jam forecast guide by traffic jam forecaster
Traffic congestion forecast guide (Silver Week edition) - image
Two-dimensional code image link (external link) to the traffic congestion period special site
Special website for traffic congestion periods

3. Request to customers to drive safely and alleviate traffic congestion

When using Expressway, please review Appendix 3 [PDF: 497KB] of "Requests for Using Expressway" before departure to ensure the safe driving of all drivers and passengers.

4. Eliminate wrong-way driving –Expressway are one-way streets –

To avoid serious accidents caused by driving the wrong way, please be aware of the following:

  • Please pay close attention to regulatory signs, guide signs, and road markings, and drive in the correct direction.
  • U-turns and backing up on Expressway are strictly prohibited.
  • If you hear or see information about wrong-way driving, slow down, maintain a sufficient distance, and keep a close eye on the movements of the vehicle ahead.

Please see below for details.

5. Holiday discounts do not apply during Silver Week.

To avoid increased traffic congestion, holiday discounts will not be applied during this period. Please see below for details.

Image link (external link) to download page of Adobe Acrobat Reader

To view the PDF file, you need the Adobe Systems plug-in software "Acrobat Reader (Japanese version)". If you do not have​​​ Download from here (free)Please use it.

Related Sites and Content

Driver's site (DraPla)

If you are looking for information on fares, routes, service areas and parking areas, please click here.

Drive Traffic (DraTra)

If you are looking for real-time traffic congestion and restriction information, click here.

NEXCO EAST (Road Disaster Prevention Information) Official X

Click here if you are looking for road information such as road closures during disasters.