The number of people in Japan heading off to their hometowns, vacation spots and other destinations for the "Bon" holiday period appeared to have peaked on Friday.

This is the first summer holiday in Japan since the government lifted all coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

Officials at JR Railway group companies believe that passenger numbers on outbound shinkansen bullet trains peaked on Friday. The occupancy rates of some Tokaido, Tohoku and Hokuriku shinkansen trains departing Tokyo exceeded 100 percent in non-reserved cars.

Airlines say there were very few seats available on domestic flights departing Tokyo's Haneda and Osaka's Itami airports on Friday.

Reservations for shinkansen bullet trains during this holiday period have recovered to 93 percent of the pre-pandemic levels. The rate for domestic flights was 94 percent.

Some expressways have already seen traffic jams extending 30 kilometers.

Return trips on shinkansen lines are expected to peak on Tuesday. Domestic flights from holiday destinations will be busiest from Tuesday to Thursday. The road congestion will probably be heaviest from Sunday to Tuesday.

Typhoon Lan is expected to approach Japan's main island of Honshu, and may cause traffic and rail disruptions.

The Central Japan Railway Company is warning of the possibility of planned and sudden cancellations on the Tokaido line from Sunday to Wednesday.

The East Japan Railway Company says cancellations and delays are possible for the Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu and Hokuriku shinkansen lines.

Central and East Nippon Expressway Companies say road traffic on some expressways may be restricted or closed from Sunday to Wednesday.