Tokyo's Haneda Airport was bustling from early on Friday as year-end travelers left for hometowns or vacations.

This is Japan's first year-end and New Year holiday season since the government downgraded COVID-19 to the same category as seasonal influenza.

All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines say domestic flights leaving Haneda and Osaka are fully, or almost fully booked for the day.

A woman in her 30s returning to her hometown in the southern region of Kyushu said she can go home without wearing a face mask this year. Her 7-year-old daughter said she is looking forward to going camping with her family, and eating traditional "osechi" New Year food.

Another woman in her 30s visiting her husband's parents' home in the southern prefecture of Kumamoto with her children, aged 3 and under 1, said this is her first visit since the younger one was born.

She added that she plans to be careful as influenza is going around.