JR Shin-Osaka Station is packed with travelers as Bon holiday week gets under way Aug. 10. (Mari Endo)

Photo/Illutration A father waves his family off as they return home on the Shinkansen bullet train on Aug. 10 at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka. (Mari Endo)

Japan’s summer Bon holiday exodus is in full swing as people rush to their hometowns and vacation destinations, but with a heightened sense of caution this year following warnings a megaquake could strike at any time.

The flood of people clogged roads, train stations and airports.

JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka was packed with travelers from early morning on Aug. 10.

A 41-year-old man who lives in Osaka and was taking his family to his hometown in Goto, Nagasaki Prefecture, said he looked  forward to fishing and swimming in the sea.

“I will think about evacuation routes so we can flee as soon as an earthquake alert is issued,” he said.

The Tohoku Shinkansen’s “Hayabusa” and “Komachi” trains departing from Tokyo Station on Aug. 10 were almost fully occupied throughout the day.

The Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen’s “Nozomi” trains, which are running on a reserved seat only basis until Aug. 18, were also full.

Tokaido Shinkansen trains have been operating at a reduced maximum speed of 230 kph from 285 kph between Mishima Station in Shizuoka Prefecture and Mikawa-Anjo Station in Aichi Prefecture due to the recent warning of a possible monster quake in Nankai Trough. This resulted in train delays.

Despite the Aug. 8 earthquake in Miyazaki Prefecture, Miyazaki Airport in the capital was packed with people returning home.

A 40-year-old woman from Fukuoka was among them with her son, who is in fourth grade at elementary school.

The woman said she thought about canceling the trip after the quake.

The flight was fully booked before the quake, but when she checked afterward seats suddenly became available.

It made her wonder what to do with her reservation.

But ultimately the woman said she decided to stick with her plan because she is looking forward to attending a high school reunion.

Her son seemed happy with the decision, saying, “I’m looking forward to going to the swimming pool with my cousin.”

But he said he will try to avoid going to the beach due to concerns about a tsunami.

Traffic congestion also peaked on expressways in many places.

According to the Japan Road Traffic Information Center, traffic was backed up 34 kilometers near the Sagamiko Interchange on the Chuo Expressway’s outbound lanes as of 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 10. It added that traffic was snarled for 23 km near the Yaita Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway’s outbound lanes.