帰省(きせい)ラッシュ

きせいらっしゅ
noun
homecoming rush; holiday traffic congestion
transportation
1. homecoming rush; holiday traffic congestion
The period of heavy traffic and crowded transportation that occurs when large numbers of people travel to their hometowns during major holidays such as New Year, Obon, and Golden Week.
帰省(きせい)ラッシュで新幹線(しんかんせん)が満席(まんせき)だ。
The bullet train is fully booked because of the homecoming rush.
お盆(ぼん)の帰省(きせい)ラッシュを避(さ)けて早(はや)めに出発(しゅっぱつ)した。
We left early to avoid the Obon homecoming rush.
年末年始(ねんまつねんし)の帰省(きせい)ラッシュで高速道路(こうそくどうろ)は三十(さんじゅう)キロの渋滞(じゅうたい)になった。
During the year-end/New Year homecoming rush, the expressway had a 30-kilometer traffic jam.

Cultural note

Japan experiences major 帰省(きせい)ラッシュ periods three times a year: 年末年始(ねんまつねんし) (New Year), ゴールデンウィーク (Golden Week in May), and お盆(ぼん) (mid-August). During these periods, highways develop massive traffic jams and train tickets sell out quickly.

Common collocations

  • 帰省(きせい)ラッシュのピーク (peak of the homecoming rush)
  • 帰省(きせい)ラッシュを避(さ)ける (to avoid the homecoming rush)
  • Uターンラッシュ (the return rush — traffic heading back to the cities after holidays)
general
Added 2026.3.7 22:02 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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