(ぼん)(がえ)

ぼんがえり
noun
returning home for Obon
time-season
1. returning home for the Obon festival; going back to one's hometown during Obon
The custom of returning to one's hometown during the Obon period (mid-August) to visit family and honor ancestors. One of the peak travel periods in Japan alongside New Year and Golden Week.
今年(ことし)(ぼん)(がえ)する予定(よてい)だ。
I plan to go home for Obon this year.
The Shinkansen gets crowded during the Obon homecoming period.
To avoid the Obon homecoming rush, I decided to leave a day early.

Usage

Obon (mid-August, typically August 13-16) is one of Japan's most important holiday periods. Many people return to their hometowns to visit family graves and spend time with relatives. This causes massive traffic jams and crowded transportation, similar to 正月(しょうがつ)帰省(きせい) (New Year homecoming).

Common collocations

Similar words