Japan's bullet trains face 90% drop in Golden Week passengers

Holiday ridership plummets to worst in over two decades amid outbreak

20200414N Shinkansen

East Japan Railway's Tohoku shinkansen saw reservations dip 91% during the Golden Week period. (Photo by Konosuke Urata)

SHOHEI NOMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Ridership on Japan's shinkansen bullet trains is poised to plummet 91% for the upcoming Golden Week holiday as people stay home to avoid the novel coronavirus.

Only 350,000 seats have been reserved for the period between April 24 and May 6, the six Japan Railway group passenger train companies said Tuesday. This span includes the five-day Golden Week break starting May 2.

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