Japan begins an exceptional ten-day holiday «Newspaper The capital of Mar del Plata

TOKYO, Japan – On Saturday, Japan began an exceptional ten-day holiday, due in part to the imperial transition, which resulted in overpopulation of airports and long line-ups at ATMs.

The archipelago is preparing for the abdication of Emperor Akihito on Tuesday. The next day, his eldest son and heir, Naruhito, will accede to the throne.

The Japanese, renowned for their hard work, will combine the two holidays of this event with the traditional "week of gold" of several days of rest.

Many were preparing for national ceremonies throughout the country, while others took the opportunity to travel.

In Narita, the capital's main airport, a record 60,700 travelers to foreign destinations were expected, according to NHK state television.

Long lines were also formed to take the Shinkansen high-speed train to Tokyo Station, while the highways were also full of vehicles leaving the capital.

According to the Japanese tour operator JTB, it is expected to reach 24.67 million travelers (both inside and outside the country) during this period, a record.

With banks closed until May 6, money was starting to run out at ATMs, in a country that still prefers cash to the card.

But not everyone was happy with these extraordinary holidays, and some complained of lack of access to utilities and toilets or of not leaving children because of vacations.

According to a survey by the newspaper Asahi Shimbun, 45% of Japanese people did not feel happy when they spent so many holidays, compared to 35%..