Year-end Japan train bookings up 81% as COVID concern eases

Reservations for bullet and express train services during the year-end and New Year holiday soared 81 percent from a year earlier, Japan Railway operators said Tuesday, signaling easing public concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.A total of 2.32 million seats have been reserved for the period between Dec. 28 and Jan. 5, according to the six passenger railway companies that are part of the JR group.While the figure still represents a 40 percent decline from the pre-pandemic level of 2019-2020, it adds to evidence that economic and social activity is recovering after a state of emergency i…READ FULL ARTICLE