Memorial day for the end of the war

"Memorial day for the end of the war"(終戦記念日 shusen-kinenbi) is observed on 15 August in Japan each year to mark the Japanese Instrument of Surrender which effectively ended World War II.

Mid-August is also the time of "Obon"(お盆), a day set aside to visit to the grave of deceased relatives and therefore highways and public transport routes are often congested.