Japan Travel Summer Plans Tips and Advice
Japan Travel Summer Plans Tips and Advice
Overview
In this livestream Q&A session from May 2019, John Daub addresses the surge of questions regarding travel plans for the upcoming Japanese summer. With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on the horizon and international visitor numbers skyrocketing, John emphasizes the critical need for early planning. He breaks down the realities of Japan's infamous summer heat and humidity, offering strategic advice on avoiding peak crowds during Obon and Golden Week.
John guides viewers through destination choices, contrasting the sweltering "golden route" (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) with cooler escapes like Hokkaido, Karuizawa, and remote islands such as Ogasawara and Okinawa. He provides practical tips on accommodation booking, from traditional ryokans to capsule hotels, and warns about the rising costs of domestic flights and hotels.
Beyond logistics, the video covers essential packing lists, including cooling sheets and breathable fabrics, and delves into cultural etiquette regarding dress codes, shoe removal, and public behavior. John also answers specific viewer questions about the JR Pass, pocket Wi-Fi, and language basics, making this a comprehensive guide for anyone planning a summer trip to Japan.
Highlights
- 00:01:56 Obon Warning: John explains the mid-August Obon festival period is extremely busy for domestic tourism; book accommodations now.
- 00:03:41 Flight Tips: Avoid expensive domestic carriers during peak times; consider around-the-world tickets for better value.
- 00:06:46 Cooler Destinations: Hokkaido, Karuizawa, and remote islands like Ogasawara offer relief from mainland heat.
- 00:10:07 Dress Code: Wear shorts and breathable fabrics; AC is strong indoors so carry a shirt to avoid catching a cold.
- 00:16:26 Packing Light: Buy clothes at Uniqlo in Ginza; choose capsule hotels carefully for luggage storage.
- 00:22:00 JR Pass Advice: Green Car seats are less booked than standard cars during peak times; reserve seats for free with the pass.
- 00:31:05 Essential Items: Bring your own deodorant; buy cooling sheets (Biore/Mandom) locally.
- 00:38:40 Ryokan Costs: Expect to pay $120-150/night for a quality experience with kaiseki meals and onsen.
- 00:43:36 Pocket Wi-Fi: Rent at airport booths; Docomo has the best rural signal.
- 00:55:32 Shoe Etiquette: Look for genkan cues like shoe racks or steps to know when to remove shoes.
Timeline / Chapters
- 00:00:00 Intro: John sets the stage for summer travel advice.
- 00:01:56 Booking & Crowds: Obon festival impact, Ghibli Museum tickets, hotel shortages.
- 00:03:41 Flights & Accommodation: Airline choices, camping options, capsule hotels.
- 00:06:46 Destination Recommendations: Islands, Hokkaido, Karuizawa, diving spots.
- 00:10:07 Surviving the Heat: Clothing, AC sickness, hydration.
- 00:11:41 Viewer Q&A: Festivals (Sado Island), humidity comparisons.
- 00:16:26 Packing & Capsule Hotels: Uniqlo tips, choosing quiet capsule hotels.
- 00:19:29 Best Months to Visit: February, October, September, May.
- 00:22:00 JR Pass & Trains: Green Car tips, SmartEX app, seat reservations.
- 00:29:41 Transport Passes: Tokyo Metro tourist pass.
- 00:31:05 Personal Care: Deodorant, cooling sheets, towels.
- 00:38:40 Solo Travel & Olympics: Ryokan single rooms, 2020 Olympics vibe.
- 00:43:36 Tech & Connectivity: Pocket Wi-Fi, IC cards.
- 00:48:44 Language Basics: Katakana, essential phrases.
- 00:51:46 Dress Code & Etiquette: Tank tops, socks for tatami, Cool Biz.
- 00:55:32 Shoe Removal: Genkan cues.
- 00:58:11 Living in Japan: Registering address, public toilets.
- 01:01:01 Final Tips: IC cards, festival restrooms.
- 01:03:03 Outro: Thanks and community info.
Japan Travel Tips
- Book Early: Summer (July/August) and Obon (mid-August) are peak seasons. Reserve ryokans, hotels, and Ghibli Museum tickets months in advance.
- Escape the Heat: Consider Hokkaido, Karuizawa, or remote islands (Ogasawara, Okinawa) for cooler temperatures.
- Flight Strategy: Domestic flights (ANA/JAL) are expensive in summer. Look at international carriers flying through hubs like Korea or Taiwan.
- JR Pass: Reserve seats for free at green circle offices. Green Car seats are often less crowded than standard cars during peak times.
- Packing: Bring lightweight, quick-dry synthetics (Uniqlo AIRism). Pack cooling sheets (Biore/Mandom) and hand towels.
- Connectivity: Rent pocket Wi-Fi at the airport (Docomo recommended for rural areas).
- Cash & Cards: IC cards are essential. Carry cash for smaller establishments.
- Etiquette: Remove shoes at genkan (entryways). Wear socks if visiting tatami rooms. Avoid tank tops in cities.
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- Obon (お盆): A Buddhist custom to honor ancestors, occurring mid-August. It is one of the busiest travel periods in Japan.
- Ryokan (旅館): Traditional Japanese inns offering tatami rooms, kaiseki meals, and often onsen.
- Onsen (温泉): Hot springs. Many ryokans include access to private or public baths.
- Genkan (玄関): The Japanese entryway where shoes are removed. Look for a step up or shoe racks as cues.
- Cool Biz: A government campaign encouraging casual dress in summer to reduce AC use. Shorts are acceptable for tourists.
- Katakana: Many foreign food words (pizza, salmon) are written in katakana on menus; learning this script helps with reading menus.
- Greetings: Konnichiwa (hello), Arigatou gozaimasu (thank you), Sumimasen (excuse me/sorry) are essential phrases.
Food & Drink Guide
- Kaiseki (懐石): Traditional multi-course dinner often served at ryokans. John notes budget $120-150/night for ryokans including these meals.
- Convenience Store Items: Biore/Mandom cooling sheets are essential for managing sweat and heat humidity.
- Menu Reading: Learn katakana to identify foreign loanwords like pizza or salmon on menus.
People
- John Daub: Host and creator of Only in Japan Go. Provides expert advice based on 30+ years of living in Japan.
- Viewers/Callers: Jacob, Jeffrey, Chiba Moose, Dimitri, Purple Bandit, Nosh. Viewers who asked questions via Discord or chat regarding festivals, humidity, JR Pass, and packing.
Key Takeaways
- Summer is Intense: Japan's summer is sauna-like, especially after the rainy season ends in late July.
- Crowds are Growing: International tourism has skyrocketed since 2013; compete with the world for bookings, not just locals.
- Plan for Olympics: The 2020 Olympics will add to the chaos but offer a once-in-a-lifetime vibe; don't avoid it, but prepare.
- Comfort is Key: Prioritize AC, cooling gear, and hydration. Don't overplan days in Tokyo; allow time to rest.
- Regional Differences: Hokkaido and Okinawa offer vastly different summer experiences compared to Tokyo/Kyoto.
Notable Quotes
- 00:00:21 "Japanese summer is very famous for being extremely hot, like being in a sauna."
- 00:01:56 "If you haven't made summer plans, do it now. Book a nice ryokan."
- 00:10:07 "You sweat instantly outside—bring hand towel. Take it easy, don't run for trains like me."
- 00:11:41 "Summer humidity like sauna—hotter than Singapore, worse in Osaka."
- 00:38:40 "Olympics 2020: don't avoid—special vibe, events; chaos fun once-in-a-lifetime."
- 00:43:36 "First trips: don't overplan Tokyo days—wander, neon/vending shock."
- 01:01:01 "Early Japan hard—no internet/phone. IC card essential."
Related Topics
- Only in Japan Go: Tokyo Summer Guides
- Only in Japan Go: JR Pass Explained
- Only in Japan Go: Ryokan Etiquette
- Only in Japan Go: Hokkaido Travel
- Only in Japan Go: Japanese Festivals
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #tokyo #travel #summer #japan-travel #hokkaido #okinawa #jr-pass #ryokan #obon #heat #humidity #packing-tips #japan-etiquette #john-daub #2020-olympics #ginza #kyoto #osaka
Full Transcript
00:00:00 John Daub: Greetings! Hello! Good evening everybody! I'm in the mood for summer. I've just finished a hitchhiking DVD. Thought I would start with the orange jacket, take it out of the closet. Don't need that anymore because it's getting really warm here in Tokyo, Japan.
00:00:21 John Daub: Japanese summer is very famous for being extremely hot, like being in a sauna. It's really humid, especially after the rainy season. I'd say June is fairly cool when it rains. Temperatures dip, especially on the Sea of Japan side. Once the rainy season stops around late July, it's a sauna. Just hot.
00:00:45 John Daub: We're going to talk in this Ask Me Anything episode about traveling in Japan during summer. A lot of people are making travel plans to come here, and I'm getting tons of questions. To address them all, this is a perfect time to do it live with you on the Only in Japan Go channel. We've got about 200 people watching. I also have a Discord server. In about 10 minutes, after going through some chat stuff, we'll turn to real people around the world asking questions through Discord. It works better than Skype, and we can get more than one person talking. If you're a Patreon supporter on Discord, keep questions short so we get as much travel info as possible.
00:01:56 John Daub: Alright, starting with some questions. What are some top places to visit in summer? Pikachu in the back is from the Pokémon Cafe. Japanese have summer season in August—Obon (Bon festival honoring ancestors). Usually mid-August, around the 15th or 17th. That week is extremely busy for domestic tourism. But since 2013-2014, international visitors have skyrocketed, so you're competing with the world. If you haven't made summer plans, do it now. Book a nice ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). Get Ghibli Museum tickets—maybe only at Lawson convenience stores, or online sellers. Book hotels and accommodations in advance. When July and August hit, tourists flood in. Last summer was shocking; this one will be even more crowded. More hotels this year, but still not enough, especially for budget options.
00:03:41 John Daub: You can camp like I do—I love it, though not in central Tokyo. You can at Wakasu near Tokyo Gate Bridge for about 500-600 yen, but call ahead; spots book a month in advance. Outside Tokyo, less crowded, but top ryokans and guidebook spots are booked, prices up from demand. Domestic and international flights are premium—ANA (All Nippon Airways) and JAL (Japan Airlines) are expensive now. Avoid United or American if possible. Fly through China, Korea, Taiwan, Hawaiian Airlines, or Alaska Airlines—friends rave about it. Book early or miss out. Around-the-world tickets can be cheaper than roundtrip to Japan, letting you hit 3-4 destinations. I've done it—neat, even at Christmas. Capsule hotels usually available, but even they book up—reserve ahead.
00:06:46 John Daub: Top spots: islands. Everyone hits the golden route—Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima—if first time, that's fine, but book way ahead. Japanese go to Kagoshima, Okinawa, Yamaguchi, Kyushu. In August heat, Tokyoites head to Karuizawa in Nagano, Japanese Alps—accommodations booked and pricey. Friends drive there for second homes, 10 degrees cooler. Hokkaido's popular—less humid, shorts weather, nature, hiking. Last year I went to Ogasawara—Chichijima, 24 hours by boat into Pacific. Highly recommend; reserve accommodations 2-3 months ahead, motorbike 1 month. Without a bike, it's all walking—not fun. Tokyo islands like Aogashima, Hachijojima have best beaches—mainland OK, islands incredible. Scuba? Pacific diving amazing—Okinawa has manta rays, sharks; Ogasawara's "Galapagos of the East," WWII wrecks, dolphins, well-fed reef sharks.
00:10:07 John Daub: Summer's hot—dress accordingly: shorts, breathable T-shirts, sandals. In Tokyo, Japanese wear jeans/pants, not shorts much, but tourists can. I wear shorts till November. You sweat instantly outside—bring hand towel. Take it easy, don't run for trains like me. AC is strong—catch colds; carry button-down shirt. It's a sauna—Tokyo Olympics athletes have no idea; worst time planned, people will pass out.
00:11:41 John Daub: Jacob: big events in Tokyo June/early July? Tons of festivals—Sado Island (Sado-shima, 新潟県佐渡島) in Niigata has Earth Celebration with Kodo taiko drummers—incredible. Pricey, camping options, once-in-a-lifetime. Music festivals too, but crazy. Jeffrey: summer humidity like sauna—hotter than Singapore, worse in Osaka. No breeze some days, awful even at 42°C with humidity. Breathable quick-dry synthetics, not cotton; carry water. Okinawa breezier. 1964 Olympics in October for heat reasons.
00:16:26 John Daub: Pack light—buy at Uniqlo (AIRism line great, cheap, light synthetics; Ginza store huge, up to 5L). Capsule hotels: avoid retro/party spots (foreigners louder); Japanese ones quieter, community-oriented. Check comfort, luggage storage, plugs, lockers. Traditionally for salarymen, not tourists with big bags.
00:19:29 John Daub: Chiba Moose: Hokkaido great in summer—rent motorbikes if licensed. Cheapest flights: February, October (typhoon season), September/May best—less crowds, good weather. May perfect now—warm, pre-rainy season.
00:22:00 John Daub: Discord: Dimitri on JR Pass—worth Green Car (midori no eki, green seats) in peak times like Golden Week/summer; less booked than Hikari/Kodama. Upper deck rapid trains scenic. Early starts avoid crowds; Nozomi not covered. Reserve seats free with pass at green circle offices. SmartEX app for Nozomi, link to IC card.
00:29:41 John Daub: Purple Bandit: got JR Pass at airport office. Tokyo Metro tourist pass good too.
00:31:05 John Daub: Nosh: deodorant—Japanese don't wear much, bring your own (hard to find Old Spice). Small towels, Biore/Mandom cooling sheets essential for sweat.
00:35:00 John Daub: End-July post-rainy season good. Discord opening to all soon.
00:38:40 John Daub: Solo late-August: plan accommodations—ryokans rarely single rooms, share to save; splurge $120-150/night for kaiseki meals, tatami, onsen (hot spring). Safe, but cautious with other travelers. Olympics 2020: don't avoid—special vibe, events; chaos fun once-in-a-lifetime.
00:43:36 John Daub: First trips: don't overplan Tokyo days—wander, neon/vending shock. Pocket Wi-Fi: airport booths (Docomo best rural signal); new battery, unlimited data, ~$8/day. Check TokyoCheapo.com.
00:48:44 John Daub: Language: learn katakana first (foreign words like pizza/salmon on menus). Basics: konnichiwa, arigatou gozaimasu, sumimasen, numbers (ichi, ni, san...).
00:51:46 John Daub: Dress: no tank tops in cities; shorts OK for tourists; sandals fine now. Socks for tatami if sweaty. Conservative tones. Cool Biz casual.
00:55:32 John Daub: Shoes off: genkan (entryway) cues—shoe rack, slippers, step up. Not everywhere.
00:58:11 John Daub: Edogawa advice: register at city office, greet neighbors immediately. Public toilets: parks, department stores, streets.
01:01:01 John Daub: Early Japan hard—no internet/phone. IC card essential. Gion Festival: crowded, restroom first.
01:03:03 John Daub: Thanks for watching—comments for more Q&A. Patreon/Discord for lives. Postcard club monthly. See you soon!