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© KYODOJapan's summer holiday exodus gets into full swing
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kawabegawa198
Times like these that I'm so happy to be childless and single. Plan to kick back at home, do some gardening, go for a nearby hike, catch up on some TV shows, drink a few beers. No traffic jams, no noisy kids and parents who can't/refuse to disclipline them, no shopping centres, no work....going to be bliss.
nakanoguy01
you could still do all these things even if you had kids. in fact, when they are old enough, you could do it with them, which would be even more fun. yeah, they can be stressful at times when they are young and misbehave, but being able to create memories and experiences with them are priceless. but to each his own.
Sherman
I really hate this time of year.
All travel, hotels are double price. Long tail backs on highways.
Why everyone has to go away at the same time?
Ripped Dervish
Livin' the dream bruh. Livin' the dream. I'll be doing that in my head while riding a jam-packed shinkansen to my wife's jikka tomorrow.
Kaerimashita
Cliff Richard sang a song about this.
FizzBit
To be fair, it is a Buddhist festival "to honor the spirits of one's ancestors." If the US was the size of Japan, the same situation would occur during our Thanksgiving or Christmas time.
Robert Dykes
Yea! Triple to quintuple airfare prices for you and you and you and you. You are all WINNERS!
pacint
Fizzbit.
Is correct also Japanese have stronger ancestor worship than in the west, hence the Obon travel being basically compulsory.
Kaerimashita
This happens all over the world. Anyone fancy trying to travel in Europe early August? US Thanksgiving. China over New Year? Any Bank holiday weekend in the UK?
Luddite
Obon hell. Hate it. We are going to my mother-in-law's house, luckily it's not too far but what is usually an hours drive is about two or three at this time of year. Golden Week is worse.
goldorak
Reckon the situation is different/worse in japan tbh. Many/most ppl only have 2 weeks paid annual leave per year and therefore have little/no choice but travel during obon/golden week otherwise they'll never leave home, see their family etc.
Different story for ppl (in the west) who have 4-5 or more weeks of annual leave as we could decide to stay home during Xmas/ny for example and travel for 2-3 weeks later in the year.
@kawabegawa, post of Obon-week (that didn't take long did it)!
wanderlust
Just made a Shinkansen day trip to Osaka from Tokyo. Looked like at least a 90 minute wait for seats at Shin-Osaka heading west, but coming back east was no problem. But locally, Tomei expressway already jammed for the first 10 km, and long traffic jams with cars and trucks waiting to get on it. Welcome to O-Bon!
Pukey2
I can't see I hate it, because I don't participate in this nonsense. It's as if you have to. I'll take a few days after the mad rush is over. Even then, I won't be travelling as such what with the ridiculous prices of airline tickets, etc. No, thank you.
Wrembreck
Drove to Gifu from Tokyo today no problem, tomorrow will most likely be a whole different story though!
Kobe White Bar Owner
Like every year me the mrs the kid and the dogs are gone before/after the rush and the same on the way back. Like in life i like to not follow the tide and its done me proud so far. For those on the road drive safe and keep a special eye out for undertaking drivers.
DaDude
No doubt! I had many upon many experiences when I was younger and single. Now nothing is better than giving my children those same experiences and seeing the looks on their faces.
ClippetyClop
First rule of Kanto Club; always travel in the opposite direction to the rest of Kanto.
marialenit
Wow!
How I wished I have someone to spend those unstoppable ten days vacation with a simple Japanese man....
''Have a safe trip everyone'.
Jeff Huffman
FizzBitAug. 10 06:30 pm JST To be fair, it is a Buddhist festival "to honor the spirits of one's ancestors." If the US was the size of Japan, the same situation would occur during our Thanksgiving or Christmas time.
The size of Japan has nothing to do with the yearly travel hell at O-bon, shogatsu and Golden Week. It occurs because Japanese still don't take personal holidays, they take approved national holidays. In the U.S., people can choose when to take their time off. If you really need to be with the family at Thanksgiving, you leave on Tuesday to avoid the insanity of Wednesday and go home on Monday. Around Christmas and New Years you have even greater travel flexibility. Otherwise, we're pretty much free to take our holidays whenever we like.
wtfjapan
Obon this year is a couple BBQs by the pool with family friends and their kids, ah the relative stress free lifestyle of rural Japan
pacint
Love staying back with the family, usually visit places that are more crowded during normal weeks.
Fewer neighbours, less crowded trans and buses, etc.
John-San
Jeff: Now these company are asking their workers to work over Obon. So the feeling is there to change things in business. It is the Government work sector who are holding back any reform . They quite happy with the status quo.
jiji_bisous
normally-sleepy Onjuku will be on the receiving end...
with the concomitant 'announcement frenzy' to instruct and explain every moment of one's enjoyment of the beach...