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Stations, roads packed as travelers leave for summer holidays

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I realize that some people can only travel now, but I'm sure glad I can travel at another time instead. I'm staying put this week.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There was discussion a few years back about making the extended holidays of golden week and summer O'bon break during different times, for different parts of the country, to alleviate the congestion, but the idea got tossed out because then it wouldn't be "Obon nor golden week" just a "holiday" which then defeats the meaning of both!

This year Obon is August the 15th in most Japan and July the 15th in Kanto. So how is a vacation in between August the 10th and the 14th, Obon holidays ?

In Japan saying people shouldn’t take vacation at Obon is like saying to people in the US that they shouldn’t take Christmas off.

If Christian people are said to take Christmas holiday from the December the 20th to the 24th, I think, they will react badly. In the other hand Japanese seems fine with taking Obon holiday not during Obon, so...

Thought I know one Japanese which made a point in taking Obon holiday during Obon and got holiday from the 14th to the 18th. But perhaps, it is related to be Buddhist not Japanese.

They should just go back to the discussion Yubaru talked about and just go for it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Central Tokyo is busier than ever, local restaurants appear to have longer queues... which sort of contradicts the mass exodus being reported here.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

For example,at present, I am in the tatami room of a small onsen where there are just 3 people-it is quiet as a church and totally peaceful...

but if you left today and drove or went by train then youd most likely get stuck in the crowds, last thing I want to do when I come home from vacation is have to navigate the herd

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Until the schools give kids holidays at different times the adults have no choice.

not true my kids are on holidays for 6 weeks now and were going on holidays to overseas near the end of this month and the airline tickets are off peak and cheap, if we were to leave today/yesterday the price would have been double

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Whenever I read that most of France is on vacation for August I wonder how they survive? No police, firefighters or ambulance drivers on duty, all the hospitals closed, supermarkets and restaurants all closed, no farmers harvesting crops, no trash collection, no one maintaining the gas and electricity supply, waterworks and sewer systems? Or is it that there’s actually a lot of people working?

It's pretty much the same all across europe: kids/teens have a 2-month long summer break (make that 3-4m for students) and all/most companies have some sort of rotation so that everyone can take a summer vacation i.e you get July/I get Aug and I'll get July next year etc. It's been like that for decades. Countries don't 'shut down', they just adapt/adjust to 'summer life' (slower, more relaxed etc). Seems to work ok for them.

In some euro countries, school holidays are staggered in zones (except summer & winter/xmas which are the same for all); Easter/spring break (march/april depending on where you live), same in oct/nov (autumn break fka 'all saints' break) and feb/'winter break' (same system in oz, school holidays are different in each state).

Am sure this could also work in japan IF (and that's a big if), kids had proper school holidays (no school activities, homework etc) & parents/workers were entitled to 4-5 weeks paid holidays i/o 2 (and were 'forced' to take all their annual leave).

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Until the schools give kids holidays at different times the adults have no choice.

True, but the adults with no kids could choose other times that are less crowded and less expensive.

And not so hot.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

There was discussion a few years back about making the extended holidays of golden week and summer O'bon break during different times

this will never work. reason being you can scatter holidays for companies all you want but anyone with kids is tied to the school schedule. adults can take time off anytime. Until the schools give kids holidays at different times the adults have no choice.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I think its about time Japan speed its holidays over the year and gave staff/employees to choice when to have there own Holliday rather than this mad scrum every year

Legally a company can choose when an employee takes 50% of their days off. The other 50% can be chosen by the employee, as long as it doesn't affect the smooth running of the company.

I remember reading that 75% of Japanese people don't use their full amount of paid leave, whereas this is only 25% in the US. The government wants to change this, but what with the work culture here it's gonna be hard. As @wtfjapan said, people need to just man up and use the holidays to which they are entitled.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I think its about time Japan speed its holidays over the year and gave staff/employees to choice when to have there own Holliday rather than this mad scrum every year

2 ( +3 / -1 )

If you had been on the Chugoku expressway instead of the super crowded Sanyo then the journey would have been smooth and uneventful...

I agree. I went to a zoo last night that will only be open to visitors every Saturday evening this month. As the gates opened everyone followed the path to the left while we went to the empty right. You can either choose to be a follower or one that goes against the grain.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Japan is crowded if the location is on the south of Honshu but away from that it is fine for the most part.

For example,at present, I am in the tatami room of a small onsen where there are just 3 people-it is quiet as a church and totally peaceful...

1 ( +4 / -3 )

This is the Japanese way.

that excuse has been flogged to death, why is it that Japan has been stuck in economic stagnation for the last 25yrs, because those with power refuse to change, and the Japanese people refuse to complain for change. You can understand why the huge effort to conformity at a young age

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Imagine a world where people stopped complaining about other people's complaints. There would be a whole lot less complaining.

and nothing would change, which gets you back into the same revolving door

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Wow, a lot of people here mad that someone actually left Japan for a vacay.

wrong people are annoyed that people have to take vacations when their companies say so, the whole point of a vacation is to relax, how is that possible when half the country have to take it at the same time.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Stop complaining. This is the Japanese way.

the lack of complaining is why nothing changes, how about letting workers take their holidays when they choose. Its already done in much of Japans public service, the J government needs to mandate it for the private sector also. My brother in law is a Japan public servant and can take legally take 25 days paid holidays every year by law, and he takes every one of them . Doesnt matter what management or other staff think about it , there isnt a thing they can do about it as he isnt the type that can be bullied easily.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Imagine a world where foreigners stop complaining about a foreign country they chose to visit/live/work/etc.

Imagine a world where people stopped complaining about other people's complaints. There would be a whole lot less complaining.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

The regular 'enforced holiday periods cause travel crowding' shocker.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Crazy stuff. Imagine a world in which people are able take a holiday anytime during the summer... Nah, impossible... except in basically every other country in the world.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Wow, a lot of people here mad that someone actually left Japan for a vacay.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

Stop complaining. This is the Japanese way.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

I left Japan last weekend and will be returning on Tuesday. I missed the crush and am enjoying my holiday.

And just how many of the literally tens of millions of others here can do the same thing? You really don't understand the way of life here if you even think for a second others can copy this!

There was discussion a few years back about making the extended holidays of golden week and summer O'bon break during different times, for different parts of the country, to alleviate the congestion, but the idea got tossed out because then it wouldn't be "Obon nor golden week" just a "holiday" which then defeats the meaning of both!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

This will also affect travel for 2020 next year LOL, the insanity of it all.

As pointed out above even when you can take a holiday it is INSANELY STRESSFUL, people come back in worse shape then they left especially those that have to ""DRIVE""

Just NUTS!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

It is weird how the bad news always makes headlines.

If you had been on the Chugoku expressway instead of the super crowded Sanyo then the journey would have been smooth and uneventful...

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

I left Japan last weekend and will be returning on Tuesday. I missed the crush

Yeah, most people can't do that.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

We try to never go with the flow during Japanese holidays.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

These people will need a holiday to get over their holiday.

LOL. I wonder if their bosses will buy this.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

This is just crazy stuff. How the heck can anybody enjoy a holiday when they are crammed into trains and planes? A holiday is supposed to be for relieving the stresses of the everyday grind. These people will need a holiday to get over their holiday. It should be no surprise so many people are suffering depression and anxiety. There is no respite from the stress.

I left Japan last weekend and will be returning on Tuesday. I missed the crush and am enjoying my holiday.

3 ( +15 / -12 )

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