Travelers returning from Japan's summer break crowd trains, airports

Yup, coming back from all over the world, when the world can’t come in.

"I could spend my time without worrying what people around me thought."

A perfect summarization of the oppressiveness of Japanese society.

"As there are no movement restrictions, I could spend my time without worrying what people around me thought."

Yes many Japanese live their entire life in fear of what others think about their actions. Often to the detriment of their lives.

Kushida continually says he wants to align border restrictions with other G7 nations. So when is this going to happen? Every G7 nation has been open for months. I thought New Zealand's border measures were fascial but Japan's are next level stupid at the moment.

No doubt there will be a corresponding spike in covid cases next week.

@Gareth Joyce

Stupid is too kind a word. Let’s raise it to cruel, insensitive, even barbaric. At this moment I would place Japan below China because at least we understand why the Chinese are doing it with their zero policy.

I personally never travel during this period. I take my holidays after this madness.

JazzyjazzToday  06:40 pm JST

Kushida continually says he wants to align border restrictions with other G7 nations. So when is this going to happen? 

When the Japanese people say it will open. Japan belongs to the Japanese people. It is not playground. Do you understand?

I do. but what do you want to do those who declares Japan is not only for Japanese in public?

"As there are no movement restrictions, I could spend my time without worrying what people around me thought."

Yes many Japanese live their entire life in fear of what others think about their actions. Often to the detriment of their lives.

No. I guess they respect MANNER regardless stipulated by laws or not

“ … as the majority of travelers returned from their summer vacation. “

… most of people had 2 days plus the weekend – who calls that a “summer vacation”? I don’t.

..

” Her 7-year-old-son, Satoshi, said he spent time catching cicadas with his grandfather. “

“ "Grandma's simmered food was delicious," Hisamochi's 5-year-old daughter Fumi said. “

… precious memories (with their grandparents) that they’ll keep forever; our grandmas and grandpas will always be the best(!) :)

enjoy the summer, folks, but remember, there’s (still) a virus out there; stay safe, everyone.

You'd think the smartest thing to do would for workplaces to offer staggered vacation time to avoid the mass travel days but what do I know. Since everyone travels here at the same time, simply because its time to travel, of course cases are going to bounce up outside Tokyo especially.

News interviews are funny on TV as well. "Aren't you concerned about COVID while traveling?" "Yes of course... but its summer travel time, so I have to travel now obviously"

Took a trip to Kyoto today and it was extremely quiet.

The government is intent on destroying businesses here and those will obviously be picked up by investors with deep pockets-it is disgusting what is going on!

In my country there are a lot of Japanese tourists and I welcome them. It's great to see them have fun and live life without masks. I feel like there should be no double standards though.

No doubt there will be a corresponding spike in covid cases next week.

That has been said after every holiday during the pandemic - all that we ever saw was a small wobble - a slight drop due to little testing during the holiday then a slight rise after as those who couldn't get tested over the holiday did so when everything opened again - the following week it was right back to where it was. In other words, all the freaking out about huge spikes after holidays/ Olympics/ new year parties etc. turned out to be for nothing.

No doubt there will be a corresponding spike in covid cases next week.

So what. The numbers are now meaningless. If you're vaccinated it's no worse than I mild cold. Tell that to the muppets who insist on pre departure PCR tests. There'll be a few Taro Sans stuck abroad for an extra week because of this nonsense.

kurisupisu - Took a trip to Kyoto today and it was extremely quiet

Japanese people don’t go to tourist traps on obon. They go to see their families.

This will be called a Co-vation!! The numbers will spike up or someone is going to cook the books!

@Lindsay

Japanese people don’t go to tourist traps on obon. They go to see their families.

Is that right?

Actually, my son lives in Kyoto and coincidentally has the latest variant that is going around.

I dropped off provisions, filled up his fridge as he doesn’t want to go out.

Perhaps if they staggered their holiday time, there would be less crowds and packed public transit? I feel like in Japan, people will only go on holiday when everyone else is doing it; like it's some kind of mandated time and date. Very peculiar, not to mention uncomfortable and pricey. I prefer taking holidays when people aren't.

"As there are no movement restrictions, I could spend my time without worrying what people around me thought."

What a sad, sad way to live. I'm willing to bet she went by train instead of by car, with one major reason being she would worry about what people thought if they saw a Tokyo license plate.

( O_O )

look at the amount of downvotes to my comment – one of the big mysteries of our time. Lmao (!)

Thursday to Sunday is too short a vacation.

Thursday to Sunday is too short a vacation.

In my neck of the woods, that's not a vacation but simply a long weekend. A vacation is minimum 7~10 days.

Went back to Europe on August 13 through Kansai. The international departure was dead. Only 11 flights were in the information screen.

Going back to Japan on september so curious how the immigration will be like.

@Albert

Youll see the expensive Covid circus in full play, staffed mainly by Chinese part timers (someone is making money here) when you get back, despite having a negative test result and despite Corona being rife in Japan too.

There won’t be any lines at immigration and you will still surprise Customs by informing them that you are resident (despite the fact that your passport is in hand) in Japan there being no external tourism!

Japan is still stuck in its Corona rut.

Those in control don’t want to give it up…

I don't understand why Japan address the local Japanese citizens as "tourist" or traveler" !. If you are a citizen and live in a country, in the country you are not a tourist/traveler.