The 2020 Summer Olympics, now scheduled for 2021, are poised to be an important event for Tokyo, Japan, and the world following their postponement due to the coronavirus.
Ever since Japan?s successful bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics, travel to Japan ramped up in huge numbers until the outbreak of Covid-19 brought the global travel industry to a halt.
The Tokyo Olympics (still referred to as the 2020 Summer Olympics, despite the postponement) are now scheduled to begin on July 23 and conclude on August 8, 2021.
As passionate as we are about Japan, and despite our intense desire to see the Olympics succeed, we nevertheless continue to believe that you should not plan to visit Japan for the Olympics if your main priority is to experience Japan itself. If you’re traveling for the sports and the spectacle, then you’ll probably enjoy the Olympics no matter where they’re held, and Japan is no exception.
But if you’re eager to experience authentic Japanese culture, we think you’ll have a much more pleasant experience traveling at virtually any other time.
These are the top 4 reasons we believe you should avoid visiting Japan for Tokyo Olympics.
Originally written in March 2019, this post was updated and republished on April 1, 2020.
A quiet day at Zozoji Temple (photo by Dennis Amith CC BY).
1. Extreme Crowds in Tokyo and Beyond
Tokyo, and indeed Japan by extension, is perhaps best enjoyed when it?s quieter and less crowded.
Sure, cherry blossom ...