Japan Top 10

Every year at Obon, the Buddhist holy days when the dead return to their old homes, Japanese families pack themselves into the car, train, or airplane; and go visit their ancestral sites. Especially those living in cities far from their grandparents face a strenuous trip to be able to reconnect with their roots.

The “U-Turn”, so called because the travelers do not stay long in their destinations, is a phenomenon in Japanese life. Many people do not get (or take) any vacation other than the Obon week and New Year, when companies typically close anyway.

So the trains are fully booked (no unreserved seats), and so are flights. The roads will be crowded too, but it may be spread out over a few more days. It is one of the three big travel weeks in Japan, after Golden Week in May and New Year.

But this year, the roads, trains and planes will be even more crowded and face additional delays. The reason is weather. The Obon week will be bracketed by two typhoons: one at the start of the week hitting northern Japan, another at the end of the week hitting the Tokyo area. Just as people are coming home.

I have written before about driving in a typhoon, but it is worth repeating the simplest advice: Don’t.