A Comprehensive Travel Guide
for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic
and Paralympic Games
A Comprehensive Travel Guide
for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic
and Paralympic Games
A Comprehensive Travel Guide
for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic
and Paralympic Games
Have you started planning for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games? This comprehensive travel guide will help make your Tokyo 2020 trip even better!
Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Overview
The Olympic Games kick off on July 23, and the Paralympic Games start on August 24, 2021.
Tokyo is hosting the Olympics and Paralympics for the first time in 56 years. The Olympics are set to be held over a period of 17 days from July 23 to August 8, 2021, while the Paralympics are going to be held for 13 days from August 24 to September 5, 2021. This time, this iconic sporting event will feature top athletes from 205 countries around the world competing in a total of 55 Olympic and Paralympic sports.
Games of the XXXII Olympiad
Fri, 23 July – Sun 8 August 2021
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
Tue, 24 August – Sun 5 September 2021
Most games are set to be held in and around the Tokyo metropolitan area.
While most of the games are going to be held in Tokyo Waterfront City, some will be in neighboring prefectures such as Kanagawa and Saitama. A select number of games, such as soccer, softball, and baseball are going to be held in areas such as Sendai, Fukushima, and Sapporo that are only accessible via bullet train and airplane.
Pumped for Tokyo 2020?
Tickets
Japan residents can purchase tickets from the Tokyo 2020 Official Ticket Website, but if you’re living overseas, you have to get the tickets from Authorized Ticket Resellers (ATR) in your country.
Flight
Flights are expected to be packed right before and after the games, so it’s best to book your tickets early. To avoid crowds and do some sightseeing along the way, you could opt for a multi-city flight. Try an inbound flight to Tokyo and an outbound flight from cities like Osaka or Nagoya.
Accommodation
A shortage of hotel rooms is expected to be a big issue ahead of the Olympics, so it’s best to make bookings as soon as possible if you’re planning to come here to watch the games.
Find the best accommodation
Plan your trip around the Olympic and Paralympic venues
Many of the games will be held in two zones: The Heritage Zone, around the Shinjuku and Shibuya area, which houses many of the iconic venues of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and the Tokyo Bay Zone. The distance between the two zones are about 10 km and the venues are expected to be connected via shuttle bus. Note that many of Tokyo’s major tourist attractions are also located near these areas and easily accessible via public transport.
Some games are also going to be held in neighboring areas such as Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, and Shizuoka. Many of these places are 30 minutes to 2 hours from Tokyo, and accessible by bus or train
A select number of soccer games are going to be held in Sendai, Miyagi and Sapporo, Hokkaido. Note that these locations are only accessible via bullet train and airplane.
Grab a ticket for a game outside Tokyo to take the opportunity to explore the lesser-known parts of Japan and make the most of your visit.
Tailor your schedule around the games and do some sightseeing in-between!
When planning your itinerary, it’s important to work out how many games you’re planning to see. Are you hoping to cram a number of games into your schedule or just watch a couple of matches during your visit?
The games held in the Tokyo metropolitan area are going to be concentrated within a relatively small area, so it will be possible to see a number of games in one day. Make sure to plan ahead and book your tickets for the games in advance.
Use the time between games to experience the best that Japan has to offer. Dine at some of Japan’s best restaurants or take a day trip to a nearby hot spring. You can also go a little further and enjoy some of the country’s lush natural landscapes or historical sites.
Take a look at some of these recommended itineraries and tailor them to your own interests.
Explore interesting parts of Tokyo between games or plan a trip to lesser-known regions in Japan,
here are ideas to help you make the most of your visit!
Tokyo will be hot throughout the games. Prepare for the heat and humidity!
The Olympic and Paralympic Games are going to be held from July to September, when temperatures are the highest in Japan. In recent times. The effects of climate change have made Japan hotter and more humid than ever. In august 2019, the average temperature was 28.4℃. When humidity levels are high, it can feel like over 40℃.
Most games are scheduled to take place in the early morning or evening to avoid the heat, but it’s important to note that Tokyo is smoldering hot throughout the day during the summer. Make sure you’re well-prepared for the heat. You’ll find plenty of interesting items and services that can help prevent heatstroke and dehydration.
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your summer visit!
