Guide to the Tokyo, Japan 2021 Olympics

Are There Any Plans for Winter Olympics in Japan?

Winter Olympics are held 2 years after the Summer games, so the next ones will be in 2022 (even though the 2020 Japan Olympics were delayed). They are due to be held in Beijing, China.

How to Volunteer at the Japan Olympics

You can volunteer, but places are taken up quickly by dual-language locals. In order to volunteer at the Tokyo Olympics, you need to apply online on the official site. Be aware that volunteering is both for the 17 days event, plus several days prior and potentially after.

Working as a volunteer at the Japan Olympics will be both an exciting and culturally rewarding experience. Please note that you do not get paid any salary, nor is your accommodation free. Meals are only offered on the days that you work. Around 80,000 volunteers will be required in various positions.

How Much Will It Cost to Spend 2 Weeks in the Country for the Tokyo Olympics?

This depends on many different factors, such as:

• Whether you buy a package or not.
• The level of accommodation you are prepared to stay in.
• What events you want to see.
• If you want to attend the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
• The travel between the destination venues within Japan.

Flights are already busy for the Olympic dates, particularly on direct services such as British Airways and Japan Airlines. As such, if you have secured tickets to the Games, finding an economical flight may involve a stopover at another city en route.

Realistically, you are likely to spend a minimum of 4,000 USD to be in Japan for the 2 weeks of the Olympics. The average cost of a trip including flights, accommodation and rail travel passes ranges around 6,000 USD, although you can save money by booking budget hotels and eating in. Some packages including tickets can be as much as 60,000 USD – but what an experience!

Remember that you have to eat and keep hydrated as well. Unless you intend to eat from street stalls all the time, food in Japan can be expensive, as are beverages. You can cut your costs by purchasing food and drink from your local supermarket while you’re there.

FAQs

So far we’ve given you the key information about this amazing sports event. Read on to learn the answers to some frequently asked questions!

What Is the Tokyo 2021 Official Olympics Mascot?

‘Miraitowa’ is the name of this athletic character! It is named after two Japanese words ‘mirai’ meaning ‘future’ and ‘towa’ translated as ‘eternity’. It is a really cute action mascot! Meanwhile, Dragon Ball Z’s ‘Goku’ is the official ambassador of the Games!

What’s Super Mario Doing at the Olympics?

Sad to say that Mario will not be appearing in his normal capacity, but there may be some lookalikes showing respect to the former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, who has stepped down due to ill health. Sad, as Mario was a major hit at the Rio Olympics in 2016!

Will Pokemon Appear at the Japan Olympics?

It is not confirmed that Pokemon will make an appearance at the Games, but rumour has it that some of the Pokemon characters may well be in the closing ceremony. The Games’ organisers feel that other franchises are offering more popular characters.

What Is the Japan Olympics Logo?

The logo has a geometric design and caused some controversy when it was chosen, as the designer was accused of plagiarism. It is also the logo of the Japan Paralympics, but with a slightly different geometric format.

About the New Tokyo Olympic Stadium

The National Stadium of Tokyo was first built in 1964 and is now being reconstructed for the Japan 2021 Olympic Games. It is a quick 1-minute walk from Sendagaya Station (Tokyo Taiikukan) or the Hachiko Bus Jinguno Mori Route from Shibuya Station.

The building will be used for sporting and cultural events after the Olympic games. The stadium has now officially been renamed the National Stadium. Japan is now undergoing a complete resurgence in terms of cultural and sporting events, hence there’s so much development work to prepare for hosting the Games. Depending on which sport is played there, the National Stadium can facilitate up to 80,000 spectators!

Where Can I Watch the Olympics for Free Online?

You can watch for free using the Olympic Channel. This is a subscription-free online service. Some content may not be available in certain areas, so before you set your heart on it, check that the event you want to watch will be available.

How Many Times Has Japan Hosted the Olympics?

Japan has hosted the Summer version twice and the Winter Olympics twice. The last time Japan hosted the Summer Olympics was in 1964 in Tokyo. Winter Games were hosted in Sapporo in 1972 and Nagan in 1998.

How Many Visitors Is Japan Expecting During the Olympic Games?

A resounding 10 million people are expected to attend the Games. With typical Japanese efficiency, every effort will be made to make transport around the cities as stress-free as possible. However, tourist authorities do warn that this influx to the major Olympic venues may cause a bottleneck in popular places before, during and after the Games.

How Is Japan Improving English for the Olympics?

English is taught to children from primary school age, usually 8-9 years old. The subject will be compulsory for at least 7 years to increase the number of English speakers within Japan.

Also, Japan will open an “English Village” for students, boosting the number of English speakers volunteering for the Olympics. It is now believed that Japan will provide several interpreters, including health and medical translators during the Olympics.

How Will the Olympics Change Japan?

Japan’s slogan for this Olympics is ‘be better together, for the planet and the people.’

The country is also looking to make the Olympics 100% recycling-friendly and to contribute to sustainability for years to come. They will be using recycled materials to create the Olympic and Paralympic medals as well as many other plans to encourage sustainability.

The Olympics games are also estimated to generate 150,000 jobs and to be worth 37.9 USD billion to the Japanese economy.

We hope that with all this information in mind you’re now excited to visit Japan for the Games. If you’re interested in visiting this country for longer, check out our articles about Teaching English in Japan and the Cost of Living in Japan too!