great trips in Asia for teen boys?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of these places will be unbearably hot in the summer- they are already hot in the winter.

Downtown Taipei will be hot, up in the mountains like Sun Moon Lake - or by the coast with sea breezes - will be noticeably cooler.

[Anonymous]

Seriously, don’t go to Taiwan (or Japan) in the summer. I grew up doing that and hated it. It’s just sooo hot and humid. Worse than DC, worse than Texas. They are awesome places to visit, and more ppl should consider Taiwan for the amazing food, gorgeous scenery on the East coast and in Alishan, and beaches in Kenting, but not in the summer. Most of Japan is just as bad. Even Taiwanese people don’t want to go to Japan in the summer, unless you’re going to Hokkaido or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m also confused about the Japan comment. We were there again last summer and had a great time.

You haven't come across establishments where they have "JAPANESE ONLY!!" signs. It's the passive aggressive way of saying they do not like foreigners and don't want you in there. You probably haven't been to areas outside of major hubs much either. They will stare you down like your presences is unwanted at a restaurant.

We love Japan. Don't get me wrong. We have been there 5 times. The vast majority of the time the people and the country are great. But don't kid yourself for a second and think that they don't have a strong undercurrent of racism and xenophobia behind the scenes. You probably just haven't noticed it. Ask yourself why Japan still refuses to allow in immigrants even though their population is crashing and cannot support the economy. That's because they'd rather die and go extinct before diluting their culture. There was also a huge stink a while ago when Miss Japan, who was half black half Japanese, won the title. So many people said she wasn't Japanese nor would ever be Japanese. Just realized that as a foreigner you'll always be a gaijin and will be treated as such. Other passive aggressive stuff we encounter is sitting in the train and the Japanese clearly standing rather sitting next to you even though it might be the only spot. They think you're dirty, will be loud, uncouth, are scary or will be dangerous.

There is just so,.sooooo much formality and uptight culture in East Asia, from China to Japan to Korea. That's why we often prefer SEA countries where everyone is way more relaxed and where it is often live and let live.

You sound crazy. No I did not see racist signs while we were there. I’ve also been there 4 times over 30 years. We mostly like to spend our time in big cities when we travel, because we like the busy-ness. Last trip was Tokyo Kyoto and Hiroshima. Also, I don’t think it is insane for a country like Japan to not want immigration. It unquestionably would change their culture. From an American lens, that’s racist. But it’s objectively true.

I think those claiming to have experienced no xenophobia in Japan are a bit obtuse or have rose colored glasses on. We recently visited for a couple of weeks and it was pretty ubiquitous m- from multiple cases of waiting patiently in line to purchase something in a store only to have locals beckoned up to cut in front of us, in an immersive museum exhibit watching while the staff went around and told all foreign looking individuals that sitting down (in a spacious auditorium) to observe the exhibit was not allowed while turning a blind eye to the numerous Japanese visitors doing so, and of course the multiple restaurants that clearly stated Japanese only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Taiwan and Japan are great destinations, but they will be very hot and humid in the summer. I would look at Indonesia — it will still be hot, but it is dry season there in the summer, so it will be less oppressive than Taiwan and Japan. Not sure about weather patterns of Korea and Vietnam. All are amazing places to visit, so I would pick based on weather, which can greatly influence your enjoyment of a place.

Korea is also very hot and humid in the summer. We went in June, left early July. July/Aug is also the rainy season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of these places will be unbearably hot in the summer- they are already hot in the winter.

? east Asia is freezing in the winter.

[Anonymous]

Newsflash: it will be hot everywhere in the summer in Asia.

Taiwan is not some kind of inferno:

https://www.weatherworld.com/yearly-climate/tw/taipei.html

https://weatherspark.com/y/137170/Average-Weather-in-Taipei-Taiwan-Year-Round

https://www.accuweather.com/en/tw/taipei-city/315078/july-weather/315078?year=2024


The high average at the peak of July and August is about 91-93 degrees. This year, the highest it reached was when a few days hit 95-98 degrees. DC was in fact worse than Taiwan this past summer

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/washington/20006/july-weather/327659?year=2024

So if you can tolerate DC you can tolerate Japan and Taiwan. It's the summer, what do you expect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thinking about taking my boys, 13 and 16, to Asia for two weeks this summer. We like our trips to have a mix of cities and country/beach/outdoor stuff. Unfortunately Thailand is off the table (ex-H called dibs). I dont think they’re ready for India. Japan’s been increasingly hostile to tourists. Looking for ideas. Thanks!

What are you talking about? We did a em last summer as a family with my 2 teens and never felt that way at all.

I would like to suggest China even though most people wouldn't do it I get it politically. But China is so amazing and huge, there's a zillion things that are cool. Also it's not the hell hole scary place at all. From The Great Wall to the Terracotta Warriors I honestly think esp boys would love it there. And the hotels are amazing. NYC is like a suburb after you see Tokyo or Beijing.

[Anonymous]

PS - Taiwan is good too. I actually would say Taiwan for girls though a China for boys. My 13 yr old girl love Taipei and my 15 yr old history buff not loved Xian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Taiwan (hugely underrated, let the crowds go to Japan). Beaches in Indonesia or Malaysia.

+1

Taiwan is incredible. Not sure I would go in the summer though as it is insanely hot and humid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newsflash: it will be hot everywhere in the summer in Asia.

Taiwan is not some kind of inferno:

https://www.weatherworld.com/yearly-climate/tw/taipei.html

https://weatherspark.com/y/137170/Average-Weather-in-Taipei-Taiwan-Year-Round

https://www.accuweather.com/en/tw/taipei-city/315078/july-weather/315078?year=2024


The high average at the peak of July and August is about 91-93 degrees. This year, the highest it reached was when a few days hit 95-98 degrees. DC was in fact worse than Taiwan this past summer

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/washington/20006/july-weather/327659?year=2024

So if you can tolerate DC you can tolerate Japan and Taiwan. It's the summer, what do you expect?

Yes, but the humidity/dewpoints are very different so it feels 100x hotter. Have you been to Taiwan in the summer?

[Anonymous]

If you can tolerate Cancun in summer then you can bear Taiwan in summer.

[Anonymous]

Yeah the “newsflash” pp citing temps in Taiwan has not been there in the summer. The humidity is unbearable. My Taiwanese relatives say it’s even worse in Japan. It’s more like Cartagena than DC. And when you’re on vacation you want to be out and about. Indonesia on the other hand will be better bc it’s dry season there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m also confused about the Japan comment. We were there again last summer and had a great time.

You haven't come across establishments where they have "JAPANESE ONLY!!" signs. It's the passive aggressive way of saying they do not like foreigners and don't want you in there. You probably haven't been to areas outside of major hubs much either. They will stare you down like your presences is unwanted at a restaurant.

We love Japan. Don't get me wrong. We have been there 5 times. The vast majority of the time the people and the country are great. But don't kid yourself for a second and think that they don't have a strong undercurrent of racism and xenophobia behind the scenes. You probably just haven't noticed it. Ask yourself why Japan still refuses to allow in immigrants even though their population is crashing and cannot support the economy. That's because they'd rather die and go extinct before diluting their culture. There was also a huge stink a while ago when Miss Japan, who was half black half Japanese, won the title. So many people said she wasn't Japanese nor would ever be Japanese. Just realized that as a foreigner you'll always be a gaijin and will be treated as such. Other passive aggressive stuff we encounter is sitting in the train and the Japanese clearly standing rather sitting next to you even though it might be the only spot. They think you're dirty, will be loud, uncouth, are scary or will be dangerous.

There is just so,.sooooo much formality and uptight culture in East Asia, from China to Japan to Korea. That's why we often prefer SEA countries where everyone is way more relaxed and where it is often live and let live.

You sound crazy. No I did not see racist signs while we were there. I’ve also been there 4 times over 30 years. We mostly like to spend our time in big cities when we travel, because we like the busy-ness. Last trip was Tokyo Kyoto and Hiroshima. Also, I don’t think it is insane for a country like Japan to not want immigration. It unquestionably would change their culture. From an American lens, that’s racist. But it’s objectively true.

I think those claiming to have experienced no xenophobia in Japan are a bit obtuse or have rose colored glasses on. We recently visited for a couple of weeks and it was pretty ubiquitous m- from multiple cases of waiting patiently in line to purchase something in a store only to have locals beckoned up to cut in front of us, in an immersive museum exhibit watching while the staff went around and told all foreign looking individuals that sitting down (in a spacious auditorium) to observe the exhibit was not allowed while turning a blind eye to the numerous Japanese visitors doing so, and of course the multiple restaurants that clearly stated Japanese only.

I agree. I love Japan and it’s generally wonderful. But if you’ve spent time in Kyoto and not picked up on this, you just missed it or stuck to tourist establishments. Kyoto was the worst, in my experience. Which makes sense given the overtourism.

[Anonymous]

Korea
Japan
Singapore

[Anonymous]

So many people on here haven't been to Asia in the summer! Absolutely unbearable in certain parts.

I love Asia but save the Taiwan and Japan for colder months. Indonesia is the way to go here.