John Lennon Travel: Hong Kong to Tokyo (11 May 1977)

May 11, 2026

John Lennon Travels Hong Kong to Tokyo – 11 May 1977

On Wednesday 11 May 1977, John Lennon travelled from Hong Kong to Tokyo, continuing an extended Far East sailing adventure that formed part of his celebrated — and deliberately quiet — househusband period.

Between 1975 and 1980, Lennon largely withdrew from public life and the music industry, devoting himself to raising his son Sean and exploring the world at his own pace. The 1977 Far East trip was one of the most significant journeys of this period.

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The Househusband Years

Following the birth of Sean Lennon in October 1975, John Lennon made a conscious decision to step back from recording and touring. He described himself as a househusband — baking bread, raising Sean and allowing Yoko Ono to manage their business affairs from the Dakota Building in New York.

The Far East trip of 1977 was a rare extended journey away from New York, reflecting Lennon's love of sailing and his deep personal connection to Japan through Yoko.

Hong Kong to Tokyo – The Journey

Lennon's 1977 Far East adventure took him across several Asian destinations. The leg from Hong Kong to Tokyo on 11 May was part of a longer sailing voyage that Lennon undertook with a small crew, navigating the Pacific and stopping at various ports along the way.

Tokyo held particular significance for Lennon — it was Yoko Ono's home city, and Japan as a whole represented a place of personal and spiritual importance to him. He would return to Japan several times during the househusband years, and the country remained central to his life until his death in December 1980.

Upon arriving in Tokyo, Lennon stayed at the Hotel Okura — one of Japan's most prestigious hotels, located in the Minato district of the city.

A Period of Reflection

The househusband years are often viewed as one of the most intriguing chapters of Lennon's life — a deliberate rejection of the fame and pressure that had defined his existence since the early 1960s. Travels like the Hong Kong to Tokyo journey of 11 May 1977 capture Lennon at his most private and most free.

He would return to recording in 1980 with the Double Fantasy album, co-written and recorded with Yoko Ono. It was released just weeks before his death.

Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were all active with their own projects during this period.

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