Hey guys - I just booked a trip to visit the neon metropolises of Tokyo and Hong Kong for September. I'm 30/m . I have never been to either place before and thought since I was travelling solo that a hostel would be preferable to a hotel or airbnb. I had a few questions for everyone:

- can anyone recommend a good hostel in a good area, somewhere were I can mingle with other travellers, have a drink at night with. Not looking to spend more than $100USD/night

- clothing - do you need pants or shorts in September? Rain jacket?

- how much cash (yen/HKD) should you bring (5 days in each city)

Any other advice?

Also, is it a good idea to spend the last night at a hotel near the airport if you have an early flight?

I don't do hostels, can't help with that - maybe try Lonely Planet's thorntree.

No need for cash - use ATMs (in convenience stores in Japan) - and credit cards.

Depends on how early and what transport you would use to get there - public transport doesn't always run in the very early hours, you'd need to check.

I don't ever wear shorts when traveling. I never travel without a rain jacket. YMMV. For climate statistics, consult timeanddate.com
Here's the climate data for Tokyo; you can reset it for Hong Kong
(or other cities), get different statistics, etc.
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/japan/tokyo/climate

I don't bring cash with me -- like thursdaysd, I use ATMs and credit cards. Be sure to contact your banks in advance.

Depending on your flight time, you don't necessarily have to be in a hotel at the airport before your flight, but you need to know that you can get there well in advance. Again, thursdaysd has noted what you need to check.

Any advice on places to stay in Hong Kong - social places that may not be hostels?

Give people time to respond, bizkitgto ... at least 24 hours.

For Tokyo, you can easily get a business hotel room for far less than US $100 per night. Try:
http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/
http://www.superhoteljapan.com/en/
https://www.choicehotels.com/japan/comfort-inn
http://www.oakhotel.co.jp/english/

And for mingling, there are cheaper hostels, even less than US$40 a night.
http://www.wix.com/astroflight/accommodations
http://bit.ly/1ND8hmW
http://bit.ly/2uUtMKy
http://www.1980stay.com

But if it's your first time in Japan, why not stay in a Japanese inn for at least a night? There are some inexpensive ones there too.
www2.dango.ne.jp/kimi/ryokan.html
www.tamaryokan.com
www.tokyoryokan.com
www.toukaisou.com
https://www.tsunagujapan.com/10-toky...se-style-inns/

You can eat quite decently at a restaurant for ¥1000 (about US$9) per meal. Souvenirs can be a few dollars each to the sky is the limit. The other major factor which you didn't mention is transport, not to mention where you will go. If within the same city, if you travel a lot, you can get a day pass in many places for $6-10 or so, at most. Or get a 3 day Tokyo subway pass for 1500 yen.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/v...dex.html#anc03

September weather is better than the crushing August heat and humidity. It's possible you could have a typhoon blow through. Raingear is not really needed - you can buy a cheap umbrella for ¥500.
As for the airport, which one?

Thanks guys!

Any advice on best hostels or hotels in hong kong? Any good experiences or recommendations?

Thanks!

Unless you're a woman, wear dresses and skirts, or are some old fart, there's no reason to eschew shorts if the weather will be warm. So, bring shorts if the weather will be warm.

Get money at the airport ATMs.

Hong Kong: This January we stayed at the Salisbury, which is the hotel built above the YMCA in Hong Kong and run by them. Great location in TST district. No idea what the hostel itself is like other than shared lobby / location.

Any advice on what to pack for September? Should I bring a jacket?

www.weatherbase.com is my go-to resource for weather info.

You won't want a jacket in either place - you are more likely to feel too hot than too cold.

Gee, glad I commented above about the rain jacket, bizkitgto. But I defer to Kathie...

Hostel bedgasm in tokyo- best hostel bed my entire trip and lodging includes one drink free at the bar.

Nothing wrong with your advice, kja, I just prefer an umbrella to a rain jacket when it is hot and humid.

@ Kathie: I can understand that! I just prefer to have my arms free. Individual choice! And BTW, my comment was not to you, but to the OP, who seems not to have noticed my response.

kja - I appreciate your response. I just meant what kinds of clothes (shorts vs pants) - some places that are 75F can be humid or dry, and that makes a big difference on what kind of climate you're dealing with. I wasn't very specific - but that was what I meant.

When out and about, I like to be able to "dress up" a bit by throwing on a scarf or jacket or whatever, so I don't wear shorts. And in any case, what I do to deal with the weather is to use fabrics made of high-tech fibers the breath and protect and do just about everything but walk on their own. I'd rather a pair of long pants that breath and wick and protect me from the sun and insects than a pair of shorts, no matter how hot it is. YMMV.

I'm with kja. I don't even pack shorts. But I find cotton works better in high humidity.

Oops -- "breathe," not "breath"