What's interesting about summer in Japan? Top 6 experiences you can't miss!

Summer in Japan Not only is it brilliant with warm sunshine, it is also the ideal time to explore nature, participate in traditional festivals and enjoy rich cuisine. If you are planning a summer trip, join T-Connect to discover the experiences not to be missed when coming to Japan!

Summer weather in Japan

Summer in Japan lasts from June to August, with temperatures ranging from 6-8°C. This is a hot and humid time, with heavy rain in the early season and bright sunshine in the middle and late season. The long, sunny days are perfect for outdoor activities such as mountain climbing, swimming, or attending traditional festivals.

Summer weather in Japan at each stage will have different outstanding characteristics:

• June to early July: Summer in Japan begins with the Tsuyu rainy season which lasts from early June to mid-July. Central and southern regions such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka often have a lot of rain. Hokkaido Almost unaffected by the rainy season, this is an ideal destination if you want to avoid prolonged rains.
• Mid July to late August: This is the hottest time of year, with temperatures reaching 35°C or more in urban areas. The urban heat island effect makes Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya feel hotter than rural areas. Beach destinations such as Okinawa, Kamakura, Shirahama become the ideal choice to avoid the heat.
• Late August to early September: August – September is the typhoon season in Japan, which especially affects the region Kyushu, Shikoku and OkinawaTherefore, before traveling, you should follow the weather forecast to avoid having your plans disrupted by storms.

Must-try experiences in Japan this summer

Summer in Japan is not only brilliant with sunshine and clear blue skies, but also a time of many interesting activities. From beautiful natural landscapes to vibrant festivals, summer in the land of the rising sun promises to bring visitors countless memorable experiences:

Immerse yourself in the blue beaches and white sand

If you love the ocean, summer is the perfect time to explore the beautiful beaches in Japan:

• Okinawa: Known as the “Hawaii of Japan”, Okinawa is famous for its turquoise waters, fine white sand and colorful coral reefs. This is a paradise for those who love swimming, diving and surfing.
• Kamakura: Just an hour by train from Tokyo, Kamakura boasts beautiful beaches like Yuigahama and Zaimokuza – perfect places to relax or enjoy water sports.
• Shirahama: One of the most beautiful beaches on Honshu Island, famous for its 800m long white sand beach and clear blue water.

Climbing Mount Fuji – A unique summer trekking experience

If you are passionate about trekking and want to challenge yourself, climbing Mount Fuji is definitely an experience not to be missed when traveling to Japan in the summer. With an altitude of 3.776m, Mount Fuji is not only the highest mountain in Japan but also an important cultural and spiritual symbol of this country.

The official climbing season runs from July to early September, with many routes suitable for both beginners and advanced trekkers. Be careful not to climb outside of the official season as the weather is unstable, with lots of rain, heavy snow, slippery roads and many aid stations closed.

There are four main routes to the top of Mount Fuji, each with different difficulty and time:

Route	Length	Climbing Time	Descent Time	Level
Yoshida (Yamanashi side)	Easiest, most popular	5-7 hours	3-5 hours	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
subashiri (Shizuoka side)	Less crowded than Yoshida, beautiful scenery	6-8 hours	3-4 hours	⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Gotemba (Shizuoka side)	Longest route, highest challenge	7-10 hours	3-6 hours	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fujinomiya (Shizuoka side)	Shortest but steepest route	4-7 hours	2-4 hours	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

📌 Yoshida Line is the best choice for beginners because there are many stops, good support services and easier routes.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant colors of flowers

Summer in Japan is the season of brilliant flower fields. Japanese nature around July-August will make visitors admire the romantic beauty of the flower-filled destinations below:

• Lavender fields in Furano, Hokkaido: Furano, in Hokkaido prefecture, is the most famous place in Japan for its purple lavender fields. Among them, Tomita Farm is the most attractive destination with flower beds arranged in artistic wavy shapes, mixed with relaxing fragrance.
• Lake Oze and white spider flower (Mizubasho) in Gunma: Mizubasho flower or also known as white spider flower is an elegant flower that grows along Lake Oze. When summer comes, the white flowers bloom on the blue water, creating a peaceful, poetic scene.
• Hitachi Park and Kochia Field in Ibaraki:In summer, Hitachi Seaside Park is filled with vibrant colors of blue Kochia flowers. In autumn, the Kochia will turn red, creating a spectacular sight.
• Lotus flowers in Shinobazu Park, Tokyo: Right in the heart of Tokyo, Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park stands out with its brilliant pink lotus flowers blooming on its surface. This is an ideal place for a morning walk, when the lotus flowers are at their most beautiful.

Visit ancient villages

The ancient villages in Japan are like living pages of books, where traditional architecture, beautiful scenery and long-standing culture of Japan are preserved. Let's explore the most beautiful ancient villages in summer in Japan:

• Shirakawa-go: Located in the lush green valley of Gifu Prefecture, Shirakawa-go is one of Japan's most famous ancient villages with gassho-zukuri thatched roof houses that are over 250 years old. In the summer, the village is covered in lush green rice fields and grass, creating a peaceful scene like in a fairy tale.
• Gokayama Village: Located near Shirakawa-go but less crowded, Gokayama is ideal for those looking for tranquility. This village also has gassho-zukuri houses, but the atmosphere is more peaceful, giving the feeling of being lost in a fairy tale world.
• Ouchijuku: Ouchi-juku was once an important stop on the Nakasendo route during the Edo period, where samurai and merchants rested on their journey between Edo (present-day Tokyo) and Kyoto. Today, the village retains its traditional thatched-roof houses and quaint atmosphere, as it did hundreds of years ago.

Watching fireworks

Summer in Japan is the season of fireworks - one of the typical symbols of summer in the Land of the Rising Sun. The spectacular fireworks displays, sparkling in the night sky and the vibrant festival atmosphere will definitely leave you with unforgettable memories. You can watch fireworks at summer festivals in Japan such as:

• Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival: Held in late July in Tokyo, the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival is one of the largest and oldest fireworks festivals in Japan, dating back to the Edo period. With tens of thousands of fireworks lighting up the Tokyo sky, the festival attracts millions of visitors every year.
• Nagaoka Fireworks Festival: Held on August 2-3, the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival is one of the three largest fireworks festivals in Japan, famous for its giant “Sanshakudama” fireworks, measuring up to 8m in diameter when exploding in the sky.
• Biwako Fireworks Festival:The Biwako Fireworks Festival, held every August 8, is famous for its sparkling fireworks reflection on Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake.

Enjoy special summer cuisine

Summer in Japan is the perfect time to enjoy fresh, cool dishes that help dispel the sweltering heat. If you are planning to travel to Japan in the summer, don't miss the opportunity to explore the typical summer dishes below:

• Kakigōri – cool Japanese shaved ice: This is one of the most popular summer desserts in Japan. Made from shaved ice as smooth as snow, kakigōri is often drizzled with fruit syrup and topped with toppings such as condensed milk, red beans, or mochi.
• Somen – Cool cold noodles: Somen noodles are one of the most popular summer dishes in Japan. The thin, soft white noodles are soaked in ice cold water and dipped in a tsuyu sauce made from soy sauce, bonito flakes, and mirin.
• Taiyaki Ice Cream: Taiyaki – the familiar red bean fish cake, now has a special summer version: taiyaki with ice cream. The crispy crust is combined with ice creams such as matcha, vanilla, chocolate, creating an attractive cool dessert.
• Unagi – Nutritious grilled eel: During the hottest days of summer, Japanese people have the habit of eating unagi - freshwater eel grilled with special tare sauce, which helps replenish energy and improve health.

List of summer festivals in Japan

Coming to Japan in the summer, you definitely cannot miss the special summer festivals. This is an opportunity for you to immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere, admire the colorful yukata, enjoy attractive street food and especially admire the magnificent fireworks. You can participate in the seasonal festivals in Japan below:

Gion Matsuri – The Hundred Year Festival in Kyoto

• Where to eat: Kyoto
• Time: All July (peak on July 7 and 17)
• Special point:
  • The Yamaboko Junko giant float parade, with floats up to 25m high and weighing tons.
  • Kyoto people wearing traditional yukata create a colorful scene.
  • Yoiyama Night Festival, with hundreds of food stalls and shimmering lanterns.

The Gion Matsuri Festival is one of the three largest festivals in Japan, with a history of more than 1.000 years, organized by the Yasaka Shrine to pray for peace and ward off epidemics.

Tanabata – Festival of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl

• Where to eat: All over Japan (popular in Sendai and Hiratsuka)
• Time: 7/7 (or early August in some places)
• Special point:
  • Write your wishes on tanzaku (colored paper) and hang them on bamboo branches.
  • Sendai City hosts the most spectacular Tanabata Matsuri festival in Japan, with colorful decorations hanging all over the streets.
  • People wear yukata, participate in lantern festivals and fireworks.

The Tanabata festival originates from the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, about two stars who love each other but can only meet once a year on July 7.

Nebuta Matsuri – Giant Lantern Festival

• Where to eat: Aomori
• Time: June 2-7
• Special point:
  • “Nebuta” lanterns measuring up to 9m high and 7m wide are paraded throughout the city.
  • People and tourists wear traditional costumes and dance to the beat of drums.
  • The festival ends with a brilliant fireworks display in the night sky.

Nebuta Matsuri is one of Japan's most spectacular summer festivals, famous for its giant lanterns depicting samurai, gods and mythical creatures.

Summer Travel Tips in Japan

Summer in Japan is the perfect time to explore nature, enjoy traditional festivals and experience rich cuisine. However, the weather is hot and humid, the number of tourists is high and the cost can increase during peak season. So, equip yourself with the following useful tips to have a comfortable, economical and memorable summer trip:

• Prepare cool clothes and bring sunscreen.
• Avoid traveling during peak season & book in advance.
• Using IC Card (Suica, Pasmo) helps to pay quickly when taking the train, bus, buying food at convenience stores.
• Prepare a travel SIM card & portable wifi to always have a stable internet connection. You can refer to T-Connect's travel SIM card & portable wifi.

Summer in Japan is truly a great time to explore nature, participate in vibrant festivals, experience unique culture and cuisine here. However, to have a complete trip, don't forget to prepare carefully - from booking tickets in advance, bringing suitable clothes, to preparing a travel SIM card or T-Connect Portable WiFi to stay connected!

If you are living in Japan and looking for a reputable telecommunications service provider, come to T-connect. Our team is entirely Vietnamese, ready to support you with thousands of attractive offers, ensuring dedicated and fast service.

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