Weather

Japan’s summer (June–September) is intense. Tokyo regularly hits 35–38°C with humidity above 80%. Add the rainy season (tsuyu) before the heat peaks, and it’s one of the most challenging climates for newcomers. The Japanese Summer Timeline Month What’s Happening June Rainy season (梅雨, tsuyu) — grey, humid, daily rain July Rainy season ends; heat begins. Fireworks festivals start August Peak heat. Obon holiday. Outdoor festivals everywhere September Still hot until mid-month; typhoon season peaks Surviving the Heat: Practical Tips Stay Hydrated Drink 1.5–2 liters of water per day minimum Convenience stores sell sports drinks (pocari sweat, aquarius) — better than water alone for electrolytes Avoid alcohol as your main hydration during extreme heat days Cool Down Spots Convenience stores — everywhere, always air-conditioned Shopping malls and department stores — stay as long as you want Libraries, city halls — free, clean, air-conditioned Underground shopping streets — Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya have extensive underground networks Clothing Lightweight, breathable fabrics (linen, moisture-wicking) Japanese “cool touch” (冷感) clothing — sold everywhere from ¥500 in summer Cooling towels — wet and wave for instant cooling, sold at ¥100 stores UV parasols — Japanese women (and increasingly men) carry these; extremely effective Cooling Products from ¥100 Shops Cooling spray (冷却スプレー) — spray on skin for instant relief Cooling gel sheets (熱さまシート) — stick to forehead Mini portable fans with misting bottles — from ¥500 at convenience stores Ice neck rings — reusable PCM cooling rings Heat Stroke (熱中症) Warning Heat stroke is a genuine risk in Japan. Every summer, hundreds are hospitalized. ...

Japan’s winter runs December through February. The experience varies dramatically by region — Tokyo has mild but dry winters, while Niigata and Hokkaido receive world-class snowfall. Winter by Region Region Winter Climate Snowfall Okinawa 15–20°C, rarely below 10°C None Tokyo / Kanto 2–12°C, dry cold Light (occasional) Osaka / Kansai 3–12°C Light Nagano -5 to 5°C Heavy Niigata / Sea of Japan coast -2 to 8°C Very heavy Hokkaido -15 to 2°C Extreme Heating Your Apartment Japanese apartments are notoriously poorly insulated. Single-pane windows and thin walls make winters tough. ...