Summer in Japan invites you to a season filled with fun attractions, dazzling destinations and delicious food. Summer is a very happy time, although it is a very hot and humid season. To beat the heat and experience pleasant and lively days, check out things you can do in Japan this summer.
FIREWORKS
Watching fireworks is a very traditional summer activity in Japan. You can find Fireworks Festivals all over the country during this season. One of the biggest events takes place in Tokyo, the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.
JOIN THE TRADITIONAL SUMMER FESTIVALS
Summer is a season of traditional festivals in Japan. Generally, floats are displayed, people wear cotton kimono and food stalls are scattered on the streets. Among the big summer festivals are Kyoto’s Geon Matsuri, Osaka’s Matsuri and Akita Kanto Matsuri.
BEACH
Relaxing and enjoying a beautiful view of the sea is always a great idea for the summer. For beautiful beaches, Okinawa is the most recommended destination!
PARTICIPATE IN MUSIC FESTIVALS
The biggest outdoor music festivals are held during the summer like Fuji Rock Festivals in Niigata and Summer Sonic in Tokyo and Osaka. This is a great opportunity to watch world famous bands and artists in Japan.
BEER GARDEN
Beer Garden is an outdoor area where beer and food are served. It is a great place to spend a refreshing evening. Many Beer Gardens are only open during the summer and can be found inside parks and on the roofs of department stores and hotels. In Tokyo, Mori-no Beer Garden is a popular spot located in the garden of Meiji Shrine.
CLIMB MOUNT FUJI
If you are adventurous and enjoy hiking, climbing Mount Fuji can be an amazing option. Official climbing season is from July 1 to September 10 and July 10 to September 10. Outside these periods, it is only allowed to go up with a guide or with a special permission. Depending on the time of year, it is simply forbidden to climb the mountain. Climbing Mount Fuji is challenging and during the summer the trails, facilities and peaks can be surprisingly crowded. Either way, this is for sure a memorable experience.
ENJOY SEASONAL FOODS
Any season is a good time to eat in Japan. Nevertheless, each season has its seasonal specialties. In summer, try kakigori (shaved ice), chilled noodles, and seasonal fruits like watermelon. There are also great options traditionally found at summer festivals, where fried foods and chopsticks dominate the scene. Yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), yakisoba (fried noodles with vegetables), and fried octopus dumplings, Japanese pancake and grilled squid on skewers are some of the options.
GO NORTH
Summer is a great season to visit the northern region of the country as it has a cooler climate than other areas. Hiking in the mountains and exploring national parks are great activities.
VISIT FLOWER FIELDS
The sunflower is a typical summer flower, and can be appreciated mainly in the months of July and August. Hokkaido is known for large fields of colorful flowers. In addition to sunflowers, it is possible to find in Hokkaido, in the Furan area, vast fields of lavender. Typically, the season for this flower begins in early July.
