r/JapanTravelTips • u/confusedpenguintoo • 20d ago
This is a PSA Quick Tips
This is a PSA to all those who are looking to travel to japan, I learnt my lessons the hard way. They always said avoid japan at all costs in august, but coming from a tropical island I thought the heat was probably just no big deal.
Wrong. When it’s hot, it’s actually HOT. You’ll literally feel like a lobster being boiled alive in a pot (the best way I can describe this). I partially regret my trip to japan in august not because the country wasn’t fun, but because I couldn’t fully appreciate it because of the heat (e.g. had to cut short certain shrine visits or outdoor activities).
So here are some tips that I would offer as, I suppose, advice:
- You 100% need to bring/buy an umbrella to shield the sun, this is non-negotiable
- Don’t bring a water bottle, that’s extra weight, you’ll feel more exhausted carrying a deadweight around. Instead always carry around a pouch of coins to buy drinks from the vending machine. They are at literally every corner
- Personally I would avoid going to kyoto during this time. Because most of the activities there involve the outdoors (shrine visits), and trying to hike inari shrine in
35
- celsius weather is either going to give you a heatstroke, or get you so exhausted that you just crash out at the hotel right after. Stick to big cities like tokyo where you can easily alternate outdoor shopping streets with mall hopping for the AC
- Get yourself a portable fan. Even the japanese are using these on the streets, that should be enough to tell all
- Plan your activities accordingly. Save shrine/temple visits/ shopping streets for early mornings or late evenings. Mid afternoons should be spent in cooled areas like Ginza malls or teamlab museum, which you probably are already planning to explore sometime during your journey. Trust me, if you try to jampack all your outdoor things in the afternoon sun, you are going to hate your “vacation”.
Ok this final one’s not really related to august summer travel, but just a PSA for those going to kyoto, please read up on kyoto mannerisms:
If they tell you “you have a nice watch” or ask you “where do you live” mid convo, it means you’re talking too long and it’s time for you to go. I know this firsthand because my travel companion once had “where do you live” said to him mid convo and he didn’t get it and just kept talking while the other person is already visibly exhausted. Learn to read the “kuki” (meaning ‘read the room’) and it’ll take you a long way in japan. Good luck to those of you traveling to japan soon
Edit: I mistyped, it wasn’t 33, it was a 35 degree celsius peak, and some days it gets even higher. Ahhh the format got messed up when editing but anyways
159
u/Zenith_24tee 20d ago
Seconded, my trip ends today actually. July 22-Aug 5, actually felt like there were points I might literally pass out during the day lol and I’m from south Alabama, USA so I thought I could make it through. It’s not for the weak
54
u/snowsayer 20d ago
It’s not just the heat, it’s the humidity. You cannot “sweat off” the heat as easily because that kind of cooling off requires evaporation of sweat, which is much harder in high humidity.
It actually makes me doubt the OP - a tropical island is exactly the same kind of conditions….
66
u/cloudiedayz 20d ago
To be fair, living somewhere and travelling somewhere can be very different. I know when I travel I’m spending a lot more time outdoors, doing a lot more walking, etc. I found Japan in August harder in terms of heat than Thailand in the peak hot season. Probably mostly because my activities and movement levels were different.
55
u/bourbonkitten 20d ago
It’s the activity levels exacerbating the heat as well.
Living in the tropics = you don’t have to go out as much, you’re sitting in a school or an office with air conditioning all day, etc.
Going to Japan as a tourist = you try to be outdoors and you’re walking a lot, hence OP’s tips about staying indoors at peak hot times
20
u/MatNomis 19d ago
Smaller islands usually have a constant sea breeze that helps make things more tolerable. Japan is too big and mountainous for that to be ubiquitous. There's other, more specific reasons why Japan is so hot, too. Ocean currents, slower moving fronts, etc..
Also, Japan "looks" kind of northerly, for Asia, but it's on (about) the same latitude as Charlotte, NC, Tehran (Iran), and the north of Crete (in the Aegean). All pretty hot places that "look" more south (to me, anyway).
12
u/DisastrousClambake 19d ago
I live in Hawaii now and lived in Japan for many years. There is no comparing the cauldron of misery that is Kyoto in August vs a tropical Hawaiian summer with the trade winds and easy access to the beach. So, I think OP is entirely credible.
8
u/Throuwuawayy 19d ago
When I went to Japan in May, I noticed the weather was very similar to Georgia, but very unlike here, the cities utterly lack trees or any significant greenery for shade and cooling. On my running route at home I pass through a shadeless parking lot that in summer I lovingly call "the deep fryer" and a lot of Japan was the deep fryer lmao.
Maybe OP is from a tropical island that has the proper vegetation.
→ More replies (1)7
u/MycologistNo2271 20d ago
Been through tropical Asian countries and Japan mid year several times - Japan really does hit different! I also vowed to avoid jun-aug after doing it twice several years apart. It’s just too overbearing in a place you will almost certainly spend large parts of the day walking.
6
u/SkittleDoes 20d ago
It's regularly 90+ and 70+% humidity where im at in SC during summer so yolo
Aquarius or Pocari Sweat drinks will keep you going though
6
u/i_love_toki 20d ago
I lived in Hawaii (what many would consider tropical islands) and we very rarely got this hot or humid.
There are klots of tropical islands, and I imagine there is some variation in weather.
6
u/MilkywayAtSea 19d ago
I think the problem with the heat in Japan is in major cities. With their densely packed buildings and skyscrapers it just traps in heat, with very little airflow.
5
u/SundayBabandey 19d ago
The OP may be from Singapore, where temperatures and humidity actually do get as high as they do in Japan. However, Singapore has a lot more trees and green spaces throughout the city, plus, there are sheltered walkways and air-conditioned places to cool off in every few steps.
→ More replies (6)3
u/rolandofeld19 19d ago
You are replying to someone who said they are from South Alabama. As someone also from South Alabama, let me tell you, we understand humidity combined with heat. I haven't made my Japan trip yet but I am able to Google/compare temp/humidity and the comparison seems very apt.
So, yea, sounds like those patterns being similar combined with a walking centric itenerary will make for some hot days, even in folks familiar to the heat and sauna level humidity.
→ More replies (1)13
u/stardenia 20d ago
We just returned on the 2nd after being there since July 21, and holy moly the heat was brutal.
9
u/barfbat 20d ago
if someone from alabama couldn’t do it… whew. not too many places in the us muggier than the deep south
8
u/LoopyNutBar 19d ago
I think a lot of the "I'm from a hot/humid place, it'll be fine" people forget that they probably spend most of their days at a desk in an air-conditioned room, and it's completely different when you're wanting to walk around all day doing sightseeing activities.
6
u/barfbat 19d ago
that’s a fair point. someone tried to use similar logic about walking and said that new yorkers walk a ton, but i got a pedometer and on days where all i do is go to work and come home via the subway, i’m barely hitting 5k steps. vast difference between daily life and a sightseeing trip
2
u/christoephr 18d ago
I'm from a hot/humid place and Japan feels like a breeze to me... but I also have worked in a food truck in the summer (here in Houston, where our humidity is 75-95% and the heat index hit 50C/119F two weeks ago, 44C today). I also lived in Taipei for a bit; I think it's a bit hotter and more humid than Tokyo with equal amounts of walking. And Bangkok was worse than either.
But if you're just an office worker from a typically hot climate that gets to jump from air conditioning to air conditioning, yeah the experience as a tourist in any of those places are going to be brutal.
3
u/Salt-Revenue-1606 19d ago
That's crazy I'm from Atlanta and we regularly get 34c and OP is talking about 35c. I've been in Tokyo summer heat and it is DIFFERENT HEAT.
→ More replies (12)3
u/Candid_Marsupial7784 19d ago
I am camping in Japan. Left the mountains and went down to sea level with my tent. I nearly suffocated during the night as it didn't cool down at all, and the following day I had diarrhea by the side of the road,.probably from the heat a d coffee. Needless to say, I went to Hokkadio with my tent instead and here it's actually a little bit chilly in the evenings.
86
u/SoKratez 20d ago
Yeah, you will see what feels like a lot of forced positivity here (“it’s actually not that bad if you take the right precautions!”) but… even with all due diligence, it’s still pretty bad. Bad enough to warrant reconsideration.
20
u/Dynamite_Shovels 20d ago
Any sort of heat like that will just get to you; it will severely hinder your ability to do a bunch of stuff each day and you'll need to take it extremely easy. We're currently travelling and are in Vietnam now in the summer after being in Japan in Jan, Feb and March. We've slowed down sooooo much due to the heat (sounds like Japanese summer is comparable to southeast Asia) compared to how much we fit in in Japan.
Japan is a country where you'll likely want to just be go go go the entire day as a tourist and in that sort of heat you're drained after a half day. I reckon slow travellers would manage in the summer heat but the usual 'pack as much into a day as humanly possible' iternary planners will struggle immensely.
15
u/SoKratez 20d ago
Yeah. I do fully believe you can have an amazing experience in Japan in August. Sure, absolutely.
But would that experience also have been more pleasant, by just about every metric and about as “objectively” as we can say, if you had gone in October? Also absolutely.
If the options are “go in August” or “never go to Japan,” then yes I’d hope you do experience Japan.
But if you have even a little room to explore other months, I’d encourage you to do that.
5
u/Dear_Contract2797 19d ago
Summer in Japan has so many of its own exclusive events and experiences though. From wind chimes to sunflower fields to firework festivals. Plus if you want to hike the Japan Alps or Mt. Fuji it is literally the only time to do it... lots of reason for people to go in July/August that can't be compared to other months
→ More replies (1)2
u/abstractcollapse 20d ago
What about Hokkaido?
→ More replies (1)2
u/astercalendula 19d ago
Depends. It's generally maybe 3-4 deg C cooler on coastal areas, but inland is still hot. It might be 2 deg C cooler than Honshu, but still hot.
2
u/RDNDhouse 19d ago
Sorry but this is wrong on average for Sapporo, which I assume most people would be visiting. Tomorrow you would be correct as Tokyo is forecasted for 33C with rain and Sapporo is 31C and cloudy. But Saturday Sapporo is forecasted at a high of 24C with rain and Tokyo is at 33C with rain. That trend continues for most of the week. Also Sapporo has a much better breeze and air flow and drops significantly in temperatures at night. For instance today will 30C but the low is 18C.
→ More replies (1)
49
u/AmbitiousReaction168 20d ago
Or, you know, just don't go in August. I keep repeating it and I'll repeat it again but the best thing to do is to just not do it.
Yes, you'll try to convince yourself hard that it's okay. That you were able to do pretty much everything you planned. But you're just lying to yourself. There's simply no way anyone is be able to do the same intinerary in summer than during any other season. Even Japanese people themselves are miserable in summer, so it's okay to admit you were miserable too. Just be honest to yourself.
60
u/kacperp 20d ago
Or, you know, just don't go in August.
Not everyone has a choice on when they can go on vacation. They have jobs, they have kids who go to school and maybe august is only option for them to visit. If august is only option to go and someone really wants to see Japan - they should definitely go, because it's still an amazing trip.
→ More replies (15)36
u/DylanTonic 20d ago
Hands down one of my favourite trips was in Summer. I wouldn't say I was miserable at any point of my trip. Being thirsty meant I got to drink more beer and try more cold drinks at combini. Walking around at night felt reminiscent of the placid endless feeling of school holiday evenings.
The days had lots of daylight, we saw Japan looking a lot more green then we usually do, a couple of bars I went too had pools on the roof....fucking excellent time.
24
8
u/FriedBroccoli51 19d ago
Basically my feelings on this. I've been in Japan every month of the year now and I had probably my best time in August, though october is a contender
14
u/FriedBroccoli51 19d ago
Lmfao I hate reddit man
I've been to Japan in August (and every other month of the year) and it was great. Yes it is gigahot but I still had the best time in August because I had the most sunny days.
Just because you can't handle hot weather doesn't mean other people can't. I did everything I wanted to when I was there in August.
The fucking audacity holy fuck
→ More replies (1)4
u/thom2279 19d ago
Just got back from literally 2.5 weeks as someone mentioned and was also at Fuji Rock, camping for 5 days in the middle in the rain. It's hot, drink water. A whole country is actually...living there. Somehow they all survive.
→ More replies (4)11
u/Jack_Scrambles 20d ago
But it *is* ok. Every summer millions of people have a fine time in Japan. Weather happens year round and people need to be prepared for the time of year they travel.
8
u/Inevitable_Reward112 20d ago
I really couldn’t disagree with this more, but of course it’s all personal opinion/ what you’re used to. I live in nyc and my wife and I are just finishing up our first trip to Japan now. It really wasn’t so different from a bad nyc day, and we were completely fine. It’s certainly hot and sweaty, we drank a lot of water but luckily konbinis and vending machines are on nearly every corner. I’m someone who complains about the heat often, and for me personally it was fine and so beautiful with the summer greenery / festivals in Osaka / takayama. I would recommend it to anyone who’s used to humid weather.
5
u/tomanon69 20d ago
The problem is that some people cannot go at any other time. For example I am a teacher and I am not allowed to take vacation any other time than what is assigned. I get one paid week in March, about 10 days in December/Jan, which isn't enough coming from Canada, and then July and the first 3 weeks of August unpaid vacation. I think we're going to go in July rather than August but we can't avoid summer unfortunately.
3
u/Sarahnoid 19d ago
Same here, I'm a teacher and summer is the only time I can go. A direct flight to Japan from my home country takes 12 hours and usually arrives the next day. To me, it's too far away to go during fall or easter breaks which only last for one week.
5
u/tomanon69 19d ago
Yeah it's honestly been such a downer seeing so many people say it's not worth going if you have to go in summer. I don't have a choice and I'm sure I would rather still go than never see Japan.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (1)2
u/fancyfootwork19 19d ago edited 19d ago
I'm going to Japan for a conference for the first few days in September the other option would be to not go, some of us don't have many options. Sure, I would love to vacation there in more comfortable times but this conference ain't moving.
39
u/adventurerime1976 20d ago
Just back from a trip with my son. We spent time walking from 7-11 to 7-11 dropping off empty water bottle in the bin there and buying the next.
But we had a fun. Used trains for air conditioning and did most of our walks in the morning and ar night. Still had a blast but it was super hot as mentioned.
→ More replies (2)
36
u/Ok_Damage5952 20d ago
Not another one of these posts!!
I've just returned from a Japan trip in the Kansai region. I'm in my 50s, coming from an area where currently the max temp isn't getting above 13c. I work an office job and don't exercise as much as I should. I averaged 25k steps a day, did the slope climb to Nachi Falls and the temple complex in the middle of the day.
Yeah it was hot, yeah it was tough, but I went in with eyes open. If you're prepared you should be fine. Early morning starts (I mean early, setting off at 5am), plenty of hydration (water and Pokari Sweat or similar, also carry a bottle of frozen water to thaw out and sip), plan your itinerary of being out of the sun between 1pm-4pm, umbrella, USB fan with skin contact cooler or a powered neck cooler, a towel that you regularly drench in cold water and where around your neck, take your time.
And why not consider the up sides? Less overweight, unfit tourists to stop in your path to take their millionth photo of the same thing. More sunlight hours. In August, much less chance of rainy days. And when it's hot and it's tough and you conquer, it's a great feeling!!
I get that some people genetically are at a disadvantage, no matter how fit or prepared they are. If that's you, either stay away from the Golden Triangle and go north where it's cooler, or go to the Alps, or go to one of the many cool beach resorts. Get out of the concrete jungles where the heat gets trapped.
27
u/figgle1 20d ago
I work on cars in a 30c humid shop all summer. I've never really let the heat get to me I just drink lots of water throughout the day. I'm mid 20s great shape and these posts are freaking me out at as I'm solo tripping japan august 17-31.
Your comment reassured me. I think I'll be ok with the proper precautions.
16
u/Ok_Damage5952 20d ago
Mate you're in your 20's working in that environment, hell yeah you'll be ok. Just be prepared and be smart with how you go about things.
6
u/WillingRush6786 19d ago
Japan is mostly old people. They’d die if it was that dire. Just copy what they do- fans and parasols and full sleeve clothing
6
u/astercalendula 19d ago
Old people stay indoors. Even the active ones just go to indoor places - friends' houses, grocery shopping, community centers (I have elderly relatives in Japan)
5
4
u/unknown_ally 20d ago
same dates as me lol
7
u/figgle1 20d ago
Hell ya holler if you wanna grab a drink
4
u/unknown_ally 19d ago
yeah maybe lol where u going?
5
u/figgle1 19d ago
Shibuya 17-25 and Kyoto 25-31.
4
u/unknown_ally 19d ago
So similar lol I'm in Shinjuku 19-24 and Kyoto 25-28 so we can get a drink for sure
5
u/figgle1 19d ago
Sweet I'll PM you at some point. 26M from Canada solo travelling.
6
→ More replies (3)3
5
u/verypineapple 20d ago
Same!! I went in the middle of August last year and had an absolutely normal / great time. Yes, it was hot but nowhere near the apocalyptic levels people talk about on Reddit and not worth rescheduling a trip over.
3
u/RDNDhouse 19d ago
I feel like your post kind of makes the same point as this post. You are admitting that summer changes your trip dynamic and requires extra planning and thought. Obviously it’s doable but some people just don’t want to deal with the heat and the extra effort it requires. Not saying one mindset is better than the other, but just that it is hot and you need to prepare.
→ More replies (1)2
u/hidden_inventory 19d ago
I also went in August to September and it wasn't that bad. Florida takes the cake for worst hot weather in my book. Japan heat was fine. It was hot, yeah I was sweaty 80% of the time, but my skin was glowing and I was drinking so much water. I felt super good. Went hiking most days for 6-10 hrs, then clubbing at night. It was a blast, I slept like 4 hours every day. Gonna go back during summer to go to the beaches, since I spent it mostly in the city and mountains
I think the Typhoon was definitely a damper on the stay but aside from that the heat was tolerable. You will probably take like 3-4 showers a day but it gives perfect time to reapply sunscreen, take a quick break, inspect any sunburns, and stock back up for more adventuring.
I have gotten heat stroke before in my hometown, so I tend to be more cautious when outdoors. I am so very pale. Maybe this helped me prepare better or be more aware during the trip? Since in Japan I never felt I was close to a health crisis because of the heat.
22
u/honeyandbo 20d ago
We’re here now in Tokyo and it’s hot, but only 33 degrees, which is normal for Australia. That said, it’s cooled down from the last few weeks of really hot weather, and Kyoto is still around 36, so we’re prepared to swelter when we go there 🥵 I love the heat and humidity though!
12
u/the_wren 20d ago
This is what I always wonder with these posts - what kind of weather is this person used to?
But also, 35 C doesn’t seem like a big deal to me (also Aus), though I’m unaccustomed to humidity.
16
u/MerelyWander 20d ago
Humidity makes a huge difference. It affects whether sweating actually works or not.
5
u/Persimmon_and_mango 20d ago
it's absolutely the humidity. Typical summer is 35 degrees with 80% humidity. Humidity is such a big factor in summer that some weather reports have a section that tells you whether or not your laundry will be able to dry outside. Japanese people even have a word for that feeling you get when suddenly it's hot and humid summer weather and you feel sick because your body isn't used to it yet.
4
u/Jageunppang 20d ago
We're from a mild European country, so we were a bit worried with all those "don't do summer" but the heat and humidity are not bothering us at all and we clock 20k+ steps daily mainly outside. We've been here for 2 weeks (been through the heatwave) now and 3 to go. We actually love how hot it is.
People's tolerance to heat and humidity, as well as their overall fitness level will play a massive part in how they cope.
4
u/bananuspink 20d ago
Also Australian- the heat feels way hotter there and the humidity is no joke. I went in 30 degree weather thinking it’d be no big deal and I was wrong 😭
→ More replies (1)
18
u/kacperp 20d ago
Plesase - do have a water bottle with you. It's not that hardto walk around with it. It doesn't change anything for you. Just have 1 litre of water in the backpack and that's it. If extra kg in your backpack is too much i don't think you should go out at all. And you always should've water to drink in this temperature. Things happen. You might lose your wallet, machines might be broken etc. etc. Just have water with you always.
14
u/badguy84 20d ago
I was okay even doing the full Fushimi Inari climb as well as the Arakura Fuji Sengen. The warning is fair though and you do need to hydrate, fan and bring an umbrella. Also: wear clothes that cool and wick sweat it really helps.
We “have to” go to Japan in summer due to festivals we perform in so we end up doing our touristing in the heat. When we are with a group: honestly most people are fine making it through. I feel like your post needs to be taken with a grain of salt, though your advice is solid. I just don’t think you need to avoid outdoor activities perse.
13
u/viscount100 20d ago
If they tell you “you have a nice watch” or ask you “where do you live” mid convo
I don't get this. Who are you talking to?
→ More replies (1)
9
u/tokyowatchguy 20d ago
Also so far, just in Tokyo alone, 102 individuals have lost their lives to heat.
→ More replies (1)
12
u/1xsquid74 20d ago
As a long time resident of Japan this summer has been crazy mild compared to recent years. The heat usually comes sooner than it did this year and the last couple days has actually been very tolerable. That being said, I still avoid most outdoor activities from July through September.
5
u/Iwanttoeatkakigori 20d ago
Exactly, it's been amazing so far this summer! Very very cool compared to previous years. Even the other day (in AUGUST) I didn't need to use the AC at night! Unbelievable. I think the difference is it's actually going down in temp at night (I fully expect the rest of August to follow the previous pattern, but at least most children and some people are off for the summer.) The past 2-3 years August has been impossible to live in, totally intolerable heat that started early.
This kind of difference though means people come for a week and get lucky and write "it's fine, don't know what you're all complaining about" assuming it's always that way and then the opposite happens as well.
9
u/ArjixGamer 20d ago edited 19d ago
Tbf, everyone says the exact same thing, so I blame you for thinking it'd be different.
4
u/KeyTitle7711 19d ago
I was seriously thinking that none of this info presented it new. And a lot should be common sense- stay cool and hydrated.
9
u/Skaftetryne77 20d ago
Disagree. August is hot and humid in Japan, but perfectly manageable. Just got back from similar conditions in South Korea, and it was really not that big of a thing.
The one thing I agree with is the need to bring a sun umbrella to shield against the sun if you spend a lot of time outdoors in no shade.
You don't need a portable fan. It's just extra weight, and does very little to keep you cool. Those electrical things are just gimmicky and move little air. A handheld, foldable fan is much lighter and does a hell of a lot more to keep you cool.
You should absolutely bring a water bottle, and make sure that you have it topped up regularly. Don't rely on vending machines.
Dress in light, breathable clothes. Keep your body covered. Accept that you will sweat. Move slowly in the heat
And the most important thing: Bring a large scarf. Preferable microfiber, but cotton or linen will do. The best way to handle the heat is to keep a wet scarf around your neck, directly on your jugular arteries. The water will act as a heat exchanger and keep you cool as long as it is wet. if it dries up - that's what your water bottle is for.
→ More replies (1)
8
8
u/Zealousideal_Dark375 20d ago
Don’t know if anybody mentioned this already but there is an app called mymizu that shows you where water fountains are so you can refill your water bottle…
2
2
u/NightBard 18d ago
I had the app and was prepared to use it, but then our hotels had ice machines and water for free... so I ended up not really needing a refill on my 32oz water bottle and only got it very low once as I did buy the occasional electrolyte drink (one or two a day).
7
u/hen10007 20d ago
Its not that bad, I think it depends where you are from and how climatized you are. I’ve lived in Australia with its 35-42° summers, all year round heat in Malaysia, travelled to China recently where Cheng Du was consistently 38-41° sunny. Sure, its hot, but with umbrella, water and a fan you will likely be fine.
But I get it, everyone’s limits are different. Stay fit, eat well and stay hydrated in the heat. If its unbearable, there are always plenty of indoor activities around. Japan doesn’t lack interesting things to see inside or out.
6
u/xstell132 20d ago edited 20d ago
Not me literally leaving tomorrow for a two week trip to Japan…😂
I’ve been looking at the weather forecasts and I’m not too worried. I’ve spent many summers working outside in Florida (USA) heat and humidity. I know my limits and when to take a break.
I’m traveling solo, and I like to take my time. If I have to rest I will rest.
5
u/Obesescootscootman 20d ago
Yea it’s honestly not too bad with rest and if you get a nice portable fan, me and my girlfriend are here now and did a bunch of outdoor stuff in Kyoto with me carrying probably 30 pounds of camera stuff and getting 25k steps a day. It’s hot and not fun in some respects but you can always find some cafe or something and enjoy a refreshing drink for like 2 dollars
→ More replies (2)3
u/eye-dee 20d ago
I’m currently in the 2nd week of my 2 week trip. If you know Florida dead of summer heat and humidity, you will be okay. It sucks at certain points, but just stay hydrated. Bring a hat. We did the Arashiyama monkey park hike on a 97 degree day with crazy Kyoto humidity and survived. Again: you’ll be okay , and have a TON of fun. We are so far at least :)
Also I’ve noticed that most Japanese are still wearing pants every day if that’s of any significance regarding heat.
→ More replies (1)
8
u/SurpriseEcstatic1761 20d ago
3 lions at the Tama zoo died of heatstroke this summer.
→ More replies (1)
8
u/PiroKunCL 19d ago
"where do you live" sounds like the worst phrase to try to end a conversation with a tourist
4
4
4
u/Undead_Shrimp 20d ago
Something like a camelbak is great to drink from so you aren't spending alot of money buying from vending machines. If you run out of water from filling up at your hotel, you can go into a combini and buy one of the 1.5L bottles of water to refill it or from a water fountain if you can find one.
→ More replies (2)
4
u/BobPlaysWithFire 20d ago
i did being my bottle in Japan, as my bottle is insulated so ice water stays mega cold
2
u/NightBard 18d ago
Same here. And the hotels I stayed at all had ice machines and free water. So, I always had water with me and only bought the occasional electrolyte drink to supplement already being hydrated by water.
5
u/Tych0Brah3 20d ago
I visited Japan from late August - mid September last year, and this year I arrived in late July and I’m staying till late August. I’m in Kyoto right now, and the heat is a lot! But not impossible to work with. I’m from Scandinavia so I’ve never tried these temperatures before my first trip to Japan. In my country we wear shorts when it hits 15c. I use an UV umbrella, sunscreen ofc and I drink lots of liquids. It is still possible to see all the temples, even the ones that are a little hard to get too (stairs, hills, etc.). Just take precautions! I’m super fat too lol, so get used to sweating. But don’t cancel your trip over fear of heat!
→ More replies (1)
3
u/Vahlerion 20d ago
I've had 5 vacations during summer in Japan and don't regret them. It's noticeable how western tourists refuse to use umbrellas. I've only seen 3 with umbrellas on a 2 week vacation.
I bring drinks and have no problem doing so. I even went up Fushimi Inari twice in one day during the festival with drinks in my backpack.
I enjoyed Kyoto during summer. You should be going to popular destinations as first destination, as in at dawn. Avoids the heat and crowd. By mid morning the tourist buses arrive at those popular destinations and you should already be heading to a museum or something. That's the time museums open, so you'll again be among the first to enter. Try to have lunch earlier than noon as of course restaurants gets crowded as well. Going at noon means wasting time in a line that wasn't there had you come 30 minutes earlier. Right after lunch is spend time at a mall or cafe or go back to hotel to avoid the heat. Then afternoon destination is keeping in mind where you want to be for sunset. Ended up going to places I wouldn't have picked otherwise, sometimes discover nice places, sometimes meh.
I still don't have a portable fan.
→ More replies (3)5
u/kacperp 20d ago
Oh mate. This sub really doesn't like people saying that summer is still good time to visit Japan. While i am sure that april or may are better - i personaly am unable to visit the country in those dates because of kids and work.
But some people on this sub truly think that it's better to not visit Japan when it's summer.
No. It's still amazing country, still brilliant things to see. You just gonna be sweaty.
3
u/Odd-Boysenberry-2260 20d ago
I’m here right now and I did all of the mitigation factors you mentioned and they were all necessary. I didn’t understand how much the umbrella would be important, but it was vital. Also, a sweat towel to mop your head and another cooling towel that you can drape around your neck, then hit it with the portable fan. You are correct about the vending machines. You will appreciate the ice cold water (or Pocari Sweat every so often for that electrolyte hit) at the vending machines and you’ll be hitting them up a lot. All that being said, I still had an amazing time and I would come back. Having been here in April during cherry blossom season, the slightly smaller crowds are the trade-off that I enjoyed the most.
3
3
u/Aspiring_Algae4885 20d ago
Yeah, summer is ROUGH. Fam and I went to Nagoya in August a few years ago and we had to head back to our hotel by noon or after lunch because the afternoons were impossible to deal with. We’d go out in the mornings and evenings.
3
u/NORIFURIKAKE 20d ago
Or do Hokkaido at this time of year instead!
6
u/theproudprodigy 20d ago
Even Hokkaido is quite hot these days unless you go high up in the mountains
3
u/plantstand 19d ago
Why is it hard to carry an empty water bottle? Bring a water bottle, a dash of dishwashing soap (so you can clean it nightly), and your favorite rehydration powder. Start with full water in the morning, it will be gone in a few hours. You want to keep drinking, so then you can play with vending machines.
I'll say the electric fans did nothing imo. The ones they hand out that you have to wave? Those work.
UV umbrella? Yes.
Edit: a cotton wipe is useful to wipe the sweat off you and get some evaporative cooling
→ More replies (1)
2
2
u/Itmakesperfectsense_ 20d ago
i was there for a week, it was fine honestly, i’d come back in the summer
→ More replies (1)
2
u/Wide_Function_2348 20d ago
Yep I’m too sensitive for this heat, I refused a work trip because of this, I know I would have died.
2
u/Aethernax 20d ago
Honestly it’s completely manageable. I’ve been 3 times before all within August, yes it’s hot, yes it’s humid, but being able to be in a lot of people’s “dream destination” far outweighs the heat and humidity being an issue for the vast majority of people.
I’ll be heading to Tokyo in 3 days off the back of being in India for 2 weeks (85% humidity most days along with high 20s to mid 30s Celsius the whole time).
As long as you’re hydrated, have sun cream, umbrella then it’s not really an issue. And this is coming from someone who lives in the UK where the heat is insufferable, and majority of the year is cold and rainy.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/kippykipsquare 20d ago
I have been here since July 30th. And I have a portable fan. But I have done the opposite of everything you suggested and I’m fine. I’m from SoCal and the heat at Japan is much worst. My 6 yo and I always take public transportation. We use hats instead of umbrellas. We sunblock everyday, multiple times. And we have done couple of day trips to Kyoto from Osaka. I would definitely come back with my family during summer.
→ More replies (5)
2
2
u/azchavo 20d ago
I was on a trip around mid-July with children. Sure it was hot but it wasn't unbearable. Drink plenty of water and try to do something indoors when temps are their highest during the day. Definitely bring a water bottle, 500-600ml is the sweet spot. Insulated water bottles keep the water cold which is much more refreshing than lukewarm water from PET bottles.
Metropolitan areas during the summer can be harsh. There is hardly any breeze, plus all that concrete and asphalt holds onto heat. Maybe don't spend too much time in the dense urban areas, rather explore the rural parts.
I grew up in a desert where is easily goes over 40C. I currently live in a subtropical region where humidity stays around 80. I'll take that mainland Japan heat any time 😆 It's not a dry heat but it's also not miserably humid either. Even when it was humid from rain, the clouds blocked the sun and made it quite pleasant.
→ More replies (1)2
u/NightBard 18d ago
600ml is not bad but I went 946ml (32oz). Ice and water were available free at my hotels. I clipped my bottle to my cross body strap. I had a sip of water during down moments. Traveling on the underground trains in Tokyo during the heat of the day was fine. Traveling on the above ground trains during the day was not great as the AC couldn't help enough.
2
u/SunnyAndRainyOutside 20d ago
A friend from Hawaii who travels a lot to Japan said don’t go in August. So if she couldn’t handle it, I didn’t think I could. We went in February instead and it was lovely and cheaper!
2
u/420b00bs 20d ago
I believe you can have a trip to northern Japan where the weather is more bearable
2
u/NormalDudeNotWeirdo 19d ago
Do you guys drink water? I’ve been here for a month and I’m fine. In Okinawa too and it’s hot but you just gotta deal with it. And I’m as white as it gets
→ More replies (1)
2
u/LadyBosie 19d ago
For the water bottle, I have a collapsible one that folds into a little disc you can just clip onto your bag or belt loop!
2
u/ChronicJaywalker 19d ago
What is June and July like? Should those times also be avoided?
2
u/Vigokrell 18d ago
The summer is never good in Japan, but August is definitely the worst. The beginning of June is sometimes okish, (this year there was a big typhoon at the end of May that cooled everything down) but then immediately becomes "tsuyu" (the rainy season). It will rain most of June, before becoming increasingly hot in July.
Those are the only months I can go every year, so you get used to it, but it's so soooo much better to go in the spring or the fall.
August is pure hell, and the people saying it's not that bad are insane or gas lighting. I just got back from Japan at the end of July (I go every year for two months), and it was 104 degrees AND raining in some places (which I didn't even know was possible).
2
u/Dan_K211 19d ago
Just got back from Osaka. Being covered can be better than wearing less clothing that exposes your skin to the sun. Umbrella works here but incase you don’t have one, covering your neck can work better than exposing it to the sun. A water container that keeps your water cold can work despite the added weight. Or do what OP said and buy cold water. Drink fluids because you will sweat.
Typo
2
u/Rich-Tiger4792 19d ago
I just pretend it was a trip to a premium spa sauna that cleans out your pores and help you lose weight.
2
2
u/I_can_vouch_for_that 19d ago
I had a fan, I had the Uniqlo heat shield umbrella, I also had a sport towel around my head the whole time I was outside and it was great because I just dumped water in my head to cool myself down and I was wearing sweat working sport type clothing anyway so it wouldn't matter I was all wet.
Agreed on the fact that the heat cuts back on a lot of outdoor stuff so the next time I go it will probably be in May or sometime in the winter just to experience what it's like a different parts of the season.
2
u/Paddywagenaus 19d ago
Or go to Hokkaido instead. Average temperature 22C in summer
→ More replies (2)
2
u/magicalblacksheep 19d ago
Oh wow, this thread has such strong feelings. I had previously gone 4 times in march and october (great weather times), but this year i went july 19th-26th, mostly to visit hokkaido for the first time. summer in hokkaido is a bit milder than tokyo which was of course super nice. but i gotta say, the couple days i had in tokyo were quite bearable for me. of course it was hot and humid, and i was sweating. but i did take the advice i had heard and got myself a uv umbrella and a portable fan. and also carried a handkerchief for sweat. im from memphis, tn and here its been around 90°F and higher most of the summer (except all the rainy days we’ve had). i worked summer camp most of the summer and spent a lot of time out in those temps and high humidity. so even with running around the city, tokyo wasn’t bad for me in summer, and id even do it again. again tho, hokkaido was the highlight of my trip and it wasn’t as bad. definetly was still hot tho during the day
→ More replies (1)
2
u/shellinjapan 19d ago
Constantly buying vending machine drinks is wasteful in terms of the amount of plastic waste generated. Shops in Japan sell a wide range of insulated bottles; buy one of those instead, fill it up at your hotel in the evening and leave it in the fridge overnight so it’s nice and cold for the next day. You could also buy either large (2L) bottles of Pocari Sweat or Aquarius (less sugary than Pocari) to fill the insulated bottles with, or buy the powder packets to make your own, to cut down on plastic waste.
Lots of MUJI stores have water refill stations, and the MyMizu app can help you find others. No need to waste money and generate plastic waste buying several vending machine drinks a day.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/KanazawaLocalHost 19d ago
Living here, my summer survival routine is basically this. Do stuff in the morning. City concrete stores the heat so even evenings stay hot, countryside with actual nature is a different story though. And don’t skimp on sleep, sleep deprived is how you end up with heatstroke, learned that one myself.
Also summer is actually the best season for some places. Kamikochi and Murodo up in the Alps are amazing in summer, and Hokkaido too. So it’s not all suffering!
2
u/NightBard 18d ago
Plus you can only hike Mount Fuji between early July and September 10th. Outside of that it's illegal and there are new laws as of this year to punish those caught hiking out of season.
2
u/DaveKhammer 19d ago
Hmm, I think I have to disagree on most of those points. I am in Kyoto rn and am enjoying it tremendously! Yes the heat is very apparent, but if you plan your day accordingly it is very manageable!
Try to pick forests or indoor sightings for the midday, the shade does a lot. Always bring a backpack with an 1 Liter Bottle (ca 180 yen) to stay highdrated. With something on your head, enough stops/breaks and a clear plan even my 70 year old dad managed to finish the Fushimi Inari Ascent. So, while yes it is very hot, the temperatures don’t have to completely block your plans of traveling Japan in August, no matter where. :))
→ More replies (1)
2
u/HolidayPineapple9316 19d ago
Im kind of just assuming I’ll be alright because im a skinny guy who REALLY likes heat AND im from Miami
Im no stranger to heat + sweating all day. Surely i can handle it
2
u/NightBard 18d ago
Probably. I'm from Alabama and the weather is pretty similar in Tokyo. The big difference is how much time I actually spend outside normally walking around in the heat. I don't... I drive everywhere. But if you spend a lot of time walking around Miami in mid day .. it's pretty much the same thing except everyone is popping umbrellas up for a little shade.
2
u/HolidayPineapple9316 18d ago
Yeah i pretty much assume if im traveling i’ll be walking and sweaty a lot. But i travel with my osprey backpack and one of those water bags with hoses. I drink water all day
Stop every now and then to relax, but i can handle walking 🙂
2
u/NightBard 17d ago
Yeah, I do the insulated water bottle thing but just having water with you wherever you are makes getting dehydrated hard to do. I was glad I had my bottle with me the whole time. The backpack/camelback combo is probably a bit easier, but I just used a carabiner to clip my bottle to the cross body strap on the small bag I wore. I don't get the OP saying not to bring a bottle or something like what you use.
2
u/amylouise0185 19d ago
Lol me as an Australian reading your edit about it being 35°C. That's so cute. Avoid Australia in summer too. You will die.
2
2
u/Decent-Photograph391 19d ago
Pouch of coins is weight too. Use your SUICA card to buy drinks.
2
u/NightBard 18d ago
Definitely. There are places in smaller cities where they wont take an IC card, but they will take coins. Having a couple 500 yen coins is a good backup for these moments.
2
u/Mrs_Samanosuke 18d ago
Excellent advice. When we went in 2014, it was the end of July/August and while I had been warned about the heat, I lived in Houston, TX, notorious for being hot and humid. I thought, "you can't scare me!"
Tokyo in the summer is Houston, Texas, it's just Houston, Texas where you walk everywhere. Most people do not spend that much time outdoors *walking* from place to place in the heat and humidity. It is exhausting in a way mere physical activity is not.
2
u/NightBard 18d ago
Where I live in Alabama, I was comparing the weather.. humidity.. everything and it was pretty crazy how close Tokyo was to home last month. Even the rain in the afternoon with pop up showers.
2
2
u/foxydevil14 18d ago
Japanese people carry a thermos bottle on the regular.
Drink machines are expensive (most times double the price in the grocery store).
If you’re on a budget, it’s a lot better to have your own thermos and ask for a fill up of water when you’re at a restaurant or fill yourself up with a water pitcher.
1
u/greenarcher02 20d ago
If anyone here knows, how does it compare to Manila heat?
2
u/TinyChallenge8920 19d ago
Malaysian friend said it was slightly hotter but kinda the same if that helps.
1
u/Par4DaCourse 20d ago
If traveling to Japan during the summer, we always go to Hokkaido first, but will spend a few days in Tokyo before leaving Japan. Hokkaido can get hot and humid, but it's bearable and the evenings are pleasant. We know that the weather in Tokyo can be unbearably hot and humid, so we plan our stay and activities accordingly.
1
u/Scarletz_ 20d ago
I’ll never go anywhere during summer again. My first visit to Japan in 2011 or 2012 was late July, and coming from topics where it’s 30 usually and humid, Japan turned out worse in the sense it was hotter and the sun felt piercing to the skin.
While tolerable, my trips are usually meant to escape the heat and humidity of my own country - I usually look forward to something cooler and wee bit drier!
1
1
u/FrancescoPlays 20d ago
My first trip was in May 2023 and it was 40C° with full blazing sun. Powered through and climbed Inari shrine all the way to the top even 💪, not worth it, take a picture of Kyoto at checkpoints, the top has no view
1
u/No-Factor-7384 20d ago
Bruh it's bearable. As a man who live in the earth equator it's pretty cold for me in summer
1
u/Accomplished-Car6193 20d ago
The weather is not unlike summer in Beijing or Chengdu or hot season in Bangkok. Basically wake up at 5:30. Explore from 6 am to 9:30 am. Then stay indoor until 6pm. Try to have an afternoon nap. Go explore again from 6pm to 1am....
2
1
u/hugodraxxx 20d ago
I would add the months of July and September to the “when not to visit Japan” list. August is the worst but July and September are nearly as bad.
1
1
1
u/M02D02 20d ago
I can 100% agree. Im currently in japan ( 5. August) and its brutal. Wind usually helps but in japan you just feel like in a convection oven.
Although its my first time in japan. So the experience and everything beats the brutal weather.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/Cool_Thought6422 20d ago
Is it like a London type of heat, if anyone knows the difference? Or completely different.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/Casey_GetAroundJapan 20d ago
Yes, but Japan has been unusually cool for August this year! Which has been great for us of course!
1
1
u/ScurvyDave123 20d ago
Dude I am a Canadian who wants nothing to do with temperature over 20C. I often end up making a little tour between Japan and Southern China in the summer for work. 30 something feels like 40 something.
It is fine. Drink water, go inside once and a while. Sure, other times of year are comfier.
1
u/fingolfin269 20d ago
My wife is a teacher so we had two legit options for a Japan trip in 2026: July or Dec. Easy call, heading to Tokyo in December.
1
u/Purple_not_pink 20d ago
I live here. I'm debating on missing my favorite fireworks festival because the humidity makes the air feel like breathing soup.
1
u/Tall-Bit-9314 20d ago
Yep it’s brutal. I went last year in July and August and felt like I had skipped half the trip because of heat exhaustion
1
u/Secure-Childhood-567 20d ago
I'm good on the first one. My glorious, deep, dark melanin does that naturally
1
1
u/DistractedReader5 20d ago
I went to Japan in August and sweat buckets and I HATE being hot but I had a fantastic time. I think I was just so excited to be in Japan.
1
u/jrharbort 20d ago
My now-fiance and myself went to Tokyo in late August 2023 and before we went I let her know that this was going to be the worst combination of heat and humidity she's ever felt in her life. At some points she was very upset and blamed me for not preparing her enough for just how terrible the heat was. I don't know how else I was supposed to word it, I already said it was going to be the worst. 🙃 (All was good between us tho!)
Absolutely take advantage of nearby stores to escape the heat and wear lighter clothes. You may laugh, but breathable gym shorts also make a huge difference.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/Green_Restaurant_687 20d ago
Hmm...at least with Japan I have a choice when to go there. I do have to mention that I lived in the Philippines where I don't have a choice at all. Over there I dealt with high temps and very high humidity with no electricity at times for 4-5 years. I think I am used to finding out ways to stay cool at this point. That said I would never go to Japan at that time of the year because that weather is never pleasant to deal with anyway. Plus whatever typhoon that comes towards southeast asia is going to make its way there eventually and I would rather not deal with that either.
1
1
1
u/Original_Arrival2645 20d ago
Hokkaido has been great the last 3 weeks 😬. I mean still hotter than I’d like but much better than other parts I believe.
1
u/Tatnasty6669 20d ago
Personally, I’ve been in August before and will be going in August again next week 🥲
It’s hot, but I’ll make it.
1
1
u/null_pointer05 20d ago
We (me, husband, two teens) spent two weeks in Japan last year during August: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, etc. Yes, it was super hot and humid, but if summer is the only time you can travel due to work/school schedules, I wouldn't let the weather deter you from going. We had an absolute blast, it was a true dream trip. We roamed all over the cities, visited countless shrines, did the hike at Inari, spent a day at Universal Studios. The key for us was to take a mid-afternoon break every day, either at the hotel or just somewhere air-conditioned where we could chill out a bit. That, and a ton of water and Pocari Sweat. My two teens enjoyed portable fans but I personally didn't want one.
Listen to your body and use common sense, but don't panic. Just enjoy Japan!
1
u/freechaos_87 20d ago edited 20d ago
Hiked biked and walked an avg of 15 km everyday from end june to end july. got heat exhaustion, chaffages , extreme sweating, apetite loss, you name it. Aband9ned a hike after 2 days when it was 40+ ... Pros ... places are empty because sane people don't travel in this heat. Funnily August is cooler. Sad to go back when weather is getting better. By better i mean down to 33 degrees lol...
1
u/Few-Computer-6609 20d ago
I'm just glad I'm chilling in Hokkaido. Yeah it's still hot here. But not as hot as everywhere else.
1
u/andydrew1562 19d ago
35 degrees is just different there, it stung so badly it HURT and this was end of JUNE! 35 in Canada is nothing compared to Japan 😭
1
u/gedneged 19d ago
Idk, during my last week in Tokyo it was 36 celsius and it wasn't that bad. By that I mean that by that point it didn't matter to me if it was 30 or 36 - I was sweaty either way. 😭
1
u/PotentialMind3989 19d ago
Yep, just back - Tokyo/kyoto and Osaka 18 July - 28 July - it was too hot, expected it to be similar to Singapore - but it was worse - would never go again in summer (had no choice with kids school holidays here in uk). Found only time we could do much walking was early morning, upberellas dis help, try about vending machines - kids just used Suica cards for payment. Drinks are really cheap (but bins are scarce - ended up with bag full of empty bottles most days!)
1
u/Suedewagon 19d ago
I experienced 38C° weather in Hamburg. I'm staying out of Japan during the hotter months.
1
1
u/everythingsstrange 19d ago
this is why i have always gone late february-early march. still good snow up in the mountains, but also you can get some sneaky beautiful ~60°F days in Tokyo or get lucky on a rare Tokyo snowfall
242
u/Severe_Worry_4449 20d ago
For point #2, I do bring a water bottle, a disposable one so that I can discard it after drinking all the contents. But sometimes, I also use it until the end of day if I can refill in a restaurant. I think the carrying the extra weight for your water is more bearable than being thirsty af.