Guide to Japan's Rainy Season

Typhoon Season in Japan

The typhoon season in Japan is quite a long period from May to October, usually peaks in August and September, and lands in the southern region, causing a few days of concentrated downpour in Okinawa, Kyushu, and Shikoku.

Though Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are less affected, heavy rainfall and strong winds are common there during the typhoon's landfall. Hokkaido, in the meantime, is still the least affected area.

Best Time to Visit Japan's Wet Season

• May: homeland sightseeing before the rain arrives on the main island
• Late July to August: Kanto, Tohoku, and Hokkaido journey to escape from the typhoon

Where to Go During Japan's Rainy Season

For some carefree outdoor experiences, here is a rule to follow during your summer Japan sightseeing: head to the north and up to the highlands. You will find your ideal dry destinations and embrace the sunshine again.

Hokkaido

A true all-year destination barely affected by the seasonal rainfall, even during the typhoon season, Hokkaido still maintains its cool and crisp weather. It can be your idyllic wanderland, with stunning flower fields, tranquil countryside, and lush forests in their bright colors, always a top place to go during your summer Japan tour.

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Hokkaido Nature Tour: Adventure from Sapporo to Furano 8 DAYS Explore This Tour

Karuizawa

Beloved by locals and nature seekers, the picturesque mountain town of Karuizawa is an ideal summer resort with highland flowers, emerald lakes, pouring waterfalls, and fresh lettuce. Though it is not as dry as Hokkaido, you can take advantage of its close distance from Tokyo for your easy beginning with hiking or cycling.

Seto Inland Sea

The special area between Honshu and Shikoku is blessed by the mountainous landscape of Shikoku, which blocks parts of the rainfall over this inland sea. Island hopping is still available here for your coastal sightseeing, or jump into those various museums as shelter from the occasional showers.

Top Things to Do in Japan When it Rains

Indoor activities are always the best choices for your rainy day visit, and the good news is, Japan never has a shortage of them. Also, take advantage of the rain to catch the unique seasonal scenery and rainy philosophy of Japan!

Museum Hopping

That's a lot to try for your museum collections in Japan. Start from Tokyo, you can step into the fairytale world at the Ghibli Museum with Totoro, or dive into the Tokyo National Museum for your ultimate visual feast. While in Kyoto, learn and try some ancient techniques from the Samurai and Ninja Museum, or enter the nijigen world with the smell of ink at the Kyoto International Manga Museum - never too long to stay there!

Enjoy a Kabuki or Sumo Show

For some more relaxing indoor activities, why not grab your ticket to the theatre for a traditional Kabuki show? Whether a 1-hour single act to sample the high max, or the 5-hour whole round to sample Japan's authentic culture, inside the theatre, there is no need to worry about the rain. The traditional dojo (Japanese gym) of Sumo wrestling is also a good option - just enjoy the muscle-to-muscle competitions and take the rain as the final BGM to accompany the games.

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Culture Sample for Tea to Flowers

Also, a popular way for ancient Japanese to spend their rainy days - visit the tea house as a shelter, and admire the rain with warm tea and dango dessert. So, don't hesitate to drop by some cafes or cake shops when catching the rain (their flavors won't be disappointing). Or, join a tea ceremony in a traditional tea house, sample the freshly made matcha with wagashi, or even try a flower arrangement with the seasonal hydrangea and iris.

Make Your Japanese Sun Doll

A Japan tour during the rainy season also makes a frequent scenery of those badminton-shaped hanging dolls - Teruteru Bozu (shine, shine monk), the Japanese sun doll. It is an easy-to-make mascot (even with tissue), which is believed to bring good luck and sunshine. You can follow this tradition with locals, make, and color their faces and clothes, then hang them on the porch as a blessing, or on your umbrella as a special seasonal fashion.

Capture the Verdant Temples & Parks

Washed by the rain and with a lush green backdrop against the color and mystery, a rainy day temple or garden visit in Japan offers some of the best atmospheres - peace, quiet, and even a bit of tipsy into the verdant. Apart from Kinkaku-ji and Fushimi Inari Taisha for your stunning photos, if you are also looking for some anime things to do like me, make a morning visit to Shinjuku Gyoen - the real-life location of the anime movie The Garden of Words, which is definitely worthwhile.

Take a Summer Hanami With Hydrangea

While spring is the season of cherry blossoms, Japan's summer responds with vivid hydrangeas in various hues, making flower viewing a top thing to do with the sound of raindrops. Whether the easy-arrival Hakusan Shrine or the well-known "Hydrangea Temple" of Meigetsuin, take your transparent umbrella with the Teruteru Bozu doll, follow the fresh scent of the moist earth, and skip the shallows till the flower-covered shrines in green and blue - what a vivid summer!

Enjoy Your Summer Hanami With Hydrangeas

Japan Rainy Season Tips

• Be positive! Don't make the rain your imaginary enemy; just take it as another medium to enjoy Japan.
• Compared to more spare shoes, I prefer to bring a pair of rain boots for Japan's rainy season sightseeing, but more spare socks are still necessary for the indoor activities or emergencies.
• Sometimes, a raincoat may not be that convenient during your city tour (which requires frequent in-and-out). The transparent umbrella and the unfolded one are more recommended. However, if Tokyo Disney or Universal Studios are also on your plan, a raincoat is still the best.
• Without the dryer, you will have a long period to dry your clothes during this humid season, so pack some desiccants to avoid mildew for your wet clothes, or consider skipping the laundry process by bringing more spare T-shirts.
• Dryers in Japan are not as strong as those in Europe or America. You may need 2 or 3 cycles for a complete dry.
• Take advantage of the "dry model" of the air conditioner, which is helpful for your sound sleep. Shower rooms with a drying function are also a good place to hang your wet clothes.
• Don't forget the extra bag for wet clothes.

Enjoy the Rainy Season of Japan

A rainy season visit to Japan may not be as bad as your imagination, and most importantly, there is still much you can do even if the island is covered by the unreasonable rainfall. Get your preparation well, or contact us to leave all the rainy season planning to Odynovo! According to your preference and needs, enjoy the rainy season of Japan with Odynovo!