There’s always a person on here who insists that the weather is wildly different in Japan in the summer than it is in the states. It is in fact very much like DC because it is hot and humid during the summer.

Source: lived in Osaka/kyoto area for two years.

If you would visit and do touristy things in DC in the summer, that’s pretty much what you’re gonna experience in Japan as well.

I agree, it's not horrible in June. Japan with umbrellas is somewhat iconic, too. People maneuver them on crowded streets like they have a hive mind. If your only option is late June or never, then absolutely go late June. The only downside is that you might be too early for some of the fireworks and festivals.

Most people are waking up early to get to popular destinations anyway, so you can beat some of the heat that way.

We went in early August, and the weather was hot like DC or Florida. But, it didn't really bother us except at Tokyo Disney since you're outside all day. Otherwise, we were in and out of air conditioned places. The bigger issue was how crowded everything was.

Anonymous wrote:We went in August this year. Super hot. But no different than DC weather.
We hit the big cites and then went to Okinawa to enjoy the beaches.

We went in early August and the weather is nothing like DC. The heat and humidity was so oppressive. I would go back in a heartbeat, but for the weather in the summer.

We went in August this year. Super hot. But no different than DC weather.
We hit the big cites and then went to Okinawa to enjoy the beaches.

We went last June right when school got out for the same reason. It really wasn’t too bad. AC is everywhere. We got ice cream and fun drinks from vending machines. We had one day of downpours but it was fine the rest of our trip.

Is Sapporo of interest, perhaps that would be cooler for June.

I was there in late June- first week of July. People carry an umbrella all the time to protect from sun and rain. It was never a downpour and didn't last long.
Last 2 weeks of June would be fine. You do learn to move as slowly as the locals so you don't sweat so much and use the subway to get around.

What if you're into hiking mountains and swimming at beaches? When should you go?

I agree that June is better than July/August.

Just make sure you have back up plans for outdoor activities. The big cities have amazing transit so you can always duck onto a train rather than walking across town if its pouring.

I would say the AC in Japan is not great. Sort of like lots of EU hotels. Don't expect cool rooms.

Anonymous wrote:We went this past late June. It was totally fine. DC hot and humid no worse. Asia is not a place to go in summer but going in June is the best possible decision if there's no other way. In fact we spent 2 1/2 wks or so in China and the heat was no worse than DC. For context we went in July to MW and it was 10000% hotter.

That's good to hear. I'd love to go in any other season but it seems impossible with the school calendar. Our winter and spring breaks just aren't long enough.

We went this past late June. It was totally fine. DC hot and humid no worse. Asia is not a place to go in summer but going in June is the best possible decision if there's no other way. In fact we spent 2 1/2 wks or so in China and the heat was no worse than DC. For context we went in July to MW and it was 10000% hotter.

No, too hot. Even my Japanese mother won't go after May.

Anonymous wrote:Thinking of going right when school ends for the last two weeks of June. But, I'm hearing that's the rainy season - anyone travel at that time? Would we just be drenched constantly?

If you have to go in the summer, you want to go as early as possible. July onward it's quite miserable. The humidity is very oppressive. This year East Asia has had a particularly awful July/August. My friend is in Japan now (left end of August) and it's been like 80% humidity. My relatives live in neighboring Korea, and the papers have said this type of tropical humidity will be the new normal. Typically, by this time of year, September should have gorgeous weather, similar to DC.

If you have other options, spring break or even winter break would be a lot better for touring around that part of the world.

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Thinking of going right when school ends for the last two weeks of June. But, I'm hearing that's the rainy season - anyone travel at that time? Would we just be drenched constantly?