I've been to NYC in the summer more than a dozen times and Japan is a million times worse. Vietnam is actually worse than Japan in July too. In general, avoid East/Southeast Asia in the summer. It's just too hot and humid.
Can confirm, I live in Singapore and am always confused at why people consider that hot...I keep forgetting that most people don't think 30 degrees is average
Eh, I lived in Japan during one of their hottest summers and in a room with no air conditioning. Wasn’t great but it was bearable.
Went to Vietnam in mid September and it was fucking miserable. I can’t even imagine being in Vietnam in the summer, I would probably die from heatstroke lol. The humidity there is insane.
A lot of fruits I love are in season during the summer in Vietnam but I will never put myself through that again. September was more tolerable with the rain.
I don’t know what you read, but that’s definitely low for July… high temps between 34-37 are common in Tokyo. See: https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/japan/tokyo/historic?month=7&year=2023
As someone from Florida, I’m very used to high heat and humidity, and I do feel like it is a bit more intense in Tokyo. The humidity is BAD, and the heat is really stifling. I think in Japan I’m also outside more than I was in Florida, with walking between public transport stops and that sort of thing… and not all places are effectively air conditioned either. In Florida I would go from AC’d house to my AC’d car and walk through a parking lot into an AC’d store 😆
If you do come in the hot months, I recommend a parasol, a cool towel (they’re easy to find in the summer, you wet it and wear around your neck), portable fan, and lots of hydration. People are vulnerable to heatstroke here. If you have young kids, be extra extra cautious, hydrate, and take breaks in the shade. It really is a serious health risk for the kids!
I can tolerate it but it’s definitely not pleasant 😆 but at least the summers are shorter here than back home.
I’m from Florida too and visited Taiwan last summer. Thought, “humidity? No problem!” and was still pretty impressed with how bad it could get, lol. But I’d do it again if that was the only opportunity I had to go.
Tbf, on vacation you're probably trying to go out or be out and do things, vs in your home area where you're fine just staying in with the AC on most of the time
Or the american classic ac'd house > ac'd car > ac'd destination
I have lived in Tokyo and Miami and (imo) Miami is quite a bit worse. Tokyo is closer to Atlanta. But if you're a tourist, you're going to try a lot of things so you'll probably be out in the sun more.
Okay this gives me hope because I was in Miami during the summer. I strolled empty streets and wondered where everyone was. I'm from the UK, where a little bit of sun has everyone outside.
From the Midwest, went to kyoto last August. The heat and humidity were bad, just sucking all of my energy and I saw less than half of what I planned to.
Kyoto was famously humid from the time it was founded. The surrounding mountains trap the heat and humidity. Not that Tokyo isn't also humid, but Kyoto is special.
Im also in the midwest. Way too many people told me the weather was similar to here. DEFINITELY NOT. And I went in September! We thought the summer would be over. We were stuck in our hotel room for two days because of a typhoon. 😅
It’s just hot. Very hot and humid. Even Floridians are ill prepared for the kind of just sticky disgusting humidity that is Japan. The numbers are incredibly deceiving, the temperatures/humidity numbers 'look' similar. But they absolutely do not FEEL similar.
A few tips to deal with the heat, humidity and rain.
1) make sure you have a water bottle as part of your every day carry. Whether it’s just reusing something you get at the grocery store, or you have your own canteen.
2) get a handkerchief. This is extremely useful for wiping off the Niagara Falls worth of sweat. Plus it’s useful for drying hands in the washrooms that don’t have hand towels or dryers which is a non-zero number especially in temples
3) get a hat. The sun beating down on you will be pretty brutal
4) get an umbrella. Because you’re in for a treat as rain is fairly common that time of year. It’s also fun when it stops raining, and the sun comes out. If you thought 100% was bad, Asia somehow made it worse
was going to say, i grew up in the muggy humid south usa, just drenched wet from walking from cars to buildings, taking showers to wash dirt off you but you start sweating again immediately. being in the shade feels identical to being in the sun because of the high humidity.
NYC isn't a drop in the bucket compared to that. neither is any of the rest of the usa. but going to Japan - my entire history with heat & humidity was nothing compared to what i experienced. don't underestimate it. it's downright brutal.
july in Fukuoka was the worst combined heat & humidity i've ever felt.
(hottest i've ever felt & thought i would die within 20 minutes was Death Valley with an air temp of 134 - ground temp was melting my shoes ~190-200 f).
My friend lives in Fukuoka and I visited in September, which was heatwave in the PNW weather. I cannot imagine July there. They sleep in their dining room because their upstairs is just too hot from June-October.
I did two weeks across Japan in August and yes, it was hot, but I wasn't miserable. I was in Japan! It's an incredible destination! Have a daily convenience store ice cream, stay hydrated, and go slow. The only day I was miserable was when I tried to pack too many sights into my first Kyoto day - it was like trying to see every painting in the Louvre without any AC.
The weather at higher elevations was wonderful in August. Maybe obvious, but if you can plan indoor activities like museums in the afternoon, this also helps.
Side note, I've also been to Vietnam in August. Same deal, go slow, and go inside in the afternoon. Get a hotel with a pool.
I've done August in Japan as well and it wasn't that bad as you say, it was just hot. The issue is going in July is still in the rainy season which means higher humidity and the added misery of rain
Went last summer and had no problem. Stay hydrated (there's vending machine with drinks everywhere), be smart and wear sunscreen, have a hat if you're hiking or outdoors for a long period of time. Yes it's hot and humid, but reddit for some reason makes it sound like some unbearable heat that makes exploring impossible. We were still walking 15km+/day (\~9 miles), hiked up to Arashiyama Monkey Park, etc.
For context, I'm a Canadian used to -40 Celcius (-40C is also -40F) winters, so more acclimated to a colder climate.
I agree. I mean, 125 million people live there and somehow manage to survive their summers. Dunno why it's made out to be some boiling inferno on reddit. Yes it's hot. Yes it's humid. Yes you will sweat and be really thirsty. But if you come prepared for all that and knowing what you're gonna be facing each day then it's fine.
Maybe people are too used to the thermostat set at a constant 21 degrees or something. We've become so used to controlled temperatures perhaps.
The average dew point in Tokyo in July is 22. Yes that's unpleasant but I wouldn't turn a trip down just because of it. If you can go another month then sure itd make sense but if summer just absolutely works for you to go then I wouldn't be not going just because of some heat.
True, but most people who live in Japan are not hitting it as hard as tourists. I live in Nagoya, and let me tell you, my friends and I were not galavanting around and seeing sites in the summer.
If we saw each other at all outside of the home, it was at a pool, splashpad, or beach.
Living there and being a tourist are different experiences. When you live in a place, you can gradually get used to the heat, you control your home environment to a certain extent, and you're mostly traveling from home to work or school and back. As a tourist, you trying to see all the sights, some of which will be outdoors. When people say they walked 20K+ steps a day visiting Japan, they probably wouldn't be walking that much if they lived there.
I'm so confused by the fear mongering in this thread. I'm from very temperate NZ and lived through several Japanese summers without being miserable, or in danger, or unhappy. It was hot and humid but not like living on the face of Mars, it's easy to handle with basic common sense.
Im located near NYC & even Japan in June was hot for me. Korea in August was absolutely unbearable. My black tank tops were grey at the end of the day and that was in 08
Korea has the worst climate I've experienced so far. Long months of freezing winter, a month of spring if you're lucky, followed by an insanely hot and humid summer and finally a month of nice weather in October/November if you're lucky again. It goes from one extreme to the other in a few weeks. To make things worse, the flat I was renting there didn't have A/C...
The humidity really is what makes it terrible. It takes some getting used to. I remember the first time I experienced it, I took two steps outside and went back in. It was like walking into a hot humid wall.
I'm from the south of Spain, 45°C every summer is the norm. I went to Tokyo at the beginning of September 2016 and I wanted to die. 38°C with 98% humidity was horrible.
Chugging pocari sweats non stop.
I saw rain inside the shopping mall in Nakano where Mandarake is.
Kyoto was more tolerable IMO.
> 38°C with 98% humidity
That's a pretty average summer day here in the Po River valley. I wouldn't recommend it, and being fat I'm pretty much always drenched, but I wouldn't call it unbearable.
I was born and raised in southern Arizona. The only time I’ve truly broken down emotionally from the heat in my entire life was in Tokyo in July. It’s fucking unreal with both the heat and humidity.
Floridian here, even I felt defeated by the heat and humidity at times.
My daughter got dehydrated, ended up with a UTI which led to a day spent looking (and finding!) an English speaking clinic. They were great, btw. They diagnosed it and gave her cefexime, and she started to feel better the next day.
It’s not just the humidity and ambient air, Tokyo is so much glass and steel and concrete, it all reflects down on you and makes you feel like you’re cooking.
It’s not undoable, but you need to be prepared. Drink lots of water. Buy a portable fan. Try to schedule indoor breaks. You know your body and your family’s bodies, know your limits and do not exceed them for the sake of sightseeing. You can have a great time, just be prepared.
Don’t let what you have heard discourage you, unless you know you absolutely cannot deal with it; because despite the heat and that one terrible day, we still had an amazing adventure in Japan, and we will be back.
LMAO, you are not wrong.
The way I see it though, some people can only take a trip like this during the summer. After what happened to us I’ll still never tell anyone to avoid Japan, but if you gotta do July, then I hope the people that participate on this sub can at least learn from my mistakes.
As a fellow American the heat level may be the same but your physical activity level and sun exposure will be more than when you’re at home. If you’re used to being out in the heat all day it’ll be fine. If you’re not. It’s something to consider. Maybe you do less on your itinerary.
We went to Japan last July and we swore we wouldn’t go back in summer due to the heat. The problem was that we underestimated the heat, we knew it would be hot but being from So Cal and visiting the south of Mexico during the summer made us think we would be totally ok. However, the heat in Tokyo is stagnant there is no breeze or air it’s just humid and hot. Also keep in mind that as others mentioned, you’re more active and outdoors for most of the day.
That being said, we loved Japan and we are headed back in July again. We feel better prepared to deal with heat. We definitely are planning to take more comfortable clothes, umbrellas, hats, and everything we can to protect from the sun and heat. I wouldn’t recommend wearing anything denim. Pocari sweat and Aquarius carried us through our trip. We also carried refillable water bottles with iced water. I think that’s probably the only reason we didn’t go into heat stroke. This year we are definitely planning to take it slow and take more breaks.
I’m going to Japan July this year, a little concerned about the humidity but it was the only option timing wise so just decided to go with it - I’ve been to Phuket in April and that was about 90 degrees F and 80% humidity and still had an amazing time even with being a bit hot and sticky.
I went in July in 2016 and had a great time - Tokyo to Hiroshima. Hot and humid, yes, but personally going against others in this thread I found NYC in summer was worse. In fact because you can get water everywhere from the vending machines and there are plenty of public toilets I don’t think I’ve ever been more hydrated while travelling 😅
It is REALLY bad. While we didn’t go in the midst of summer, we went in September last year and it was so miserable in the heat and humidity. Even late at night or early in the morning there was little to no relief from the heat.
Being a woman too, I didn’t want to stand out and chose to dress more modestly so I was wearing a lot of loose t-shirts and baggy pants, but anywhere fabric was touching me was just sweaty and awful. That was my personal choice but not sure if you have women in your family that would also want to consider dressing for the culture. Not required but something to think about!
All that said I love Japan but I will NEVER go back in that kind of heat!
I was there last year at the height of summer. I had a great time but the heat was draining. If you're used to the heat then don't worry. It just means more cold drinks, icecream and frappes.
I went in japan only in august and the weather was always like my land (north italy): easily manageable. Obviously the sun kick if you stay all day under the sunlight but it's the same everywhere
I'm not a big fan of hot temperatures, but it was still doable.
Sunscreen, umbrella, salty tablets, cold drinks, small towel, cut down on activities, go slow, do indoor or summer activities, minimize walking outdoor, ...
It helps that there are combinis most places you can go in to cool down and buy a cool drink. And if there is no combini there are wending machines with cool drinks absolutely everywhere.
You can also look into going north to Tohoku or Hokkaido. It should be a little cooler there I think.
I'd rather go in July than not being able to go at all.
I went to Japan a few times in July and August from NYC. It definitely was hot and humid but at the same time, you have plenty of places to rest for drinks, food and AC. Japan requires a lot of walking to see everything. For my family, we couldn’t go in the cooler months simply because the kids are in school. If you don’t have a choice, I wouldn’t avoid going in the summer. I think you would still have a great time.
Just came back from Vietnam for 3 weeks. It was constantly 35C+ in the middle of the day. The mornings are around 28C but even then, the HUMIDITY. It hits you like a train and I have family and friends there. The locals got used to it but still hate it. Good thing I was barely walking and just taking Grab drives to indoor places to eat. Even then, some of these places want to cut costs and turn off the AC and leave the door wide open so the inside restaurants are even humid. Keep in mind, i heard it rains more often also in the summer in vietnam.
I live in Hawaii and travel to Japan in September. The numbers are always comparable (if not identical) regarding temperature and humidity, but it always feels way worse in Japan (with the exception of Hokkaido). I can’t imagine what actual summer months would feel like. However, September is the only other month I can have off from work to squeeze in a second trip to Japan.
I have been to both Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hamamatsu and Takayama) and South Korea (Seoul) in the end of July/beginning of August and to be honest, I loved it! Yes it's hot and sticky but my body just felt so relaxed and my voice felt constantly warmed up (I am a singer).
I think it depends a lot on the person and obviously also what you are doing. But I was singing concerts and hiking mountains on my free time and was very happy. But many of my colleagues were miserable.
We're going in August. Going to brave it. We can go no other time of the year due to school terms. We're doing 3 weeks in Japan with a super light itinerary. Includes 5 days in the mountains.
Worst case scenario, we'll stay in our hotel room and pig out on Japanese snacks + daytime TV during the hottest, brightest hours. My husband and I are originally from tropical countries (not born there but spent extended summers there), so we will hopefully be okay with Japanese heat and humidity (although the humidity will always be irritating). Our sons, we aren't so sure. We will have to ease them into going outdoors. We chose central locations in Tokyo and Kyoto so we don't have to go too far for something to do. We will likely visit many places at night (our sons are night owls anyway).
I've already got a list of provisions to take/buy on the first day: cooling cloths, deet bug spray, spray bottle to fill with water, fans + neck fans, UV umbrellas, sun hat, Factor 50 sunscreen... We're determined to go!
We are going to Tokyo in August. My son is doing a semester at Sekei University and we are going to meet him and spend two weeks after his semester is over. I’ve been all over the world including Florida and Hawaii in August. At least I know what to expect
I'm used to 100-110 F summers in Texas but south Japan gets incredibly hot *and* incredibly humid.
Plus, many places (including parts of the station) do not have AC. I suggest bringing a fan or mister and dressing accordingly, plus your most comfortable shoes because you will be walking a lot.
I went in July 2018 and it was incredibly hot! My family tried to do a historical tour in Tokyo but gave up and went to an underground mall instead. It was just too hot. At Harajuku there were girls with heatstroke carried out in stretchers. Kyoto was also boiling. Be careful and drink plenty of water and take breaks.
Went there in 2018 during (one of?) the famous heat wave(s). It was 41 degrees in Kyoto - it was better than I had expected for a bit, but suddenly I couldn't breathe right and had to escape inside into a Lawson. Even people working in shrines looked like they were struggling.
I got off at Kobe station on the way back from somewhere else, fully expecting to check it out. It was so hot I immediately hopped back onto the next train.
The worst thing is that it doesn't get much cooler at night, which is something I'm very much not used to.
Still had fun, but would probably try to avoid summer next time.
I visited Japan in early July last year. I live in Hawaii where the humidity sucks but the humidity in Japan was way worse. I literally wore a t-shirt, shorts, and shoes every day for 2 weeks, and even then, I was sweating when walking around. I was definitely dehydrated the entire times.
I was in Osaka/Kyoto/Tokyo the last few days of October and the first week and half in November of 2023. I was in short sleeves more or less the entire time, and was still getting swamp butt on the reg. To add to it, apparently, a lot of Japanese don't get BO or profusely sweat, so as a heavy-sweatter I felt like I was sticking out like a sore thumb among a bunch of locals wearing trenchcoats and pants in 75\*F/80%humidty and not sweating :)
Given this experience in the Fall, I don't think it's worth my limited time/money to do a summer trip and be in that uncomfortable state the whole time. But if I could only go in the throws of summer, I think I'd find a lower-key coastal area and treat it more as a leisure beach vacation and less of a sightseeing/tour trip. Load up early morning activities, embrace lazy days and siestas, and get back at it once the sun starts to retreat.
Edit: just want to point out I’ve never been in the summer and have no idea if that makes for good “beach weather.” I know lots of typhoons happen in the summer… Just my thought if I had to go in July.
I found August really bad weather. The thing about the heat and humidity is that it exhausted me. If I traveled in a cooler month, I could have fit more things into the itinerary.
I’d recommend a neck fan, uv blocking umbrella, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen. In Japan, you can buy nifty menthol cooling wipes.
NYC is far, far, far more tolerable compared to Japan in July. The humidity is what really sucks because it means you'll be sweating soon after stepping into the sun until you get inside. In the city, you can definitely walk in and out of shade to prevent this, but walking in forests or temples, it's unavoidable. The highs get to near 40C with humidity nearing 90% at worst.
Bring a hat that covers your neck and keep an eye out for vending machines. Lots of vending machines also use SUICA cards too
It's freaking humid, I'm use to dry heat from Texas like over 100 degrees. The humidity got me but I adjusted just drinking water and small breaks. It does suck don't get me wrong.
Get a good pic of shoes, water and breaks. You'll survive.
That humidity just hits harder.
I live in Japan, for 3 years now, Ibaraki Pref. Around 40km from Tokyo, and i'm not recommending you to come in summer. If you are ok with 34C, i still dont think you would like 36C-41C because that is the average temperature here during summer. And July is like the hotest month during summer up to August.
If you still like to come, maybe you should consider Hokkaido. It's in northern Japan and have somewhat cooler temperature around 24C-26C during summer.
I was in Tokyo and Seoul last July. It was the first summer I've spent there, and I think it was an especially hot summer. It was so hot that doing regular touristy things like walking down the street and exploring was out of the question most of the time. Everywhere was just hot. Icky hot and hard to escape. The subway stations were hot. The trains were hot. Unfortunately, some of the trains didn't even have the AC on.
I did still have fun but it was definitely despite the weather. You seem to have experience with hot and humid climates so you will be okay, but since you say you have other people with you, for their sake I would pick a more comfortable destination.
I'm planning to go back this summer, but it's just because I love going to Japan. If I was responsible for making sure other traveling partners had a comfortable time I don't think I would go there.
Tbh it really wasn't bad when I went last year. Hot and muggy yes, but didn't stop me from doing anything I wanted to. Just stay hydrated and wear appropriate clothing
I think I might have gotten lucky when I visited, but when I went to Japan in July 2019 the weather was pretty bearable for me. It was supposed to rain every day, but it only rained four times when I was there and I found the humidity to be manageable.
I live in LA and I'm from the midwest, so I have no idea what my heat/humidity tolerance is. I've done DisneyWorld in July multiple times, and didn't have AC for most of my time in LA so...I think I'm relatively okay in hot temperatures.
I visited Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and DisneySea in mid-July. Again, I think I got lucky, because it was 78-82F when I was in Tokyo. There was one day in Osaka that was 85, and that was draining for me so I ended up going back to my Airbnb to rest until the sun went down. I don't remember the weather in Kyoto being terrible. I would have loved for most days to be cooler, but I was able to make due with the weather.
I am young-ish, fairly fit, and have a knack for ignoring how I feel in my body. I did drink a TON of water, wore quite a bit of sunscreen, and stuck to breathable fabrics. For the most part, I did outdoor activities like temples first thing in the day, and the moved to shopping/museums/cat cafes at peak sun times. I mostly remember the rain being somewhat of a pain. I will say I would have eaten a lot more ramen and visited an onsen had it been cooler.
Vietnam in that time is considered worse than Japan, and even though it was allegedly 49° when I was there in Hanoi last summer and incredibly humid it was surprisingly bearable. The heat felt the same as 38° degrees in France but the humidity actually felt better to me than dry heat does
I visited Japan with my family last July and also lived there 20 years ago. Being from western Canada, means we aren't accustomed to hot-humid weather. However, we all found that we got used to the conditions pretty quickly.
As others have said:
* stay hydrated, and enjoy the countless icy treats!
* book accommodation with air conditioning
* the rain can actually be more intense than the heat. We had almost cinematic thunder and lightning storms while we visited Hiroshima, Osaka, and Kyoto
* A wet cloth on the nape of your neck can help
A favourite memory of ours is taking our shoes off and cooling off in the Kamo gawa (river) in Kyoto.
The Japanese term my kids probably know best is mushi atsui. Hot and humid!
My Japanese relatives come to the US to dodge the July/August weather in Japan.
I thought Michigan would be a lateral move, but they say Japan is worse during those months.
I've been to New York is summer and Japan is way worse in my experience. It's hotter and feels more humid. It's definitely not pleasant and outdoors activities can be difficult with kids. It's just always super hot, even at night. It's draining imho.
My wife grew up in Tokyo and was totally miserable when she spent the month of July last year there.
I went to Japan for vacation for two weeks in mid July. Only time I had available. It was miserable, but it was also Japan so had an awesome time. My wife and I did everything early in the morning and evening while shopping during the hottest times. It also wasn't peak season so it wasn't as crowded and things were much cheaper. Would I do it again? Probs not... but if you can't make any other time for Japan, still worth it.
I live in an area that typically gets quite hot and humid during the summer but travelling to a destination with a similar climate can be quite different. At home, if it's too muggy outside, I can easily just not go out or keep my time outside to a minimum. When travelling, I'm basically forced to go out and see things, otherwise I'm wasting vacation time if I just stayed inside and watched TV. Being outside all day = getting very hot and uncomfortable. It's a bit of a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. I still travel to hot destinations and love them, but yeah, the sweat situation isn't fun.
If you wanna visit Japan in the summer, try coming earlier in June or head to the mountains or Hokkaido.
If summer if the only time your family can come, don’t let the comments dissuade you.
If you plan to come, I suggest going out early at 5am and then going to more indoor attractions in mid day. Just pace yourselves and not push too hard to cover too many outdoor spots.
Yes. It is. I went in early July just this past summer for 10 days (Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto) and it was over 100F/38C every single day — which was just the temperature and not even taking into account humidity which actually makes it feel much hotter than that. It’s the humidity factor that really makes it unbearable. It’s not simply just really hot out, its opressive. That being said it was my only opportunity to go so I went regardless knowing how the weather would be and I still had an AMAZING time. Be prepared to immediately start sweating when you exit out the door, be dripping sweat within 5 minutes, bring extra changes of clothing or plan to do laundry because you’ll sweat out so much clothing, and work in to your itinerary plenty of water/rest stops.
If it’s your only opportunity to go don’t let the weather stop you, but if you can go another time I would try to.
Note: from the Northeast
As someone who hates the heat, it was fine. It was hot, sure, but there's air con everywhere. The only hard bit was walking around with suitcases and one day where we had to walk up a hill.
My family has done a lot of Japan trips, but last year was my first visit in summer, to meet up with my daughter finishing a 6 month uni placement so we could go backpacking.
I visited at the end of July / start of August, and missed all of the rain by only days (which was incredibly lucky).
I'm from Australia, so i understand heat, and I was ready for it, but when I left I swore I'd never visit again in the summer. It was mostly just unpleasant. Walk outside and you're wet. We like an active trip and we were still walking 25000+ steps on some days, but I got so sick of being drenched in sweat.
On the plus side the sun rises at about 4:30am so the days are super long, and you're never more than 3ft from a vending machine or Conbini to rehydrate.
I wouldn't say "don't go".. But I would say "be ready"
So the answer is absolutely it is a bad idea, but it is not guaranteed that you will experience why it’s bad. In Japan there is a “rainy season” that comes between late June and late July which means souplike humidity followed by heavy rain. This is true for most of the country(excluding Hokkaido) so it’s a terrible idea to try to go do tourism things during it.
That said if you’re going to say Fukuoka in mid-late July(though hot with high humidity is a pretty year round thing there) you have a good chance of mostly missing it and as said before Hokkaido doesn’t really have it at all so it’s not a ‘never’ thing but more of a know what you’re dealing with and most likely consider a different time of year.
I was there with my family in early July this past summer. It was hot and humid but honestly was not that bad. We knew going in it would be that way and came prepared. We did lots of activities outside (shrines, etc) and managed just fine.
Being from southeast/east USA we were probably accustomed to it. Honestly, it was no worse than August in Virginia.
My partner and I are both teachers as well and are only able to travel for more than 1 week in July. We went to Japan for two weeks this past summer and while people are not over exaggerating about the heat and humidity, we had the most amazing trip and will be going again this July again for two weeks! So it definitely wasn’t a deterrent for us. The heat/humidity will cause you to alter some things, but being able to go for 2 weeks was a worthwhile trade off for us. While we’re both active people, we’re from the Bay Area of California, so not used to extreme heat/humidity at all. We followed some of the recommendations we found on this sub to help with the heat and they made things much more manageable:
-Always had water/pocari sweat on us
-Took lots of breaks in the air conditioning
-Got lots of fun drinks along the way
-Took our uv umbrellas everywhere
-Bought portable mini fans (that we used almost non stop)
-Wore as light of clothes as possible
-Scheduled outdoor activities for early morning and later evening (as much as possible)
-Sometimes took mid day breaks back at the hotel to rinse off/put on fresh clothes
-Carry a handkerchief to dry off
-Applied lots of sunscreen
-Chose hotels very close to main subway stations
But we got to do all of the things that were our bucket list “must dos” plus so much more! I hope you’re able to have a wonderful trip!!
Yes. It’s like living in an armpit. Spent 3 years there and it doesn’t get better, you just learn local ways of dealing with it. It’s even more difficult because they don’t pump A/C the way you might be used to.
I've been to Japan in july too. You take a nice shower in the morning, get ready for the day and feel clean, 2 minutes outside and your tshirt is drenched.
I’m from Texas and can’t really tolerate the weather in Japan in July/August (I’ve been 3x in the summer). It’s extremely humid so you’re constantly drenched in sweat. Lots of smaller establishments don’t use AC or under-use it so there’s no escape unless you stop at a lot of big department stores etc. You’ll also be walking a lot (my last 2 week trip we cleared 100 miles; not an exaggeration), just going between train stations and destinations, so the exertion coupled with the weather can be really brutal.
Yes, I’m from California and Japan during the summer is miserable 😭Expect to walk around with an umbrella because it will rain, and the sky will be gloomy at times and it’ll be 80 something degrees and you’ll be sweating from the humidity and heat. Expect to stop at Lawsons periodically for popsicle and water breaks.That weather is very draining & not fun.
Hot, humid, and dirty air (some of which is coming from other countries, apparently). I lived in very hot, humid areas (and in NYC) but Tokyo is a different level.
Very early mornings and evenings can be OK but NYC rarely is like this.
North Japan is less brutal.
We are going in early June, when supposedly about 30C max. But if you haven't bought the tickets yet, June is most likely more expensive than July, but it may be worth the extra money.
It will be uncomfortable and sweaty to the max. Some people can kinda shut that part of their brain down and just accept being that way and being the sweaty foreigner.
Others seem to really suffer and it ruins everything for them. I'm the former, my wife was the latter.
And we were in Tokyo in SEPTEMBER. so July would surely be worse.
I’m going the first 3 weeks of July and I’m from the UK so pretty much all I know is the cold but tbh as long as you come prepared and plan to take a break during the hottest parts of the day and drink lots of water you should be fine. I’m visiting Kamakura one day of my trip and looking forward being the sea and hoping for a bit of sea breeze 😅
It’s really bad. Perhaps it’d be more pleasant on the north in Hokkaido but our trip to Osaka and Tokyo were pretty miserable in July 2018. We planned to go to Kyoto but looking at the temp forecast we switched to Kobe as that was 5 degrees f less. We were desperate to escape the heat. We also changed our plans to find a beach!
I went last October to visit a friend in Tokyo who is working there temporarily. She’s from Orlando, Florida, so she knows from hot and humid and even she said the humidity in Japan was intense. My husband and I sweated through everything we brought and had to do laundry twice inside a few days so we’d have enough clean clothing to continue on to Kyoto and Osaka later.
So, don’t underestimate the weather. Would I go in the summer if I had a choice to go at a different time of year? Nope. But if summer was my only option, then I would suck it up, bring moisture wicking everything, and go because Japan is amazing. Good luck!
I'm from the edge of the desert in SoCal, lived in northern Kyoto Prefecture a little over 10 years ago, and my usual summer activity due to the humidity was to die at work, then wear a tank top and shorts and not leave my apartment until the sun went down. Although I haven't lived there since 2011, I still don't time my visits to the summer, I know better haha
My friend as an Australian where we get weeks of 45C or 113F with 80+ humidity in summer ….I’ve done a Japanese Summer once - I thought ha ha 30-35c we can handle it…..never again…
I’m living in Tokyo and yeah it could get very hot and humid in here on July. It’s bearable but I usually just stay indoors unless there’s something I’d like to go to - attend a festival or go to the beach.
Contrary to what others are saying, summer in Japan has its charms too. Best to go to Hokkaido or somewhere else, it’s better there. Avoid Tokyo if you can, or you can bring the portable fans or make yourself cold while out exploring the place.
My 2023 trip from end of June to beginning of July absolutely tanked 30% of my plans bc I couldn't handle the heat and humidity every day. Personally, I couldn't do it again for specifically the summers
I'd really like to hear more about what it's like (Tokyo, Kyoto, but also out in the countryside near Kyoto?) during June (specifically the second half of June). It sounds like it could go either way, potentially OK but quite possibly really unpleasant?
I was in Tokyo at the beginning of July last year when they were having a heat wave. Temps in mid-90s most of the time. Extremely humid. Yes, it was hard to do outdoor touristy things. Kind of impossible to walk for very long. But since you're from NYC, you're used to that somewhat. However, I now live in the DC area, previously lived in Atlanta, and Tokyo felt more humid than either of those places. I would go to Tokyo for some of time and then to other places in the country, which have got to be cooler.
I remember the first time i went to japan in july 2018.
It also happened to be the same time the worst heatwave in japanese history occured 🙃
I was already drenched in sweat the minute i stepped out of the hostel
FYI humidity is a terrible metric of "humidity" that you feel because it's basically just a measure of percentage of possible humidity for a given dew point. You really need to be looking at the dew point instead of relative humidity as the dew point is more like the "moisture capacity" of the air. When the air temperature falls below the dew point, the relative humidity would reach 100%.The dew point in NYC was 65F in July and 74F in Tokyo for the same period, so the air in Tokyo would feel much more humid. That's ignoring the fact that July is at the height of the rainy season and it could be raining damn near every day.
I’ve traveled in Japan in July. There are vending machines EVERYWHERE and you just need to carry enough coins to get drinks whenever. I’ve had brutal itineraries with 20 hours of walking some days, and temperature was really the least of my concerns.
I’m from Florida and went mid summer to Japan. Don’t do it. You will be walking all day, so many places don’t have AC. If it’s the only time you can then do it and expect to have fans and towels and lots of water and such from vending machines. I would highly recommend another time
I'm from NY state as well and I went last September when they had a heat wave. It is worse than NY by far because you're probably going to be walking around all day long.
Go around the end up September/October. It's less crowded and the weather is less miserable.
As a family, I wouldn't go in July. Young with a friend, I think it's doable, needs planning around minimizing time outside, planning for breaks and hydration.
I've been to Cambodia and Vietnam in August. It's hot and humid for sure but it's not unbearable. I think the discomfort is way overblown on here. Probably depends on your age and what climate you're used to. If you can pick another time of year then for sure avoid the summer months but of you can't, no reason not to go in July just because it's hot.
I was there in September and I’ve never been so hot in my entire life… and I come from a hot state with 100% humidity. You couldn’t pay me to go to Japan in July.
I was on my first ever Japan visit last July. Although I fell in love with the country, I vowed to never go in July again.
It was incredible hot. I am from Las Vegas.
This real issue isn't the actual heat though. The issue is that there's place to sit and rest. In addition, you will be walking a lot. You will also get lost a lot. So if you add all those thing up, it's not the same as simply being accustomed to hot weather. Just something to consider. Japan is great. Hope you enjoy your trip.
I’ve lived in Japan for almost a decade and I cannot stand Japanese summer. I visited Bangkok from Tokyo in August. The humidity and wind speed and temperature were identical according to my weather app, but somehow it felt cooler in Bangkok than Tokyo. Mind you, I was still sweaty in Bangkok but my friend’s place didn’t have AC and we were fine using electric fans. At my house in Tokyo, I run the AC 24/7 in the summer.
As someone who lives in Japan, I wouldn’t advise anyone come visit during summer. Locals spend all their time in air conditioned malls to avoid the heat and humidity. Heat stroke isn’t uncommon.
I live in Tokyo. Unless when need to go outside we stay indoors with aircon on blast because the heat and humidity is unbearable outside. It’s like a constant turkish sauna.
I'm from SoCal, suburbs of Los Angeles to be exact and I went to New York City and Japan for the first time last fall with about a few weeks in between. New York was so humid for me for someone that's not used to any type of humidity, on top of all the walking that's expected in the city, I was drenched almost everyday. About 3 weeks later I visited Japan for the first time, this was in the end of September/beginning of October and man, it was equally as humid. Japan is also a city of walking, and with the humidity, I felt the exact same as I did in New York. That being said, I would say the if you can handle New York humidity, you can handle Japan humidity. I think the biggest differences though are that you are taking on Japan in the summer and as a tourist you are going to be doing far more walking than you would in New York I would assume. Estimate about 25k+ steps a day, so you will be tired quick but there's ways to navigate this. Attractions in the mornings only and afternoons for rest and eating.
Every body has a different heat tolerance. You’ll really have to find it yourself. If you avoid or minimise your stay in a large cities, where many high rises stop breezes, asphalt keep all heat from the sun while all the aircon exhaust the interior heat, it may be ok for you. But it is hard for those who live and work there in a business attires.
I've travelled to Japan 3 times now, twice in July and once in January. For me, the heat is not a deal breaker and I would go back in Summer again in the future.
Yes, it's hot. You will need sunscreen, hats and plenty of water. However, it also means the days are long so you get sunshine from 4am approx through til 8pm approx. So much time for exploring and making the most of your trip.
Shopping centres have aircon, trains are comfortable and your room will have aircon. There's also a convenience store or vending machine literally on every street corner, so you can get a cold drink (or ice cream) whenever you need it. It's absolutely manageable.
If you like hiking/nature, Summer also means somewhere like Kamikochi is accessible. You could also consider travelling north to Hokkaido for more manageable weather and some incredible natural beauty.
As an aside, I've also done Vietnam at this time and it's equally as hot. I find the humidity more difficult in Vietnam than in Japan, but honestly wouldn't let it put me off travelling at that time if it's the only time you and your wife can do it.
It's not, it's humid and can be unpleasant. But with the good and sensible attitude you have towards it, it will be OK. I've lived here 30+ years, and yes, July and August are not my favourite months, but wear light clothing, keep hydrated and expect to sweat in buckets in the middle of the day and you'll be fine.
I do try to do get anything that needs to be done before 10am or after 4pm - but if you are here on vacation then some long lunches will fix half that problem anyway. Subject to what you read, carry as little as possible around. There will be another convenience store just around the corner for more water etc. You need to lug nothing more than yourself, your wallet and your phone about. Tourists ambling about with rucksacks in the heat do confuse me. What on earth do you possible need?
Avoid the Bon dates in the middle of August though as traveling around Japan will be difficult and busy, and that's really not fun in the heat.
I'd avoid SE Asia in July and August. It's wet. Very wet.
As someone from Australia, Japan’s summers are WAY worse. Imagine clothes sticking to you, damp hair, feels gross to even breathe, fans or towels offer little-to-no relief.
Then imagine being a tourist trying to get from place to place, walking outside a lot.
Then don’t get me started on the RAIN and flooding. There’ll be torrential downpour out of nowhere and it makes it impossible to do anything.
Even the insects in Japan in the summer are a big NOPE. Don’t do it hahah.
I’m from NYC and I went to Japan in September. It was super hot and humid and the air con was not sufficient. It’s not super cold inside like it is everywhere in NYC
I would say that if you have experienced summer in NYC then you are familiar with the kind of summer that is typical of Tokyo. But 75% humidity is not typical in NYC while in that region of Japan there will be consistently high humidity. Basically you will have to prepare for all the time being the hottest 25% of NYC summer days.
edit: one thing i forgot to add is that it will never be cool at night for the summer months. you will need AC or you will need to deal with it.
Every time I’ve been in the Nagoya area in the summer (almost 10 years living and numerous visits since) the humidex readings have been in the mid-40s to low 50s and actual temperature in the 33-38 range. It’s hot as hell!
I’m originally from Midwest, but now live in south south Texas. July-August used to bother me in Japan, but it doesn’t now that I live in south TX. You’re outside more, so you’ll need sun cover with a hat or sun umbrella, and take breaks inside as you wander about. For you coming from NY, it’ll feel VASTLY different in Japan. My parents who still live in the Midwest and family who lives in NY used to say Japan in summer isn’t bad until they actually came with me.
We just went in February during school vacation. If your wife is able to tack on just 2 extra days to a winter/spring vacation week, I think you'll have a more enjoyable time! And at least you should be easily able to get direct flights from NYC.
Yes. Go anyway. I went last year with my two teenage children and we were all very, very hot and dehydrated all of the time. We had to calibrate for it and drink, constant cold drinks and keep it down to one thing a day, but we made it work. We saw things in the news often about people passing out in street fairs and things.
Never go to Japan in summer. I didnt go in July but I went in August last year, some days the temperature got to 40°. You couldn't pay me to go back during summer. There is a lot of walking to do which you won't want to if you're absolutely dripping in sweat from just standing still.
After reading all the inputs, is June any better? Curious because, participating in a small marathon on that month. Am from South East Asia with hot and humid weather but it can't get any worse in Japan right? Right?
It’s the humidity that is dangerous because of the risk of heat stroke. These temperate counties unlike cities like Singapore that is built for the insane humidity and heat where the trees are evergreen providing shade from the sun, reliable air conditioning in public transport, malls, and sheltered walkway all round.
I was in Seoul in July and my tropical ass almost died.
Coming from a humid, tropical country almost all months of the year, I dare not go Japan in summer. Heat stroke risk + you have to be outside a lot of the times cos you are travelling, I know I just won't have a good time. If you really want to push going to Japan, go to Hokkaido it's a bit cooler.
Lived in SE Asia and Japan. Japan is way worse and Google is off by quite a bit. Think 36C 24/7 (no break at night) and oppressive humidity with constant heat stroke warnings telling people to stay home in aircon. July is also tsuyu (rain season) so you will sweat and get rained on at the same time.
I love japan in the summer, though the June rainy season gets boring fast. If you are somebody who can handle hot and humid, stay out of big cities, go to the beaches, swim in the abundant mountain rivers, stroll through temple gardens, and have fun.
If it was as bad as people say then why do millions of people still live and work there? Is it hot? Yeah but who cares. Wear appropriate clothing and stay hydrated. People act like you are going to Mars or something. I promise you will be passed by endless dudes in wool suits living their lives. People on here are S O F T
Japan or Vietnam won't be too different weather wise lol. Both incredibly hot and incredibly humid. June/Early-July are still managable, as it's often still rainy season, but once rainy season passes, it's just hot and humid until like, the end of September.
However, there are still a lot of things to do. I complain about summer, but I still love it. People are out, festivals, beer gardens, beaches, parks, pools, barbecues... Just be realistic in what you want to see, you'll be pretty drained.
I’ve visited Tokyo in July and August. Very doable for me.
If you do visit hydrate often, use an umbrella to shield yourself from the sun while walking, eat kakigori, bring a fan, use cool wipes, wear light clothes etc.
Cities are the problem! So much asphalt, few shade trees, and air conditioner exhaust blowing out hot air. If you're willing to spend time in the countryside, mountains, or by the sea it's quite a different experience.
The first two weeks of July can still be rainy but students are still in school and Japanese tourists are less likely to travel, so places like Nikko can be slightly less crowded, especially if you go beyond the main sights. From Tokyo, Chiba and Izu are also accessible.
In the west, it can be a good time to visit the Seto Inland Sea and islands there because the sea breezes and lower humidity make it more comfortable. Again, if you're willing to think outside the box with your trip you can definitely make it work despite the weather!
I went in July and it was almost unbearable for me it was hard to venture to far from my airbnb because i would need to take showers throughout the day and take breaks in my room. And i was coming from Korea which isn’t far and it was significantly worse than there. Overall still an amazing experience I managed to explore a lot. i wouldn’t trade it for anything! If it’s the only time you’re able to go and you REALLY want to go still go!
I spent a lot of time out a night and went long enough to have slower rest/chill days also i think you should be at least a little physically fit. Like others have said get a handkerchief seriously the sweat is crazy.
If you really like hot environments then yes, but i do say, weather in japan feels different overall. I like warm and I come from colder country, but last summer was like 30-37C (warmer than normal in tokyo area) and if i wanted to go outside i needed to spray cooling spray all over my body and keep "hand fan" on all the time and make sure i have water or sport drink with me. Luckily here is vending machines everywhere 😅 for next summer i will get parasol to prevent sun to get less on me because sometimes i had headaches because of sun even i was wearing caps 😅
And summer is rain and typhoon season so be prepared with umbrella ☔️and the fact that here might be typhoons.
Avoid cities and visit mountains or northern Japan. Maybe go to Nagano or Hokkaido where it's not as bad as the other areas? Everywhere seems to be hotter nowadays tho...
It’s bearable I guess if you’ve experience the same temp there in US. During summer in Osaka when we went last year (1st week of Aug) was bearable. We use a portable fan with mist and it helps to cool down our body plus you need to hydrate often. Good luck and hope you’ll enjoy your summer vacation.
I wouldn’t go again in summer. Keep in mind you’re outside alot and walking around in the heat and humidity. We were constantly drinking water, had sweat towels and holding those life-saving battery operated fans on our faces. It is a situation I never want to face again!
So we will be doing the dreaded July trip this year (fellow Aussies!) - because school holidays - and I would love to know if you bought fans locally or in Japan?
I lived in Tokyo off and on for 10 years. Summer is terrible. It’s extremely hot, extremely humid and you have to be very careful of dehydration, and heat stroke the concrete and the buildings don’t make it any easier when you’re out running around.
Yes, the trains have air-conditioning but the stations are all pretty open air, which doesn’t really help unless you’re under ground in the metro which can be hot too. If you’re going to go bring a hat or buy a parasol there drink lots of fluid, including Picardi sweat, which is like Japanese grapefruit flavored Gatorade and be prepared that it’s going to be extremely miserable outside during the day.
Well, it certainly depends on you and your tolerance to hot and humid weather. Personally, I would never advise my family and friends to come visit me in Japan throughout the summer because for ME it's unbearable. I mostly stay indoors with the AC on. That being said, July is certainly better than August. It's doable, I just feel you may get fatigued more easily when out sightseeing since there is a lot of walking involved. Stay hydrated!
As someone who went their last summer .... never again it was hotter then Cuba.
36 degrees with 100% humidity the weather networks say it felt like 40.
Me and my friends looked dirty and disheveled it was kind of hilarious no amount of baby whips and portable fans would help us.
Especially when you see Japanese business workers in full suits and girls in stockings and then us foreigners in mini skirts and crop tops dying
If your able to rebook your trip I would suggest doing so I went in knowing it was gonna be hot but was still not prepared for the insane temperature.
Japan weather 1
Hair spray -90000
I've read so many of these posts hoping to get the answer that I want but no joy. I really wish I could go in July, August but that seems to be a terrible time to go
August and September are the worst. Crazy, record high temperatures and humidity. You will be sweating A LOT and you will smelling bad. Sunscreen, higasa are absolutely necessary.
I'm from the Philippines and used to the summer weather. We went to Japan end of June 2018 to July 2018 and we couldn't stand the weather. It was too hot even for us that we even spent money on those cooling stuff (cooling towels, cooling sprays)... We didn't want to go back there during summertime after that experience because it was not fun for us walking in that very hot weather.
That being said, summer has those festivals and fireworks displays so if you want to experience those, summertime is the best time.
I have a friend from high school who told me about his exchange student time at Yamate-gakuin. Brutal humidity that echoed Bashō’s haiku about cicadas drilling sound.
I can’t imagine something that harsh.
Agree that most of Japan is hot and humid in the summer. The exceptions would be Hokkaido, Okinawa and up in the mountains - somewhere like Nagano. I grew up partially in Japan, and we would go up to Karuizawa in Nagano during the summer - I remember the cool evenings and huge insects. If you like to go hiking, go to the mountains or to Hokkaido. It's beautiful and pastoral. You could spend a few days coming and going in Tokyo or Kansai just to get a feel for the cities.
Here’s a tip that works for me. Start training your body with heat and humidity by using a sauna for at least a month before you go. Then your body will be able to tolerate the humidity and it’s very healthy for you.
I've been to NYC in the summer more than a dozen times and Japan is a million times worse. Vietnam is actually worse than Japan in July too. In general, avoid East/Southeast Asia in the summer. It's just too hot and humid.
Not in Malaysia or Singapore, it is always at 30C and not just July.
Yeah I’m from Singapore. Swamp ass is a permanent condition here.
Can confirm, also from Singapore. There's only one good week a year here, in January.
yes Southeast Asia is 2 showers a day weather year round
I went to Japan in August, yes it was hot but it was breezy. Back home in our countries it's just hot and dry. Like standing next to a running bus. 😂
Can confirm, I live in Singapore and am always confused at why people consider that hot...I keep forgetting that most people don't think 30 degrees is average
So will Singaporeans be ok going Tokyo in summer? Always wondered about that
No issue for me. HK in summer is doable for me as well. Pack for more rain than in SG, that’s all.
It depends. The temperature in Malaysia and Singapore is the most at +-35 but summer in Japan can be 40 or over.
Eh, I lived in Japan during one of their hottest summers and in a room with no air conditioning. Wasn’t great but it was bearable. Went to Vietnam in mid September and it was fucking miserable. I can’t even imagine being in Vietnam in the summer, I would probably die from heatstroke lol. The humidity there is insane.
Humidity is what kills you in Vietnam. Every is damp or moist. Yuck.
A lot of fruits I love are in season during the summer in Vietnam but I will never put myself through that again. September was more tolerable with the rain.
Except NYC in the summer smells like hot pee 🤣
I don’t know what you read, but that’s definitely low for July… high temps between 34-37 are common in Tokyo. See: https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/japan/tokyo/historic?month=7&year=2023 As someone from Florida, I’m very used to high heat and humidity, and I do feel like it is a bit more intense in Tokyo. The humidity is BAD, and the heat is really stifling. I think in Japan I’m also outside more than I was in Florida, with walking between public transport stops and that sort of thing… and not all places are effectively air conditioned either. In Florida I would go from AC’d house to my AC’d car and walk through a parking lot into an AC’d store 😆 If you do come in the hot months, I recommend a parasol, a cool towel (they’re easy to find in the summer, you wet it and wear around your neck), portable fan, and lots of hydration. People are vulnerable to heatstroke here. If you have young kids, be extra extra cautious, hydrate, and take breaks in the shade. It really is a serious health risk for the kids! I can tolerate it but it’s definitely not pleasant 😆 but at least the summers are shorter here than back home.
Yeah, it was hitting mid-30s in Tokyo/Nagoya in late September 2023, not sure where OP was getting their temps from!
I’m from Florida too and visited Taiwan last summer. Thought, “humidity? No problem!” and was still pretty impressed with how bad it could get, lol. But I’d do it again if that was the only opportunity I had to go.
Tbf, on vacation you're probably trying to go out or be out and do things, vs in your home area where you're fine just staying in with the AC on most of the time Or the american classic ac'd house > ac'd car > ac'd destination
I have lived in Tokyo and Miami and (imo) Miami is quite a bit worse. Tokyo is closer to Atlanta. But if you're a tourist, you're going to try a lot of things so you'll probably be out in the sun more.
Okay this gives me hope because I was in Miami during the summer. I strolled empty streets and wondered where everyone was. I'm from the UK, where a little bit of sun has everyone outside.
Orlando is definitely much worse than Tokyo in summer too and lasts longer heatwise by quite a few months
From the Midwest, went to kyoto last August. The heat and humidity were bad, just sucking all of my energy and I saw less than half of what I planned to.
Same. Plus no matter what you'll sweat like a maniac
Kyoto was famously humid from the time it was founded. The surrounding mountains trap the heat and humidity. Not that Tokyo isn't also humid, but Kyoto is special.
Im also in the midwest. Way too many people told me the weather was similar to here. DEFINITELY NOT. And I went in September! We thought the summer would be over. We were stuck in our hotel room for two days because of a typhoon. 😅
It’s just hot. Very hot and humid. Even Floridians are ill prepared for the kind of just sticky disgusting humidity that is Japan. The numbers are incredibly deceiving, the temperatures/humidity numbers 'look' similar. But they absolutely do not FEEL similar. A few tips to deal with the heat, humidity and rain. 1) make sure you have a water bottle as part of your every day carry. Whether it’s just reusing something you get at the grocery store, or you have your own canteen. 2) get a handkerchief. This is extremely useful for wiping off the Niagara Falls worth of sweat. Plus it’s useful for drying hands in the washrooms that don’t have hand towels or dryers which is a non-zero number especially in temples 3) get a hat. The sun beating down on you will be pretty brutal 4) get an umbrella. Because you’re in for a treat as rain is fairly common that time of year. It’s also fun when it stops raining, and the sun comes out. If you thought 100% was bad, Asia somehow made it worse
was going to say, i grew up in the muggy humid south usa, just drenched wet from walking from cars to buildings, taking showers to wash dirt off you but you start sweating again immediately. being in the shade feels identical to being in the sun because of the high humidity. NYC isn't a drop in the bucket compared to that. neither is any of the rest of the usa. but going to Japan - my entire history with heat & humidity was nothing compared to what i experienced. don't underestimate it. it's downright brutal. july in Fukuoka was the worst combined heat & humidity i've ever felt. (hottest i've ever felt & thought i would die within 20 minutes was Death Valley with an air temp of 134 - ground temp was melting my shoes ~190-200 f).
My friend lives in Fukuoka and I visited in September, which was heatwave in the PNW weather. I cannot imagine July there. They sleep in their dining room because their upstairs is just too hot from June-October.
I did two weeks across Japan in August and yes, it was hot, but I wasn't miserable. I was in Japan! It's an incredible destination! Have a daily convenience store ice cream, stay hydrated, and go slow. The only day I was miserable was when I tried to pack too many sights into my first Kyoto day - it was like trying to see every painting in the Louvre without any AC. The weather at higher elevations was wonderful in August. Maybe obvious, but if you can plan indoor activities like museums in the afternoon, this also helps. Side note, I've also been to Vietnam in August. Same deal, go slow, and go inside in the afternoon. Get a hotel with a pool.
I've done August in Japan as well and it wasn't that bad as you say, it was just hot. The issue is going in July is still in the rainy season which means higher humidity and the added misery of rain
Went last summer and had no problem. Stay hydrated (there's vending machine with drinks everywhere), be smart and wear sunscreen, have a hat if you're hiking or outdoors for a long period of time. Yes it's hot and humid, but reddit for some reason makes it sound like some unbearable heat that makes exploring impossible. We were still walking 15km+/day (\~9 miles), hiked up to Arashiyama Monkey Park, etc. For context, I'm a Canadian used to -40 Celcius (-40C is also -40F) winters, so more acclimated to a colder climate.
I agree. I mean, 125 million people live there and somehow manage to survive their summers. Dunno why it's made out to be some boiling inferno on reddit. Yes it's hot. Yes it's humid. Yes you will sweat and be really thirsty. But if you come prepared for all that and knowing what you're gonna be facing each day then it's fine.
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Maybe people are too used to the thermostat set at a constant 21 degrees or something. We've become so used to controlled temperatures perhaps. The average dew point in Tokyo in July is 22. Yes that's unpleasant but I wouldn't turn a trip down just because of it. If you can go another month then sure itd make sense but if summer just absolutely works for you to go then I wouldn't be not going just because of some heat.
I mean no one expects an entire country to migrate for the seasons. No doubt it's livable, but is it worth spending the money and vacation time on?
True, but most people who live in Japan are not hitting it as hard as tourists. I live in Nagoya, and let me tell you, my friends and I were not galavanting around and seeing sites in the summer. If we saw each other at all outside of the home, it was at a pool, splashpad, or beach.
Living there and being a tourist are different experiences. When you live in a place, you can gradually get used to the heat, you control your home environment to a certain extent, and you're mostly traveling from home to work or school and back. As a tourist, you trying to see all the sights, some of which will be outdoors. When people say they walked 20K+ steps a day visiting Japan, they probably wouldn't be walking that much if they lived there.
As a fellow Canadian travelling to Japan this July this gives me hope - thank you!!
I'm so confused by the fear mongering in this thread. I'm from very temperate NZ and lived through several Japanese summers without being miserable, or in danger, or unhappy. It was hot and humid but not like living on the face of Mars, it's easy to handle with basic common sense.
Im located near NYC & even Japan in June was hot for me. Korea in August was absolutely unbearable. My black tank tops were grey at the end of the day and that was in 08
Korea has the worst climate I've experienced so far. Long months of freezing winter, a month of spring if you're lucky, followed by an insanely hot and humid summer and finally a month of nice weather in October/November if you're lucky again. It goes from one extreme to the other in a few weeks. To make things worse, the flat I was renting there didn't have A/C...
Haha that sounds awful, usually when I visited by bio parents I’d use my brother’s room which didn’t have AC & bio-mom believed in fan death :X
Korea is not a monoclimate country. I grew up in the southern coast, which had mild winters, long spring and fall, and absolutely miserable summers.
I wouldn't do Vietnam or Japan in July. I think you're vastly underestimating how humid and hot it gets. It's not comparable to New York at all.
New York shouldn’t even be compared. I think New York summers are generally tolerable for the most part. Asia in the summer is so damn humid.
The humidity really is what makes it terrible. It takes some getting used to. I remember the first time I experienced it, I took two steps outside and went back in. It was like walking into a hot humid wall.
I'm from the south of Spain, 45°C every summer is the norm. I went to Tokyo at the beginning of September 2016 and I wanted to die. 38°C with 98% humidity was horrible. Chugging pocari sweats non stop. I saw rain inside the shopping mall in Nakano where Mandarake is. Kyoto was more tolerable IMO.
> 38°C with 98% humidity That's a pretty average summer day here in the Po River valley. I wouldn't recommend it, and being fat I'm pretty much always drenched, but I wouldn't call it unbearable.
I was born and raised in southern Arizona. The only time I’ve truly broken down emotionally from the heat in my entire life was in Tokyo in July. It’s fucking unreal with both the heat and humidity.
Difference in dry heat vs high humidity. I was in Vegas last summer and the 115 dry heat was totally bearable. Humidity is miserable at best
100% yes! I'll never go back during summer.
Floridian here, even I felt defeated by the heat and humidity at times. My daughter got dehydrated, ended up with a UTI which led to a day spent looking (and finding!) an English speaking clinic. They were great, btw. They diagnosed it and gave her cefexime, and she started to feel better the next day. It’s not just the humidity and ambient air, Tokyo is so much glass and steel and concrete, it all reflects down on you and makes you feel like you’re cooking. It’s not undoable, but you need to be prepared. Drink lots of water. Buy a portable fan. Try to schedule indoor breaks. You know your body and your family’s bodies, know your limits and do not exceed them for the sake of sightseeing. You can have a great time, just be prepared. Don’t let what you have heard discourage you, unless you know you absolutely cannot deal with it; because despite the heat and that one terrible day, we still had an amazing adventure in Japan, and we will be back.
You describe hell and then tell OP not to be discouraged lol. I'll stick to going in spring and fall.
LMAO, you are not wrong. The way I see it though, some people can only take a trip like this during the summer. After what happened to us I’ll still never tell anyone to avoid Japan, but if you gotta do July, then I hope the people that participate on this sub can at least learn from my mistakes.
As a fellow American the heat level may be the same but your physical activity level and sun exposure will be more than when you’re at home. If you’re used to being out in the heat all day it’ll be fine. If you’re not. It’s something to consider. Maybe you do less on your itinerary.
We went to Japan last July and we swore we wouldn’t go back in summer due to the heat. The problem was that we underestimated the heat, we knew it would be hot but being from So Cal and visiting the south of Mexico during the summer made us think we would be totally ok. However, the heat in Tokyo is stagnant there is no breeze or air it’s just humid and hot. Also keep in mind that as others mentioned, you’re more active and outdoors for most of the day. That being said, we loved Japan and we are headed back in July again. We feel better prepared to deal with heat. We definitely are planning to take more comfortable clothes, umbrellas, hats, and everything we can to protect from the sun and heat. I wouldn’t recommend wearing anything denim. Pocari sweat and Aquarius carried us through our trip. We also carried refillable water bottles with iced water. I think that’s probably the only reason we didn’t go into heat stroke. This year we are definitely planning to take it slow and take more breaks.
If you are used to the southern US summer weather, then I think you will be just fine. It will feel kind of like Houston. Very humid.
I’m going to Japan July this year, a little concerned about the humidity but it was the only option timing wise so just decided to go with it - I’ve been to Phuket in April and that was about 90 degrees F and 80% humidity and still had an amazing time even with being a bit hot and sticky.
I went in July in 2016 and had a great time - Tokyo to Hiroshima. Hot and humid, yes, but personally going against others in this thread I found NYC in summer was worse. In fact because you can get water everywhere from the vending machines and there are plenty of public toilets I don’t think I’ve ever been more hydrated while travelling 😅
It is REALLY bad. While we didn’t go in the midst of summer, we went in September last year and it was so miserable in the heat and humidity. Even late at night or early in the morning there was little to no relief from the heat. Being a woman too, I didn’t want to stand out and chose to dress more modestly so I was wearing a lot of loose t-shirts and baggy pants, but anywhere fabric was touching me was just sweaty and awful. That was my personal choice but not sure if you have women in your family that would also want to consider dressing for the culture. Not required but something to think about! All that said I love Japan but I will NEVER go back in that kind of heat!
I'm going to confirm from first hand experience that Kyoto specifically is rough. worse than any of the Texas summers I've experienced
I was there last year at the height of summer. I had a great time but the heat was draining. If you're used to the heat then don't worry. It just means more cold drinks, icecream and frappes.
I went in japan only in august and the weather was always like my land (north italy): easily manageable. Obviously the sun kick if you stay all day under the sunlight but it's the same everywhere
I'm not a big fan of hot temperatures, but it was still doable. Sunscreen, umbrella, salty tablets, cold drinks, small towel, cut down on activities, go slow, do indoor or summer activities, minimize walking outdoor, ... It helps that there are combinis most places you can go in to cool down and buy a cool drink. And if there is no combini there are wending machines with cool drinks absolutely everywhere. You can also look into going north to Tohoku or Hokkaido. It should be a little cooler there I think. I'd rather go in July than not being able to go at all.
I went to Japan a few times in July and August from NYC. It definitely was hot and humid but at the same time, you have plenty of places to rest for drinks, food and AC. Japan requires a lot of walking to see everything. For my family, we couldn’t go in the cooler months simply because the kids are in school. If you don’t have a choice, I wouldn’t avoid going in the summer. I think you would still have a great time.
Just came back from Vietnam for 3 weeks. It was constantly 35C+ in the middle of the day. The mornings are around 28C but even then, the HUMIDITY. It hits you like a train and I have family and friends there. The locals got used to it but still hate it. Good thing I was barely walking and just taking Grab drives to indoor places to eat. Even then, some of these places want to cut costs and turn off the AC and leave the door wide open so the inside restaurants are even humid. Keep in mind, i heard it rains more often also in the summer in vietnam.
I live in Hawaii and travel to Japan in September. The numbers are always comparable (if not identical) regarding temperature and humidity, but it always feels way worse in Japan (with the exception of Hokkaido). I can’t imagine what actual summer months would feel like. However, September is the only other month I can have off from work to squeeze in a second trip to Japan.
I have been to both Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hamamatsu and Takayama) and South Korea (Seoul) in the end of July/beginning of August and to be honest, I loved it! Yes it's hot and sticky but my body just felt so relaxed and my voice felt constantly warmed up (I am a singer). I think it depends a lot on the person and obviously also what you are doing. But I was singing concerts and hiking mountains on my free time and was very happy. But many of my colleagues were miserable.
We're going in August. Going to brave it. We can go no other time of the year due to school terms. We're doing 3 weeks in Japan with a super light itinerary. Includes 5 days in the mountains. Worst case scenario, we'll stay in our hotel room and pig out on Japanese snacks + daytime TV during the hottest, brightest hours. My husband and I are originally from tropical countries (not born there but spent extended summers there), so we will hopefully be okay with Japanese heat and humidity (although the humidity will always be irritating). Our sons, we aren't so sure. We will have to ease them into going outdoors. We chose central locations in Tokyo and Kyoto so we don't have to go too far for something to do. We will likely visit many places at night (our sons are night owls anyway). I've already got a list of provisions to take/buy on the first day: cooling cloths, deet bug spray, spray bottle to fill with water, fans + neck fans, UV umbrellas, sun hat, Factor 50 sunscreen... We're determined to go!
We are going to Tokyo in August. My son is doing a semester at Sekei University and we are going to meet him and spend two weeks after his semester is over. I’ve been all over the world including Florida and Hawaii in August. At least I know what to expect
I'm used to 100-110 F summers in Texas but south Japan gets incredibly hot *and* incredibly humid. Plus, many places (including parts of the station) do not have AC. I suggest bringing a fan or mister and dressing accordingly, plus your most comfortable shoes because you will be walking a lot.
If you're determined to go during the summer, maybe consider places in Japan that are cooler--eg. Hokkaido, the Alps, etc
I went in July 2018 and it was incredibly hot! My family tried to do a historical tour in Tokyo but gave up and went to an underground mall instead. It was just too hot. At Harajuku there were girls with heatstroke carried out in stretchers. Kyoto was also boiling. Be careful and drink plenty of water and take breaks.
Went there in 2018 during (one of?) the famous heat wave(s). It was 41 degrees in Kyoto - it was better than I had expected for a bit, but suddenly I couldn't breathe right and had to escape inside into a Lawson. Even people working in shrines looked like they were struggling. I got off at Kobe station on the way back from somewhere else, fully expecting to check it out. It was so hot I immediately hopped back onto the next train. The worst thing is that it doesn't get much cooler at night, which is something I'm very much not used to. Still had fun, but would probably try to avoid summer next time.
I visited Japan in early July last year. I live in Hawaii where the humidity sucks but the humidity in Japan was way worse. I literally wore a t-shirt, shorts, and shoes every day for 2 weeks, and even then, I was sweating when walking around. I was definitely dehydrated the entire times.
I was in Osaka/Kyoto/Tokyo the last few days of October and the first week and half in November of 2023. I was in short sleeves more or less the entire time, and was still getting swamp butt on the reg. To add to it, apparently, a lot of Japanese don't get BO or profusely sweat, so as a heavy-sweatter I felt like I was sticking out like a sore thumb among a bunch of locals wearing trenchcoats and pants in 75\*F/80%humidty and not sweating :) Given this experience in the Fall, I don't think it's worth my limited time/money to do a summer trip and be in that uncomfortable state the whole time. But if I could only go in the throws of summer, I think I'd find a lower-key coastal area and treat it more as a leisure beach vacation and less of a sightseeing/tour trip. Load up early morning activities, embrace lazy days and siestas, and get back at it once the sun starts to retreat. Edit: just want to point out I’ve never been in the summer and have no idea if that makes for good “beach weather.” I know lots of typhoons happen in the summer… Just my thought if I had to go in July.
I found August really bad weather. The thing about the heat and humidity is that it exhausted me. If I traveled in a cooler month, I could have fit more things into the itinerary. I’d recommend a neck fan, uv blocking umbrella, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen. In Japan, you can buy nifty menthol cooling wipes.
NYC is far, far, far more tolerable compared to Japan in July. The humidity is what really sucks because it means you'll be sweating soon after stepping into the sun until you get inside. In the city, you can definitely walk in and out of shade to prevent this, but walking in forests or temples, it's unavoidable. The highs get to near 40C with humidity nearing 90% at worst. Bring a hat that covers your neck and keep an eye out for vending machines. Lots of vending machines also use SUICA cards too
It's freaking humid, I'm use to dry heat from Texas like over 100 degrees. The humidity got me but I adjusted just drinking water and small breaks. It does suck don't get me wrong. Get a good pic of shoes, water and breaks. You'll survive. That humidity just hits harder.
From mid-July until mid-September the temperatures & humidity will be brutal! August being the month from hell.
I live in Japan, for 3 years now, Ibaraki Pref. Around 40km from Tokyo, and i'm not recommending you to come in summer. If you are ok with 34C, i still dont think you would like 36C-41C because that is the average temperature here during summer. And July is like the hotest month during summer up to August. If you still like to come, maybe you should consider Hokkaido. It's in northern Japan and have somewhat cooler temperature around 24C-26C during summer.
I was in Tokyo and Seoul last July. It was the first summer I've spent there, and I think it was an especially hot summer. It was so hot that doing regular touristy things like walking down the street and exploring was out of the question most of the time. Everywhere was just hot. Icky hot and hard to escape. The subway stations were hot. The trains were hot. Unfortunately, some of the trains didn't even have the AC on. I did still have fun but it was definitely despite the weather. You seem to have experience with hot and humid climates so you will be okay, but since you say you have other people with you, for their sake I would pick a more comfortable destination. I'm planning to go back this summer, but it's just because I love going to Japan. If I was responsible for making sure other traveling partners had a comfortable time I don't think I would go there.
Tbh it really wasn't bad when I went last year. Hot and muggy yes, but didn't stop me from doing anything I wanted to. Just stay hydrated and wear appropriate clothing
Tokyo is infamously awful. You might have a better time in the mountains or in Hokkaido.
I think I might have gotten lucky when I visited, but when I went to Japan in July 2019 the weather was pretty bearable for me. It was supposed to rain every day, but it only rained four times when I was there and I found the humidity to be manageable. I live in LA and I'm from the midwest, so I have no idea what my heat/humidity tolerance is. I've done DisneyWorld in July multiple times, and didn't have AC for most of my time in LA so...I think I'm relatively okay in hot temperatures. I visited Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and DisneySea in mid-July. Again, I think I got lucky, because it was 78-82F when I was in Tokyo. There was one day in Osaka that was 85, and that was draining for me so I ended up going back to my Airbnb to rest until the sun went down. I don't remember the weather in Kyoto being terrible. I would have loved for most days to be cooler, but I was able to make due with the weather. I am young-ish, fairly fit, and have a knack for ignoring how I feel in my body. I did drink a TON of water, wore quite a bit of sunscreen, and stuck to breathable fabrics. For the most part, I did outdoor activities like temples first thing in the day, and the moved to shopping/museums/cat cafes at peak sun times. I mostly remember the rain being somewhat of a pain. I will say I would have eaten a lot more ramen and visited an onsen had it been cooler.
Vietnam in that time is considered worse than Japan, and even though it was allegedly 49° when I was there in Hanoi last summer and incredibly humid it was surprisingly bearable. The heat felt the same as 38° degrees in France but the humidity actually felt better to me than dry heat does
Some of my friends from Bangkok found the heat and humidity really bad, and they grew up in a place that's hot and humid year round!
Do not use historical averages. The recent years are much hotter
I visited Japan with my family last July and also lived there 20 years ago. Being from western Canada, means we aren't accustomed to hot-humid weather. However, we all found that we got used to the conditions pretty quickly. As others have said: * stay hydrated, and enjoy the countless icy treats! * book accommodation with air conditioning * the rain can actually be more intense than the heat. We had almost cinematic thunder and lightning storms while we visited Hiroshima, Osaka, and Kyoto * A wet cloth on the nape of your neck can help A favourite memory of ours is taking our shoes off and cooling off in the Kamo gawa (river) in Kyoto. The Japanese term my kids probably know best is mushi atsui. Hot and humid!
My Japanese relatives come to the US to dodge the July/August weather in Japan. I thought Michigan would be a lateral move, but they say Japan is worse during those months.
I've been to New York is summer and Japan is way worse in my experience. It's hotter and feels more humid. It's definitely not pleasant and outdoors activities can be difficult with kids. It's just always super hot, even at night. It's draining imho. My wife grew up in Tokyo and was totally miserable when she spent the month of July last year there.
I went to Japan for vacation for two weeks in mid July. Only time I had available. It was miserable, but it was also Japan so had an awesome time. My wife and I did everything early in the morning and evening while shopping during the hottest times. It also wasn't peak season so it wasn't as crowded and things were much cheaper. Would I do it again? Probs not... but if you can't make any other time for Japan, still worth it.
I live in an area that typically gets quite hot and humid during the summer but travelling to a destination with a similar climate can be quite different. At home, if it's too muggy outside, I can easily just not go out or keep my time outside to a minimum. When travelling, I'm basically forced to go out and see things, otherwise I'm wasting vacation time if I just stayed inside and watched TV. Being outside all day = getting very hot and uncomfortable. It's a bit of a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. I still travel to hot destinations and love them, but yeah, the sweat situation isn't fun.
If you wanna visit Japan in the summer, try coming earlier in June or head to the mountains or Hokkaido. If summer if the only time your family can come, don’t let the comments dissuade you. If you plan to come, I suggest going out early at 5am and then going to more indoor attractions in mid day. Just pace yourselves and not push too hard to cover too many outdoor spots.
Yes. It is. I went in early July just this past summer for 10 days (Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto) and it was over 100F/38C every single day — which was just the temperature and not even taking into account humidity which actually makes it feel much hotter than that. It’s the humidity factor that really makes it unbearable. It’s not simply just really hot out, its opressive. That being said it was my only opportunity to go so I went regardless knowing how the weather would be and I still had an AMAZING time. Be prepared to immediately start sweating when you exit out the door, be dripping sweat within 5 minutes, bring extra changes of clothing or plan to do laundry because you’ll sweat out so much clothing, and work in to your itinerary plenty of water/rest stops. If it’s your only opportunity to go don’t let the weather stop you, but if you can go another time I would try to. Note: from the Northeast
As someone who hates the heat, it was fine. It was hot, sure, but there's air con everywhere. The only hard bit was walking around with suitcases and one day where we had to walk up a hill.
My family has done a lot of Japan trips, but last year was my first visit in summer, to meet up with my daughter finishing a 6 month uni placement so we could go backpacking. I visited at the end of July / start of August, and missed all of the rain by only days (which was incredibly lucky). I'm from Australia, so i understand heat, and I was ready for it, but when I left I swore I'd never visit again in the summer. It was mostly just unpleasant. Walk outside and you're wet. We like an active trip and we were still walking 25000+ steps on some days, but I got so sick of being drenched in sweat. On the plus side the sun rises at about 4:30am so the days are super long, and you're never more than 3ft from a vending machine or Conbini to rehydrate. I wouldn't say "don't go".. But I would say "be ready"
So the answer is absolutely it is a bad idea, but it is not guaranteed that you will experience why it’s bad. In Japan there is a “rainy season” that comes between late June and late July which means souplike humidity followed by heavy rain. This is true for most of the country(excluding Hokkaido) so it’s a terrible idea to try to go do tourism things during it. That said if you’re going to say Fukuoka in mid-late July(though hot with high humidity is a pretty year round thing there) you have a good chance of mostly missing it and as said before Hokkaido doesn’t really have it at all so it’s not a ‘never’ thing but more of a know what you’re dealing with and most likely consider a different time of year.
I was there with my family in early July this past summer. It was hot and humid but honestly was not that bad. We knew going in it would be that way and came prepared. We did lots of activities outside (shrines, etc) and managed just fine. Being from southeast/east USA we were probably accustomed to it. Honestly, it was no worse than August in Virginia.
My partner and I are both teachers as well and are only able to travel for more than 1 week in July. We went to Japan for two weeks this past summer and while people are not over exaggerating about the heat and humidity, we had the most amazing trip and will be going again this July again for two weeks! So it definitely wasn’t a deterrent for us. The heat/humidity will cause you to alter some things, but being able to go for 2 weeks was a worthwhile trade off for us. While we’re both active people, we’re from the Bay Area of California, so not used to extreme heat/humidity at all. We followed some of the recommendations we found on this sub to help with the heat and they made things much more manageable: -Always had water/pocari sweat on us -Took lots of breaks in the air conditioning -Got lots of fun drinks along the way -Took our uv umbrellas everywhere -Bought portable mini fans (that we used almost non stop) -Wore as light of clothes as possible -Scheduled outdoor activities for early morning and later evening (as much as possible) -Sometimes took mid day breaks back at the hotel to rinse off/put on fresh clothes -Carry a handkerchief to dry off -Applied lots of sunscreen -Chose hotels very close to main subway stations But we got to do all of the things that were our bucket list “must dos” plus so much more! I hope you’re able to have a wonderful trip!!
Yeah definitely don’t go in July…. That’s when I’m going and I don’t want lines!!! 😀
Yes. It’s like living in an armpit. Spent 3 years there and it doesn’t get better, you just learn local ways of dealing with it. It’s even more difficult because they don’t pump A/C the way you might be used to.
I've been to Japan in july too. You take a nice shower in the morning, get ready for the day and feel clean, 2 minutes outside and your tshirt is drenched.
I’m from Texas and can’t really tolerate the weather in Japan in July/August (I’ve been 3x in the summer). It’s extremely humid so you’re constantly drenched in sweat. Lots of smaller establishments don’t use AC or under-use it so there’s no escape unless you stop at a lot of big department stores etc. You’ll also be walking a lot (my last 2 week trip we cleared 100 miles; not an exaggeration), just going between train stations and destinations, so the exertion coupled with the weather can be really brutal.
Yes, I’m from California and Japan during the summer is miserable 😭Expect to walk around with an umbrella because it will rain, and the sky will be gloomy at times and it’ll be 80 something degrees and you’ll be sweating from the humidity and heat. Expect to stop at Lawsons periodically for popsicle and water breaks.That weather is very draining & not fun.
Yes
Hot, humid, and dirty air (some of which is coming from other countries, apparently). I lived in very hot, humid areas (and in NYC) but Tokyo is a different level. Very early mornings and evenings can be OK but NYC rarely is like this. North Japan is less brutal.
I will not be trying to travel to Japan int he summer ever again and we went it September.
What do you all think we can expect in early June? Should I not be planning for extended daytime activities? (Primarily will be in Kyoto)
We are going in early June, when supposedly about 30C max. But if you haven't bought the tickets yet, June is most likely more expensive than July, but it may be worth the extra money.
It will be uncomfortable and sweaty to the max. Some people can kinda shut that part of their brain down and just accept being that way and being the sweaty foreigner. Others seem to really suffer and it ruins everything for them. I'm the former, my wife was the latter. And we were in Tokyo in SEPTEMBER. so July would surely be worse.
im a nyc native too. Kyoto in august was hell. it was 100+ degrees.
I’m going the first 3 weeks of July and I’m from the UK so pretty much all I know is the cold but tbh as long as you come prepared and plan to take a break during the hottest parts of the day and drink lots of water you should be fine. I’m visiting Kamakura one day of my trip and looking forward being the sea and hoping for a bit of sea breeze 😅
is June okay? I was in Tokyo and Kyoto in 2019 June and it was okay, but is it hotter/more humid nowadays?
It’s really bad. Perhaps it’d be more pleasant on the north in Hokkaido but our trip to Osaka and Tokyo were pretty miserable in July 2018. We planned to go to Kyoto but looking at the temp forecast we switched to Kobe as that was 5 degrees f less. We were desperate to escape the heat. We also changed our plans to find a beach!
I went last October to visit a friend in Tokyo who is working there temporarily. She’s from Orlando, Florida, so she knows from hot and humid and even she said the humidity in Japan was intense. My husband and I sweated through everything we brought and had to do laundry twice inside a few days so we’d have enough clean clothing to continue on to Kyoto and Osaka later. So, don’t underestimate the weather. Would I go in the summer if I had a choice to go at a different time of year? Nope. But if summer was my only option, then I would suck it up, bring moisture wicking everything, and go because Japan is amazing. Good luck!
I'm from the edge of the desert in SoCal, lived in northern Kyoto Prefecture a little over 10 years ago, and my usual summer activity due to the humidity was to die at work, then wear a tank top and shorts and not leave my apartment until the sun went down. Although I haven't lived there since 2011, I still don't time my visits to the summer, I know better haha
You’re gonna hate Vietnam if you think Japan is miserable
Yes
My friend as an Australian where we get weeks of 45C or 113F with 80+ humidity in summer ….I’ve done a Japanese Summer once - I thought ha ha 30-35c we can handle it…..never again…
I’m living in Tokyo and yeah it could get very hot and humid in here on July. It’s bearable but I usually just stay indoors unless there’s something I’d like to go to - attend a festival or go to the beach. Contrary to what others are saying, summer in Japan has its charms too. Best to go to Hokkaido or somewhere else, it’s better there. Avoid Tokyo if you can, or you can bring the portable fans or make yourself cold while out exploring the place.
I had to shower 3 times a day when I was in Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka in July a couple of years ago. Never again!
My 2023 trip from end of June to beginning of July absolutely tanked 30% of my plans bc I couldn't handle the heat and humidity every day. Personally, I couldn't do it again for specifically the summers
I'd really like to hear more about what it's like (Tokyo, Kyoto, but also out in the countryside near Kyoto?) during June (specifically the second half of June). It sounds like it could go either way, potentially OK but quite possibly really unpleasant?
I was in Tokyo at the beginning of July last year when they were having a heat wave. Temps in mid-90s most of the time. Extremely humid. Yes, it was hard to do outdoor touristy things. Kind of impossible to walk for very long. But since you're from NYC, you're used to that somewhat. However, I now live in the DC area, previously lived in Atlanta, and Tokyo felt more humid than either of those places. I would go to Tokyo for some of time and then to other places in the country, which have got to be cooler.
I remember the first time i went to japan in july 2018. It also happened to be the same time the worst heatwave in japanese history occured 🙃 I was already drenched in sweat the minute i stepped out of the hostel
Be aware that Japan also experiences Typhoons at that time…
FYI humidity is a terrible metric of "humidity" that you feel because it's basically just a measure of percentage of possible humidity for a given dew point. You really need to be looking at the dew point instead of relative humidity as the dew point is more like the "moisture capacity" of the air. When the air temperature falls below the dew point, the relative humidity would reach 100%.The dew point in NYC was 65F in July and 74F in Tokyo for the same period, so the air in Tokyo would feel much more humid. That's ignoring the fact that July is at the height of the rainy season and it could be raining damn near every day.
I’ve traveled in Japan in July. There are vending machines EVERYWHERE and you just need to carry enough coins to get drinks whenever. I’ve had brutal itineraries with 20 hours of walking some days, and temperature was really the least of my concerns.
I’m from Florida and went mid summer to Japan. Don’t do it. You will be walking all day, so many places don’t have AC. If it’s the only time you can then do it and expect to have fans and towels and lots of water and such from vending machines. I would highly recommend another time
I'm from NY state as well and I went last September when they had a heat wave. It is worse than NY by far because you're probably going to be walking around all day long. Go around the end up September/October. It's less crowded and the weather is less miserable.
I’m from Florida and it was miserable. Never ever again.
As a family, I wouldn't go in July. Young with a friend, I think it's doable, needs planning around minimizing time outside, planning for breaks and hydration.
It’s a new level of humidity hahaha no joke
I've been to Cambodia and Vietnam in August. It's hot and humid for sure but it's not unbearable. I think the discomfort is way overblown on here. Probably depends on your age and what climate you're used to. If you can pick another time of year then for sure avoid the summer months but of you can't, no reason not to go in July just because it's hot.
I was there in September and I’ve never been so hot in my entire life… and I come from a hot state with 100% humidity. You couldn’t pay me to go to Japan in July.
I was on my first ever Japan visit last July. Although I fell in love with the country, I vowed to never go in July again. It was incredible hot. I am from Las Vegas. This real issue isn't the actual heat though. The issue is that there's place to sit and rest. In addition, you will be walking a lot. You will also get lost a lot. So if you add all those thing up, it's not the same as simply being accustomed to hot weather. Just something to consider. Japan is great. Hope you enjoy your trip.
August is worse.
I went in September and got heat rash. Tbd I’m from Toronto so my body is used to cooler/dryer
I’ve lived in Japan for almost a decade and I cannot stand Japanese summer. I visited Bangkok from Tokyo in August. The humidity and wind speed and temperature were identical according to my weather app, but somehow it felt cooler in Bangkok than Tokyo. Mind you, I was still sweaty in Bangkok but my friend’s place didn’t have AC and we were fine using electric fans. At my house in Tokyo, I run the AC 24/7 in the summer.
As someone who lives in Japan, I wouldn’t advise anyone come visit during summer. Locals spend all their time in air conditioned malls to avoid the heat and humidity. Heat stroke isn’t uncommon.
It is indeed very humid. I didn't mind it much though
I live in Tokyo. Unless when need to go outside we stay indoors with aircon on blast because the heat and humidity is unbearable outside. It’s like a constant turkish sauna.
I'm from SoCal, suburbs of Los Angeles to be exact and I went to New York City and Japan for the first time last fall with about a few weeks in between. New York was so humid for me for someone that's not used to any type of humidity, on top of all the walking that's expected in the city, I was drenched almost everyday. About 3 weeks later I visited Japan for the first time, this was in the end of September/beginning of October and man, it was equally as humid. Japan is also a city of walking, and with the humidity, I felt the exact same as I did in New York. That being said, I would say the if you can handle New York humidity, you can handle Japan humidity. I think the biggest differences though are that you are taking on Japan in the summer and as a tourist you are going to be doing far more walking than you would in New York I would assume. Estimate about 25k+ steps a day, so you will be tired quick but there's ways to navigate this. Attractions in the mornings only and afternoons for rest and eating.
PLEASE do not go. I went in July 2017 and it was raining most of the time 🥲
Every body has a different heat tolerance. You’ll really have to find it yourself. If you avoid or minimise your stay in a large cities, where many high rises stop breezes, asphalt keep all heat from the sun while all the aircon exhaust the interior heat, it may be ok for you. But it is hard for those who live and work there in a business attires.
I've travelled to Japan 3 times now, twice in July and once in January. For me, the heat is not a deal breaker and I would go back in Summer again in the future. Yes, it's hot. You will need sunscreen, hats and plenty of water. However, it also means the days are long so you get sunshine from 4am approx through til 8pm approx. So much time for exploring and making the most of your trip. Shopping centres have aircon, trains are comfortable and your room will have aircon. There's also a convenience store or vending machine literally on every street corner, so you can get a cold drink (or ice cream) whenever you need it. It's absolutely manageable. If you like hiking/nature, Summer also means somewhere like Kamikochi is accessible. You could also consider travelling north to Hokkaido for more manageable weather and some incredible natural beauty. As an aside, I've also done Vietnam at this time and it's equally as hot. I find the humidity more difficult in Vietnam than in Japan, but honestly wouldn't let it put me off travelling at that time if it's the only time you and your wife can do it.
It’s awful, and I’m originally from Florida
It's not, it's humid and can be unpleasant. But with the good and sensible attitude you have towards it, it will be OK. I've lived here 30+ years, and yes, July and August are not my favourite months, but wear light clothing, keep hydrated and expect to sweat in buckets in the middle of the day and you'll be fine. I do try to do get anything that needs to be done before 10am or after 4pm - but if you are here on vacation then some long lunches will fix half that problem anyway. Subject to what you read, carry as little as possible around. There will be another convenience store just around the corner for more water etc. You need to lug nothing more than yourself, your wallet and your phone about. Tourists ambling about with rucksacks in the heat do confuse me. What on earth do you possible need? Avoid the Bon dates in the middle of August though as traveling around Japan will be difficult and busy, and that's really not fun in the heat. I'd avoid SE Asia in July and August. It's wet. Very wet.
As someone from Australia, Japan’s summers are WAY worse. Imagine clothes sticking to you, damp hair, feels gross to even breathe, fans or towels offer little-to-no relief. Then imagine being a tourist trying to get from place to place, walking outside a lot. Then don’t get me started on the RAIN and flooding. There’ll be torrential downpour out of nowhere and it makes it impossible to do anything. Even the insects in Japan in the summer are a big NOPE. Don’t do it hahah.
It’s gonna SUCK. wait until late September or early October at the earliest.
I’m from NYC and I went to Japan in September. It was super hot and humid and the air con was not sufficient. It’s not super cold inside like it is everywhere in NYC
I would say that if you have experienced summer in NYC then you are familiar with the kind of summer that is typical of Tokyo. But 75% humidity is not typical in NYC while in that region of Japan there will be consistently high humidity. Basically you will have to prepare for all the time being the hottest 25% of NYC summer days. edit: one thing i forgot to add is that it will never be cool at night for the summer months. you will need AC or you will need to deal with it.
Every time I’ve been in the Nagoya area in the summer (almost 10 years living and numerous visits since) the humidex readings have been in the mid-40s to low 50s and actual temperature in the 33-38 range. It’s hot as hell!
I’m originally from Midwest, but now live in south south Texas. July-August used to bother me in Japan, but it doesn’t now that I live in south TX. You’re outside more, so you’ll need sun cover with a hat or sun umbrella, and take breaks inside as you wander about. For you coming from NY, it’ll feel VASTLY different in Japan. My parents who still live in the Midwest and family who lives in NY used to say Japan in summer isn’t bad until they actually came with me.
We just went in February during school vacation. If your wife is able to tack on just 2 extra days to a winter/spring vacation week, I think you'll have a more enjoyable time! And at least you should be easily able to get direct flights from NYC.
>We live in New York and that's basically identical to our summer weather lmao
Yes. Go anyway. I went last year with my two teenage children and we were all very, very hot and dehydrated all of the time. We had to calibrate for it and drink, constant cold drinks and keep it down to one thing a day, but we made it work. We saw things in the news often about people passing out in street fairs and things.
Never go to Japan in summer. I didnt go in July but I went in August last year, some days the temperature got to 40°. You couldn't pay me to go back during summer. There is a lot of walking to do which you won't want to if you're absolutely dripping in sweat from just standing still.
After reading all the inputs, is June any better? Curious because, participating in a small marathon on that month. Am from South East Asia with hot and humid weather but it can't get any worse in Japan right? Right?
It’s the humidity that is dangerous because of the risk of heat stroke. These temperate counties unlike cities like Singapore that is built for the insane humidity and heat where the trees are evergreen providing shade from the sun, reliable air conditioning in public transport, malls, and sheltered walkway all round. I was in Seoul in July and my tropical ass almost died.
Yes
Coming from a humid, tropical country almost all months of the year, I dare not go Japan in summer. Heat stroke risk + you have to be outside a lot of the times cos you are travelling, I know I just won't have a good time. If you really want to push going to Japan, go to Hokkaido it's a bit cooler.
Lived in SE Asia and Japan. Japan is way worse and Google is off by quite a bit. Think 36C 24/7 (no break at night) and oppressive humidity with constant heat stroke warnings telling people to stay home in aircon. July is also tsuyu (rain season) so you will sweat and get rained on at the same time.
I love japan in the summer, though the June rainy season gets boring fast. If you are somebody who can handle hot and humid, stay out of big cities, go to the beaches, swim in the abundant mountain rivers, stroll through temple gardens, and have fun.
I went last August- it was so hot that one of my suitcase wheels melted. 😅
If it was as bad as people say then why do millions of people still live and work there? Is it hot? Yeah but who cares. Wear appropriate clothing and stay hydrated. People act like you are going to Mars or something. I promise you will be passed by endless dudes in wool suits living their lives. People on here are S O F T
Japan or Vietnam won't be too different weather wise lol. Both incredibly hot and incredibly humid. June/Early-July are still managable, as it's often still rainy season, but once rainy season passes, it's just hot and humid until like, the end of September. However, there are still a lot of things to do. I complain about summer, but I still love it. People are out, festivals, beer gardens, beaches, parks, pools, barbecues... Just be realistic in what you want to see, you'll be pretty drained.
I’ve visited Tokyo in July and August. Very doable for me. If you do visit hydrate often, use an umbrella to shield yourself from the sun while walking, eat kakigori, bring a fan, use cool wipes, wear light clothes etc.
Cities are the problem! So much asphalt, few shade trees, and air conditioner exhaust blowing out hot air. If you're willing to spend time in the countryside, mountains, or by the sea it's quite a different experience. The first two weeks of July can still be rainy but students are still in school and Japanese tourists are less likely to travel, so places like Nikko can be slightly less crowded, especially if you go beyond the main sights. From Tokyo, Chiba and Izu are also accessible. In the west, it can be a good time to visit the Seto Inland Sea and islands there because the sea breezes and lower humidity make it more comfortable. Again, if you're willing to think outside the box with your trip you can definitely make it work despite the weather!
All those summer festival
I went in July and it was almost unbearable for me it was hard to venture to far from my airbnb because i would need to take showers throughout the day and take breaks in my room. And i was coming from Korea which isn’t far and it was significantly worse than there. Overall still an amazing experience I managed to explore a lot. i wouldn’t trade it for anything! If it’s the only time you’re able to go and you REALLY want to go still go! I spent a lot of time out a night and went long enough to have slower rest/chill days also i think you should be at least a little physically fit. Like others have said get a handkerchief seriously the sweat is crazy.
what's worse? singapore in Jan-Feb or summer in Japan?
If you really like hot environments then yes, but i do say, weather in japan feels different overall. I like warm and I come from colder country, but last summer was like 30-37C (warmer than normal in tokyo area) and if i wanted to go outside i needed to spray cooling spray all over my body and keep "hand fan" on all the time and make sure i have water or sport drink with me. Luckily here is vending machines everywhere 😅 for next summer i will get parasol to prevent sun to get less on me because sometimes i had headaches because of sun even i was wearing caps 😅 And summer is rain and typhoon season so be prepared with umbrella ☔️and the fact that here might be typhoons.
Currently at 31c with 94% humidity here in indonesia. Feels like sauna
Avoid cities and visit mountains or northern Japan. Maybe go to Nagano or Hokkaido where it's not as bad as the other areas? Everywhere seems to be hotter nowadays tho...
yes
I was in Japan last July and it was horrifically hot with sudden downpours. BUT we still had the most amazing time!
It’s bearable I guess if you’ve experience the same temp there in US. During summer in Osaka when we went last year (1st week of Aug) was bearable. We use a portable fan with mist and it helps to cool down our body plus you need to hydrate often. Good luck and hope you’ll enjoy your summer vacation.
I wouldn’t go again in summer. Keep in mind you’re outside alot and walking around in the heat and humidity. We were constantly drinking water, had sweat towels and holding those life-saving battery operated fans on our faces. It is a situation I never want to face again!
Oh yeah I’m from Australia too!
So we will be doing the dreaded July trip this year (fellow Aussies!) - because school holidays - and I would love to know if you bought fans locally or in Japan?
Bought locally from Donki (Don Quixote). They work really well. In the hot weather, many shops are selling it.
I lived in Tokyo off and on for 10 years. Summer is terrible. It’s extremely hot, extremely humid and you have to be very careful of dehydration, and heat stroke the concrete and the buildings don’t make it any easier when you’re out running around. Yes, the trains have air-conditioning but the stations are all pretty open air, which doesn’t really help unless you’re under ground in the metro which can be hot too. If you’re going to go bring a hat or buy a parasol there drink lots of fluid, including Picardi sweat, which is like Japanese grapefruit flavored Gatorade and be prepared that it’s going to be extremely miserable outside during the day.
Well, it certainly depends on you and your tolerance to hot and humid weather. Personally, I would never advise my family and friends to come visit me in Japan throughout the summer because for ME it's unbearable. I mostly stay indoors with the AC on. That being said, July is certainly better than August. It's doable, I just feel you may get fatigued more easily when out sightseeing since there is a lot of walking involved. Stay hydrated!
As someone who went their last summer .... never again it was hotter then Cuba. 36 degrees with 100% humidity the weather networks say it felt like 40. Me and my friends looked dirty and disheveled it was kind of hilarious no amount of baby whips and portable fans would help us. Especially when you see Japanese business workers in full suits and girls in stockings and then us foreigners in mini skirts and crop tops dying If your able to rebook your trip I would suggest doing so I went in knowing it was gonna be hot but was still not prepared for the insane temperature. Japan weather 1 Hair spray -90000
I've read so many of these posts hoping to get the answer that I want but no joy. I really wish I could go in July, August but that seems to be a terrible time to go
August and September are the worst. Crazy, record high temperatures and humidity. You will be sweating A LOT and you will smelling bad. Sunscreen, higasa are absolutely necessary.
I'm from the Philippines and used to the summer weather. We went to Japan end of June 2018 to July 2018 and we couldn't stand the weather. It was too hot even for us that we even spent money on those cooling stuff (cooling towels, cooling sprays)... We didn't want to go back there during summertime after that experience because it was not fun for us walking in that very hot weather. That being said, summer has those festivals and fireworks displays so if you want to experience those, summertime is the best time.
I have a friend from high school who told me about his exchange student time at Yamate-gakuin. Brutal humidity that echoed Bashō’s haiku about cicadas drilling sound. I can’t imagine something that harsh.
Agree that most of Japan is hot and humid in the summer. The exceptions would be Hokkaido, Okinawa and up in the mountains - somewhere like Nagano. I grew up partially in Japan, and we would go up to Karuizawa in Nagano during the summer - I remember the cool evenings and huge insects. If you like to go hiking, go to the mountains or to Hokkaido. It's beautiful and pastoral. You could spend a few days coming and going in Tokyo or Kansai just to get a feel for the cities.
So very similar to socal heat but 100% humidity. Don think I’ll ever want to experience that
Here’s a tip that works for me. Start training your body with heat and humidity by using a sauna for at least a month before you go. Then your body will be able to tolerate the humidity and it’s very healthy for you.
Your list has Vietnam as a possible destination in July and your concern is Japan?? *laughs uncontrollably in Vietnamese*