Japan is well-known for its four seasons. Spring is pleasant with its breezy weather. Winter is cold, snow even falling in metropolitan Tokyo on occasion. Autumn is relaxed as the leaves fall and make for the subject of many haiku.

And then there is summer… Hot, humid, and altogether much too much for even the local denizens of this country! It’s to the point that many will prefer to stay inside, in the comfort of their air-conditioned home!

So, how is a traveler to this country supposed to survive during this time of year? Rest assured: We have identified 5 things you need to watch out for during Japan’s brutal summer and how best you can prepare yourself for them!

The Sun

This one is probably the most obvious, but yes, when visiting Japan during the summer, you need to be very careful of the sun! Certainly, it provides us with warmth and light, but too much of both can be a bad thing, as it can lead to heatstroke and sunburn!

Both are easily prevented, however! For heatstroke, try to stay as hydrated as possible at all times, making sure to take a short break if you feel like you’re getting too hot! For sunburn, try to have some sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, making sure to reapply it every two hours, staying in the shade whenever is convenient!

If you do this, you should be able to stay safe while still enjoying all the benefits of your daily dose of Vitamin D!

The Insects

I think I speak for most when I say that insects are one of the worst things about summer. You can be having a great time, just taking a walk, or enjoying a barbecue, after all, and then suddenly you’ll realize that you’re itchy, and not just itchy in one place, but all places at once! This experience is obviously not unique to Japan, but if you are going to be traveling here, being prepared can only ensure the quality of your trip!

Fortunately, insect repellent is widely available and can be found at just about every conbini in Japan. Not satisfied with just a spray? Try using a silicone band, since those work just as well. If not, you can always try wearing a kimono dyed in traditional aizome – this indigo dye has a natural insect-repelling quality, which is why it was all the rage during Japan’s feudal period!

The Rain

Japan’s tsuyu, or rainy season, is traditionally considered to start in early June, ending only near the end of July. As such, most of the summer is quite wet, with an average humidity of 80% throughout the whole season! While the worst that will happen is that you’ll get rained on, this can put a damper on your plans, especially if you’re planning on taking lots of beautiful pictures for your social media!

So, don’t be a chump; be prepared! For example, try and check the weather for the upcoming days, so you can make adjustments to your plans as needed. Not all of Japan needs to be enjoyed outside, after all. Alternatively, if you need to be going somewhere, umbrellas and raincoats are cheaply available at just about every conbini. Just ask the staff and they’ll point it out for you!

The Ocean

Since Japan is an island country, naturally, the ocean is readily accessible and easy to enjoy. But with this convenience comes many other things that visitors need to be aware of, since the ocean is not just for one to enjoy, but for everyone to! As they say, all for one, and one for all!

So when hanging out at the beach, for example, please try and keep a plastic bag to dispose of any garbage! After all, while Japan is infamous for its lack of public garbage receptacles, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to keep it clean! Don’t throw your trash in the ocean either; the denizens of the depths like a clean home, just like you do, so if there’s nothing else, at least keep your trash in your bag, so you can carry it home!

And on the off-chance that a shark or a jellyfish comes by, don’t panic! There’s always someone at the beach who can help, with the worst situations being easily resolved by some of the best medical technology in the world! So, as a final aside, just be sure to read the signage at the beach, understand the rules, and if you do end up on a boat, listen to the captain, and everything should be all right!

The Japanese

Yes, yes – the Japanese are polite, friendly, hard-working, and curious about foreigners, but they are also very rules and order-oriented! Visitors to Japan must be aware of this and should therefore always endeavor to follow the old idiom of “Gō ni iraba gō ni tsutae (郷に入らば郷に従え)”, which is roughly equivalent to the English “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”!

I know it’s common sense, but try and be aware of your surroundings when visiting your attraction of choice! After all, Japan isn’t a zoo to play in, but a country of 125 million people who still have to live here! With all this said, however, there is one more thing to watch out for when being around the Japanese – their tendency to be party animals!

When the Japanese are off work, they LOVE to party, and as such, drinks, drinking, and drank it all are words you’ll hear time and time again! Don’t drink? That’s fine, but at least raise a glass when with your new friends! They’ll appreciate it. Do drink though? I recommend buying some ukon (turmeric) from the conbini and drinking it about ten minutes before the party starts; the small and widely available capsules are full of ingredients that have been proven to help prevent hangovers and thus give you less of a migraine in the morning after!

Conclusion

When it comes to natural phenomena, Japan does not lack. Each of Japan’s seasons is beautiful with much to do, but summer especially can be hot and therefore requires some forethought before experiencing.

Luckily, being locals, we know what kind of things you need to be aware of ahead of time, and so we’ve tried to offer some things to look out for as well as some ways to tackle them. Japan is a wonderful country after all, and if you’re visiting, you want to have a great time! So, hopefully, with this article, you’ll have learned some things to ensure those memories are ones eternally colored by mirth and health!