Japan in summer?

[Peonytimeguys]

Is Japan during July or August unbearably hot? Will it make travelling around with teens an unpleasant experience? We’ve been to other parts of Asia in the summer but always 5 mins from the sea or a swimming pool!

Yeah pretty awful
can you go at Easter?

Yes. Dreadful. My son lives there atm and says it’s unbearable without a/c

We went in august and it was very hot and humid, but we wore natural fibres and carried plenty of water.
For some reason my DH took his winter coat. Big puffer jacket. Lord only knows why!!!

We travelled round, never staying more than 2 nights in one place, using public transport for a fortnight.
Some sweaty moments, but a great experience!
He still brings his coat everywhere, just in case……..

We went in September if you can hold off until then. Weather was lovely, very warm but not super hot.

I think it was late Aug or early Sept when I was in 36 in the shade. It was so humid, I wore a straw sun hat. Walking down through the trees to the yea gardens in Kyoto my sun glasses steamed up. We were staying in a uni campus 'guest house', there was no aircon. That would be unusual now. DH was in Tokyo in September last year and it was 38-40 but aircon everywhere. No good for sightseeing and he didn't enjoy being there for work and feeling like he couldn't enjoy being outside.

I think that July is typhoon season in Japan. It's also very wet in June.

It depends on your tolerance for hot and humid weather. If you happily go to other places in 40 degree heat and high humidity and you can deal with it, then go. Plenty of Brits go to Florida every summer and traipse around the theme parks and you say you've been to other parts of Asia in the summer - in which case you'll probably cope. Personally though, I wouldn't. We went at Easter and it was amazing, low 20s, perfect sightseeing weather. We would love to go back in the autumn, which is the other good season for visiting, but we will not be going in the summer.

My preference would be Easter, absolutely. But with the rotation of kids exams etc yada yada, it's not going to happen for a few years. I'm desperate to go! But also, it will be a big sightseeing trip so the weather needs to work in that favour.

We went in July/ August with teenagers. Very hot and humid but it was only time we could go. We still had a great time, despite dripping with sweat as soon as you head out. Hotels were air-conditioned and we were actually pleased to see Starbucks branches, which provided a cool retreat when needed. We hired a car (drove ourselves) to go into the mountains plus took a couple of train journeys and one internal flight. The Tokyo metro was fine heat-wise. In Kyoto I hired a car and driver for the day to go to four main sights; it took us in air-conditioned comfort between them and meant we were able to see a lot more than we would have managed by ourselves. So no, it’s definitely not a great time of year to go but for us was better than putting it off for a few years if timing doesn’t otherwise work.

It's brutal. And not when Japan is at its most beautiful. If you possibly can, try to move it to autumn (autumn colours) or spring (cherry blossom) season.