Japan in July 2025: Travel Tips for Summer Weather & Events

With soaring summer temperatures and humidity brought by the rainy season, a trip to Japan in July is not the ordinary best choice for your ideal journey, but still, with its charms to surprise your summer holiday - festivals with fireworks, vibrant fields of flowers, and lovely beach or mountain towns to escape the heat. If you are planning a summer visit to Japan, let me show you some positive aspects and tips for your July adventure.

Japan's Weather in July

July in Japan is hot and humid, with average temperatures ranging from 24 to 32℃. The first half of July is still the tsuyu (rainy) season in most of Honshu, when you can catch those teru teru bozu (traditional Japanese sun dolls) hanging from windows.

In contrast, Kyushu experiences an earlier rainy season, offering ideal summer getaways for beach lovers. Meanwhile, the cooler Sendai and Hokkaido in the north are other choices for your dry and refreshing escape.

In the second half, it goes back to its sunny days for a wide range of activities, whether it is continuing your city sightseeing or cool hiking adventures on Mt. Fuji or in the Japanese Alps.

Japan Weather Map in July

Costs & Crowds

July is considered one of the shoulder seasons in Japan, with relatively fewer visitors and more accommodation options to enjoy its vibrant summer festivals, especially the first half when flight and room prices become more affordable, and streets and attractions are also empty enough for your memory photos.

Meanwhile, the end of July marks the start of Japan's summer holidays, leading to an influx of domestic visitors. Festival sites will be packed with local families in yukata, celebrating their lively summer, so booking in advance is also recommended.

Best Places to Travel in July

Tokyo - Best for Family Activities

A bustling city that showcases classic Japan, Tokyo is an ideal destination for both indoor and outdoor activities throughout your July journey. With numerous museums and parks, Tokyo is perfect for a family tour - whether it's the anime world of Akihabara and the Ghibli Museum or the wonderlands of Disneyland and Legoland, Tokyo caters to all the needs of your kids and family.

Kyoto - Indoor Cultural Experiences

Kyoto is one of the best places to experience ancient Japan with its rich cultural heritage. Even in the rainy season, there are plenty of indoor activities for your July traveling. Participate in a traditional tea ceremony, take a glimpse of samurai culture from the sword museum, dress in a delicate kimono or heavy armor, and savor the traditional cuisine of kaiseki with wagashi for dessert.

Kimono Dressing Experience

Okinawa - Island Hopping

For the ideal summer getaway, embrace sunny beaches and sparkling seas on an exhilarating island-hopping adventure in Okinawa. Discover remote fishing villages with unique cultures, kayak through lush mangrove forests, explore mysterious caves, or dive into azure waters to experience an underwater wonderland of colorful fish, vibrant coral, and adorable turtles.

Nagano - Highland Hiking Escape

Let the mountainous landscape of Nagano offer some chilly adventures to your July journey. This region boasts numerous hiking trails, including the Nakasendo, which winds through forests and hills and retains its ancient charm with traditional wooden houses. Another highlight is the tranquil Kamikochi within the North Japan Alps, where you can immerse yourself in splendid nature, featuring verdant forests, flowing rivers, and snow-capped mountains.

Recommended Tour Itinerary

Central Japan with Japanese Alps Hiking 13 DAYS Explore This Tour

What to Do in July

Capture the Summer Flower

Although July is far from cherry blossom season, Japan still boasts an array of vibrant summer flowers. Travel to Japan in July, and you can witness the full bloom of hydrangeas, ranging from sakura pink to water blue, decorating every nook and cranny of shrines and gardens. The waterfall-like wisteria in its charming purple is another must-see, adding a touch of nature to your city sightseeing. For a splendid visual feast, head north to Hokkaido to see vast flower fields blanketing the hills and mountains into a wonderland.

Vast Flower Fields in Hokkaido

Explore Museums for Your Interest

For some recommended indoor activities, Japan's diverse and fascinating museums offer endless opportunities for exploration. For families, enter the enchanting worlds of the Ghibli Museum and the Kyoto International Manga Museum. For cultural experiences, visit the Sword Museum or the Samurai and Ninja Museum to step back in time to the Edo period. You can also make your own cup noodles in Osaka, or immerse yourself in the automobile museum of Toyota.

Enjoy the Coast & Sea

Traveling to Japan in July is ideal for enjoying the coast and sea. Whether you're in coastal Kamakura, celebrating with grand fireworks, or on the sandy beaches of Fukuoka, where lovely torii line the sea, there are plenty of options. Southern Okinawa is perfect for water activities, offering a fragmented island landscape ideal for partying, diving, or kayaking. Riding along coastal cycling trails is another great way to experience Japan's summer, catching splendid sunsets with a gentle sea breeze, and adding a touch of romance to your July journey.

The Lovely Torii Line the Sea

Take A Leisure Hike

Taking advantage of the sunny days in the second half of July for a leisurely hike in the mountains and forests is always a good idea. It's an ideal way to escape the summer heat without worrying about crowds, especially for those eager to conquer Mt. Fuji. For a more lively nature experience, head to the vibrant Japan Alps, which offer multiple hiking trails. Capture the snow wall along the Tateyama Kurobe or rest by the winding riverside of Kamikochi. For a lush forest experience, try the winding trails of Kumano Kodo.

Events & Festivals

Tanabata Festival

The Tanabata Festival (July 6th-8th), also known as the Star Festival, commemorates the legendary tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi, star-crossed lovers separated by the Milky Way. To experience one of the most renowned Tanabata celebrations, consider visiting Sendai in the Tohoku area. Here, you can participate in vibrant street parades featuring long colorful streamers and paper cranes. After inscribing your wishes on paper strips, you can tie them to bamboo branches as part of the festivities.

Gion Matsuri

Part of a purification ritual to invoke good luck, the Gion Festival is an almost month-long celebration that can be experienced throughout July in Kyoto A highlight in mid-July is the Yoiyama Evenings, where you can enjoy lively nighttime food and drink stalls along the Kamo River. The main event is the grand procession of Yamaboko floats on 17 July, featuring huge, elaborately decorated floats. If you visit a little earlier in July, you can also witness the fascinating process of float assembly.

Kamakura Fireworks Festival

A quintessential summer event in Japan is the beachside Kamakura Hanabi Taikai (fireworks festival) in tranquil Yuigahama, not far from Tokyo. The Kamakura Fireworks Festival is renowned for its unique underwater fireworks, where you can witness splendid displays both in the sky and reflected on the ocean's surface, creating a magical, colorful summer night for your mid-July journey.

Recommended Tour Itinerary

Japan Highlights with Firework Festival by Bullet Train 10 DAYS Explore This Tour

Tenjin Matsuri

Falling on July 24 in Osaka, this 2-day celebration includes both a procession and fireworks, making Tenjin Matsuri a great way to enjoy Japan's summer. The festivities begin with a ritual at Tenmangu Shrine, followed by a grand procession on the second day. You can see locals in traditional costumes parade through the streets with drums and music, culminating in the Okawa River procession at night, accompanied by splendid fireworks.

Japan Travel Tips in July

Avoid the Noon Sun

Get up early to see one or two garden or temple attractions before the crazy heat - it won't be that comfortable to stay beneath the noon sun for a long time, so squeeze into shopping malls for some ice-cream and kakigori treats, visit interesting museums with cool air, or head back to your hotel room for a cool shower and nap until your early evening sightseeing.

Carry Some Cash

Most summer festivals in Japan feature lively nighttime stalls of street food, small fireworks displays, yukata decorations, and various games you can take part in. To fully enjoy your July trip to Japan, don't forget to carry some cash for these immersive festival experiences.

Pack A Folding Umbrella

A folding umbrella can help protect you from occasional rain showers, especially for early July travel in Japan, which coincides with the rainy season, also to shield your skin from the strong summer sun.

Take Advantage of the Shinkansen

If you're on a longer trip with many cities to visit, the Shinkansen bullet train is a fast and convenient way to travel through Japan, which is also helpful to avoid the summer heat and make the most of your July trip.

Traveling to Japan in July? Check out These Great Itineraries

Highlights of Japan - 10 Days

Starting from the leisurely Osaka and its nearby cities like Kobe and Himeji, this is a classic trip to capture the highlights of the Golden Triangle (Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka), with the majesty of Mount Fuji and the historic sights of Hiroshima.

Japan Family Vacation - 9 Days

A kid-friendly journey with a taste of Japan's unique culture. Catch the giant lantern in front of the Senso-ji, enjoy a boat ride across Lake Kawaguchi, capture the floating shrine in Itsukushima, and make a cup of macha during the tea ceremony.

Japan Vacation With Fireworks Festival - 10 Days

A journey to the heart of Japan with an exciting fireworks festival in Kamakura to light up your summer night. Start with the ancient shrines and palaces of Tokyo, head to Kamakura for the full bloom of the fireworks, and immerse yourself in Japanese culture in Kyoto.