Hey I am aiming to head to Japan in the last week of july and leave in the middle of August. A few things i’ve read say that it can be quite busy with locals and not many tourists around that time. I’m just wondering if anyone can confirm or deny this and tell me if it’s still worth going on these dates if it is busy?
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Unless you like 40 degrees C and very high humidity, I would urge you to choose another time.
It’s usually very hot and humid, so you’re right that there won’t be a lot of tourists around.
Obon holiday is in the middle of August. But, it’s mostly people travelling to their hometowns.
The main downside of traveling in August is the heat. If you aren’t used to humidity, August can be miserable.
Echoing that it can be VERY humid, and quite hot on top of that. And keep in mind that Japan also typically has what could generously be called mild air conditioning. You won’t find much respite in shops or trains.
In the late July, August, and September, we have a typhoon season here. It’s also extremely hot and humid in Honshu island(where Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and other major cities are located).
The second week in August is one of the busiest week in Japan. It’s called “Obon” vacation week. A lot of Japanese people visit their family members. And also many of us, local Japanese, travel all over Japan for sightseeing.
Thus, public transportations and touristy cites are always extremely crowded.
The weather, temperature, situation, everything is really hard for tourists from abroad.
I’ve done it before. Hottest months of the year but not as busy!
Mid August is the Obon period and quite busy with us locals. No, tourists are around all summer.
If you don’t like busy places Japan is not a good choice.
Edit; also as people have mentioned, Tokyo is a little hotter than Bangkok in August.
It all depends on what you want to do. Hit up the main tourist attractions in Tokyo and the other big cities? You’ll be miserable.
I’ve been during both rainy season and immediately after obon and it was great, but we scheduled and planned around the weather. Bring lots of linen shirts, restrict outdoor stuff to early morning, take a road trip through the country side, etc.
July and August are good times to see festivals. but as others have mentioned it will be hot, and humid.
Students summer vacation starts around mid to end of July and lasts till the end of August. Obon is also in August.
the popular festivals will be crowded if its not raining, and it might even be crowded if it is.