Advice for traveling through Japan in the rain

13 comments

1. I got rained on in Kyoto a few months ago and it didn’t slow me down much! Umbrellas can be bought at any 7-11, Lawson’s, or any other convenient store for that matter! At one point, I asked the hotel if they knew where I could buy one and they just gave me one for free. You’ll have no problems, you don’t even need to plan too hard! You’ll be fine

2. What would you do if you went somewhere else and it was raining?

   Bring a rain coat / goretex shell and/or get a umbrella.

3. I went to Fushimi Inari when it was raining and had a great experience. I brought an umbrella from a local convenient store. There was a lot less people there and I took some nice photos.

4. I’d say probably the main concern when it comes to rain, is transportation and the possibilities for delays or even closures. Definitely have a back up plan if things don’t go as planned.

5. I would probably avoid Nara in the rain. Deer must look pretty miserable

6. Most things go ahead as planned if it’s just raining, but can be canceled if a typhoon comes, especially if there are weather alerts issued. Keep an eye on local weather reports. I’m not sure what Tsukiji is like these days but Nishiki has a roof so it will not be affected much by rain.

7. Make sure to bring waterproof shoes!! Even with a poncho and umbrella my feet still got soaking wet. Nothing worse than walking around all day with wet socks

8. I would pass on the monkey park in heavier rain. The hike up was slippery and muddy with a heavy pour, but it would be totally fine in a light shower. In contrast, the bamboo forest and Kokedera were enhanced by that weather.

9. Spray your shoes with a water proofer or sealer. You can catch a rickshaw to sightseeing in arashiyama.

10. I’m going to Japan the same dates… i still hope it’s not rainy :-(.

11. I like to look at the [Weather Japan app](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/weatherjapan/id1244002532) the night before to plan out the next day to do indoor activities during the worst of the rain. I’d prioritize bringing two pairs of comfortable walking shoes/sneakers. If one gets wet you can wear the other while that pair dries. You can also buy a cheap, see thru plastic umbrella from any convenience store if m/when needed. Umbrellas are better than rain coats since you fold them up and leave them outside the door of a shop/store when you go in so you don’t drip water all over the floor. Leave your leather bags/shoes at home and bring fabrics that are water resistant or will quickly dry if you hang up in your room overnight.

    – [20 Best Indoor Activities in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/best-indoor-activities-in-tokyo)
    – [Complete Guide to Surviving Rainy Season](https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0002433/)
    – [JapanGuide: Rainy Season](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2277.html#:~:text=In%20most%20of%20Japan%2C%20the,Okinawa%20about%20one%20month%20earlier)

12. I had a fantastic time wandering through the Kyoto Imperial Palace and its surrounding park on a very rainy day last fall.
    It was great, felt like I had most of it to myself so I could really take my time to read the plaques and oggle the architecture.
    The colors of the gardens and park were really pretty in the lower light too.

    Get yourself an umbrella and just make peace with the fact that your shoes and socks will be soggy.

    As long as the wind isn’t bad I say embrace the rain! 🙂

13. Bus will be delayed if it rains