Visiting Japan in June

The rainy season starts in earnest in June, the wettest time of all, known as minazuki, the month of water. The heat and humidity also rise this month, making it less pleasant to explore so this definitely isn’t the best time to visit Japan. If you aren’t put off by the wet weather, also known as plum rain, you’ll see the countryside bursting into lush green life as well as hydrangeas flowering. It is drier and cooler in Hokkaido, so you can escape the sticky cities and head out to explore the national parks. If you’re thinking of escaping to the beach, Kyushu’s rains are as tropical as the temperatures, so it’s best to save these for another time.

Festivals: Hydrangea festivals, or Ajisai Matsuri, take place throughout the month as the flowers bloom. Fujinomori Shrine in Kyoto opens its gardens for the whole of June, head to Shimoda Park south of Tokyo, or enjoy the Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival in Tokyo itself.

Best for: Hiking in Hokkaido, hydrangea festivals.