We visited Japan for 2 weeks in early June. Since this was our first trip to Japan, the popular 3 cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka were definitely on our itinerary, even though cities do feel hot and humid in June. But we combined some smaller towns and rural landscapes with the larger cities to round up the trip. If you are looking for weather, travel tips, best places to visit, things to do in Japan in June, you have come to the right place.
A record 42 million+ foreign tourists visited Japan in 2025, the highest number ever in a year. Japan’s peak seasons, spring in (March to May) and autumn (October to November) offer pleasant weather but very large crowds and high prices. Summer in Japan while being hot and humid also has fewer tourists at popular attractions and lower prices for everything from accommodation to flights. June is shoulder or low season for visiting Japan, it offers a sweet spot of warm but manageable weather with fewer crowds.
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Weather in Japan in June
June month in Japan is characterized by the tsuyu (rainy season), expect humid and warm weather with frequent rain showers. Temperatures ranges from 18°C to 30°C [64 – 86 °F]. But June is far better with heat and humidity compared to July and August. The rainy season begins early June in the south and hits Honshu by mid-June, lasting until mid-to-end July. Hokkaido, the northernmost island is mostly unaffected by the rainy season, offering cooler, pleasant, and dry weather.
Early June is generally better than late June, as the peak of the rainy season often sets in later. And while Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka experience damp, overcast conditions, it is not constant rain. We got lucky with 3 dry days in early June visiting Kyoto. Japan’s infrastructure handles the rainy season in June month effortlessly. Trains run on time, attractions remain open, and life continues with typical Japanese efficiency.
Summer travel to Japan, especially in cities, just needs smarter planning. Go out early in the morning for the famous spots like Fushimi Inari in Kyoto. Save museums like teamLab Art Museums in Tokyo, or shopping, and indoor experiences for the afternoon.
What to wear in Japan in June
We did an average of 15000-20000 steps each day despite taking taxis at times. So one of the top travel tips for Japan is to bring a pair of comfortable, broken-in shoes. For the rainy season, it is better to pack 2 pairs to be able to change if one gets wet.
Pack only light summer clothes, that are preferably quicker-to-dry. But packing light was not easy to do for our summer trip to Japan. The hot and humid weather meant that clothes could not be repeated for wear. And with frequent change in cities and hotels, doing laundry on the trip was not easy as well. Do remember that Japan has an excellent luggage forwarding service between cities, Yamato. Your hotel reception desk or concierge can help set this up for you.
You will need a light raincoat, and / or sturdy umbrella. But it is ok to not carry them but buy them on your first day in Japan. Umbrellas are available at most pharmacies and convenience stores. The transparent ones are large, stylish and functional.
What to expect regarding crowds and cost
June is a shoulder or almost low season, meaning cheaper flights and fewer tourists at major attractions. July and August, despite higher temperatures and humidity see a rise in tourist traffic simply because of summer holidays schedule. So June month offers a sweet spot for travel to Japan with lesser crowds and better prices.
But don’t expect popular attractions to be empty just because it is June. To beat the heat, it is best to visit them early in the morning especially the famous attractions like Fushimi Inari and the Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto. That’s what we did during our trip to Kyoto.
You don’t need to book bullet trains in advance in June, you can buy tickets at the train station itself, if you so desire. The availability and pricing of hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka Japan will be favourable.
Best places to visit in Japan in June
In general, rural landscapes will be more pleasant to visit in June rather than large cities. Do note that cities are hot and humid in summer season. Plus the northern part of Japan, Hokkaido largely escapes Japan’s rainy season. However, for a first-time visit to Japan, most people focus on the classic Golden Triangle route – Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
Tokyo with its towering skyscrapers and well-preserved temples and shrines offers a fantastic study in contrasts. We spent 5 full days in Tokyo, split into the beginning and at the end of our Japan itinerary. Spending more than 4 days will give you enough time to easily do a day trip from Tokyo. Popular areas like Hakone, Kamakura, or Nikko provide a relief from city hustle and can be done as day or overnight trips. Kamakura is famous for its stunning hydrangea gardens that bloom in the month of June.
No visit to Japan feels complete without the historic wonder that is Kyoto. People flock to it for its famous Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and traditional arts like tea ceremony, geisha culture. Osaka, known for its street food, lively streets, night life and friendly locals, is loved by many. It does make for a great base to explore more of the Kansai region. We explored Hiroshima / Miyajima Island and Himeji castle as separate day trips from Osaka.
As I mentioned earlier, it is best to add some smaller towns and natural landscapes to your Japan itinerary especially in summer season to escape the heat. We chose Koyasan, a temple town also known as Mount Koya for an overnight temple stay. If you are into war history, both Hiroshima and Nagasaki are worth visiting. Hiroshima is closer and easier to reach from Osaka or Kyoto. A day in Hiroshima offers epic history lessons, visit the Hiroshima Peace Park that makes you reflect on the importance of peace, and the museum that showcases the horrors of war.
You can head north to Hokkaido for mild weather in June, lush landscapes, and the Yosakoi Soran Festival. The norther part of Japan helps escape the humidity with cool temperatures, flower fields (like lavender in Furano), and vibrant festivals.
Okinawa transitions out of the rainy season by mid-June, though early June still sees occasional showers. It has a subtropical climate, which implies hotter weather and a high beach season.
Things to do in Japan during summer season
Hydrangea viewing rivals cherry blossom season in Japan for natural beauty, yet it attracts a fraction of the crowds. Kamakura‘s Hasedera Temple offers Japan’s top hydrangea display, featuring 2,500 plants across 40+ varieties. We saw these flowers blooming at so many gardens in Kyoto and Tokyo in June.
Explore traditional Japanese Gardens in the rain: Japanese gardens provide a much-needed contrast to the city sightseeing and come alive in the rains. To break the urban chaos of Shibuya and Shinjuku neighbourhoods of Tokyo, it is easy to go for a peaceful walk through the forest to Meiji Jingu shrine. Its dense surrounding forest, massive wooden torii gates, and a calm inner garden is all you need to recharge. On a day trip to Himeji, after exploring the historic samurai castle, Koko-en Garden with its 9 separate walled gardens was a delight.
Choose indoor activities during rainy spells: Mix outdoor sights with indoor activities, and city trips will feel much easier during summer season. You also need to be a bit flexible with your daily itinerary. Our booking for Shibuya Sky in Tokyo got cancelled (we got a full refund) due to heavy mist and drizzle. Our afternoon plans changed to shopping as the rains continued.
Relax in Natural Hot Springs (Onsen): Relaxing in an onsen offers serene June experiences in Japan. Hot spring waters are contrasted with cold rain, which helps in calming the senses. Hakone has private outdoor ryokan baths and themed pools.
Events and Festivals in Japan in June
Hydrangea Festivals [Ajisai Matsuri]
Hydrangeas typically bloom during the rainy season in June and July. Many shrines and temples all over Japan that have gardens featuring hydrangeas hold special openings and events for visitors to enjoy. Like the Fujinomori Shrine in southern Kyoto, the Hakusan-jinja Shrine in central Tokyo, and the Mt. Takato Park in Fukuoka Prefecture.
Kamakura‘s Ajisai Matsuri (Hydrangea Festival) takes place in June, turning this historic city into a stunning blue and purple landscape. Key spots like Meigetsu-in Temple and Hasedera Temple attract crowds to see thousands of blooms.
Sanno Matsuri
The Sanno Matsuri (Sannō Festival) is one of Tokyo’s top 3 Shinto festivals, held annually in mid-June at Hie Shrine in Tokyo. A lengthy procession is the main feature with hundreds in ancient costumes, floats, drummers, and portable shrines, historically paraded for the Shogun. This historic festival attracts large crowds with food stalls and cultural events. There is a grand Shinkosai parade held only in even-numbered years (next in 2026).
The Gion Matsuri festival happens in July, this is one of Japan’s most lively celebrations.
Yosakoi Soran Festival
If you are headed to Hokkaido in June, don’t miss out on Yosakoi Sora Festival, an epic dance-off event full of flashy moves, colour, and music. This vibrant summer celebration in Sapporo features over 27,000 dancers in colourful costumes. It is primarily held at Odori Park, along with various other spots throughout Sapporo. The festival was initiated by students from Hokkaido University in 1992 to merge local fishing traditions with the vibrant Yosakoi dance style.
Summary: Pros and Cons of visiting Japan in June
Pros
June’s lower tourist numbers mean lesser crowds at popular attractions, easier restaurant reservations, and more availability at popular hotels.
The cost of accommodation is 20-30% cheaper in comparison to the cherry-blossom season (March-April), Golden Week (late April-early May), and the foliage season during the fall (October-November).
A chance to enjoy multiple festivals. Summer is a season with colorful parades and festivals in Japan.
Cons
The rain complicates logistics and requires flexibility in sightseeing schedule.
Sightseeing needs to be early in the moring or late in the eveing and at a relaxed pace to deal with heat and humidity of June.
Have I convinced you to visit Japan in June?
Planning a trip to Japan? Check out –
Start with Essential Travel Tips For Japan and 2 Weeks in Japan
City Itineraries: Tokyo 5 day Itinerary, 3 Days in Kyoto Itinerary, Osaka 3 Day Itinerary
Day Trips: Best day trips from Tokyo, Best day trips from Osaka, Ultimate Guide to Tokyo DisneySea
And finally, the Best Hotels in Japan
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June sounds like a great time to visit Japan! We visited early October, before the autumn colors and also enjoyed less crowds at many places, though we did have quite a bit of rain. So, planning in those slim shoulder months like June is definitely the way to go!
Early autumn would be fantastic, I would love to see the fall colours in Japan someday.