Japan for three weeks in July

Japan in the summer is no worse than Europe in the summer. Japan is fabulous and I wouldn’t miss a trip there.

One idea to try to keep cool in Japan in July is to head north to Sapporo, the main city in that region. I visited Tokyo in January 2021, and it was one of the best of 19 visits I took overseas because the culture is so vibrant and the people so welcoming.

Thailand is mostly a tropical nation and would almost always be hotter than Japan. The capital Bangkok averages as one of the hottest big cities in the world. Thailand is reportedly among the world's ten countries that are most exposed to climate change.

Barbara: many says that Japan is much worse than Europe in summer because of the humidity.

I traveled in Japan in July 12 years ago. Before I went, every Japanese person I knew made a face and said they would never go in July, but it wasn't too bad after all, though might be a little worse now with global warming. A few suggestions: Make sure your hotels have air conditioning. I think this is pretty common in western style hotels and in some ryokan. There were vending machines that sold cold water and other cold beverages on the streets in many places, plus lots of 7-11 type stores making it easy to stay hydrated. There were many air conditioned stores to duck into to cool down. Visit Hakone, a lovely national park mountain resort area 100 km from Tokyo. It is much cooler there. Good places to hike, visit little towns, lots of natural hot springs, and an outdoor sculpture museum, cable cars, among other attractions.

Last year, I went on a cruise from Yokohama to Seoul

Would you consider a cruise? So many offered with different itineraries.

I believe that it will be very hot and crowded in July but that is often the only time people can travel.

Japan and S. Korea were wonderful. Beautiful and interesting.

Japan in summer is very hot and humid. So is Thailand.

As others have said, water can be purchased at vending machines---they are everywhere--and at konbini--convenience stores. They too are everywhere. In cities, you won't have to walk more than a couple of blocks to find one. The three major companies are 7-11, Family Mart and Lawsons. Don't think of these like their US counterparts. They are nothing like them. So much better.

Procaro Sweat is a popular brand of bottled water. In summer it might be a good idea because they add sugar to it.

The Japanese don't like to get tan so many will use an umbrella in hot weather to keep the sun off of them. (Not the clear ones.) The umbrella might also come in handy since June and July are rainy seasons.

Plan on getting a Suica card. You use it on public transportation but it can also be used to pay at Konbini and at most vending machines.

Detailed July weather summaries for: Tokyo, Sapporo, & Fukuoka
(based on historical data, future likely somewhat hotter due to climate change)

Have been to Japan many times (and we're going back again on Monday).

In most of Japan, summers are hot, very humid, sticky, "muggy" and pretty uncomfortable. I would think twice, and then think again, before contemplating any mid-summer trip to MOST of Japan. It's just too uncomfortable for me. Spring, Fall or Winter, sure, I'd go any time.

The exception is Japan's large northern island, Hokkaido. Hokkaido in the summer months is lovely. It's where Japanese go to beat the summer heat and humidity. We loved Hokkaido during our summer trip there (June). It's really beautiful. As a Canadian, consider this: I live in Seattle, so have traveled extensively around British Columbia (and Alaska). Hokkaido is Japan's equivalent to BC/Alaska: green, pristine, natural, lovely. Incredible nature (including large stretches of wilderness - like "watch out for bears while hiking" wilderness), great seafood. We did an almost-3 week road trip all around Hokkaido and we could have spent 2 weeks more. You will not run out of things to do/see.

In July, I'd skip Tokyo completely and just fly to Sapporo. If it's your first trip to Japan and you really feel the need to at least see a bit of Tokyo, go there first (but for just a few days) and be prepared for intense heat and humidity (you will want to run from one air conditioned building to another to avoid being outside for more than a few minutes). Hokkaido is where you will want to be.

I'd skip Thailand (we go there often, but it's hot and humid pretty much year 'round). Hokkaido is blissful...sunny and warm enough (actually hot mid day) but is just about perfect for a summer vacation. Hokkaido makes an ideal "summer road trip" destination (just be prepared for wrong-side driving)

You will get a lot of varied opinions on this. I go to Japan several times a year and that usually includes a late June - early July trip. It can be hot once the rainy season fades out at the end of June but the temps, around 90F, don't bother me all that much but of course everyone has different tolerances.

Hokkaido, the northernmost main island, and Tohoku, the northernmost part of the main island Honshu, tend to be cooler and attract a lot of visitors in the summer. Distances in Hokkaido are long so factoring in travel time would be helpful in planning.

Most places are "mildly air conditioned" which I actually prefer - you don't get drastic temperature differences going in and out of buildings or transportation. The temperature and weather will get a lot of play in the news media but I don't find it all that bad (similar to my home in the US South).

Cities such as Tokyo can be a bit less comfortable but there are so many places to go indoors that you can easily avoid being out in the heat for too long if that is a concern. Unless the heat makes you very uncomfortable, I would not let it stop you from traveling there in July.

It also depends on where you are from.

Someone from the southeast of the US, where it is very hot and humid in the summer, won't find Japan too bad, weatherwise, in July while someone from Canada might find it excrutiating.

Thanks to all for those answers !
Hokkaido seems to be on may people list to avoid heat. But many also says that while it's lovely, going only to Hokkaido would be a bit of a let down.

The idea of combining one week in Hokkaido with 2 weeks elsewhere seems the way to go for us. I can't imagine going to Japan and not see Tokyo. There's a strong chance that this would be my only trip to Japan so.....

Accept the fact that it will be hot. There are things you can do about it.

But as where to visit, some may disagree with me but I would put Tokyo and Kyoto at the top of the list.

Yes, they are crowded. Yes, they are packed with tourists. But there is a reason everyone wants to go there. They are amazing places.

After planning for those two ciites, you can then start adding others.

I should add to my earlier post that my Canadian wife minds the summer heat in Japan more than I do. Of course, temperatures in her home province of New Brunswick are now approaching those of Japan in the summer. The big difference is humidity which tends to be higher in Japan.

There is a uniquely Japanese solution to the heat. You can pick up an air conditioned jacket - seriously, I am not joking - when you get to Japan. The first time I saw workers outside wearing what appeared to be down jackets and hoodies really startled me. Turns out they were wearing air conditioned outfits. It is really weird to see this when the temperature is so high but I guess they really work. There are at least two specialty stores in Tokyo selling this gear. You will also see people walking around with various portable fan sets. Daiso - Japan's wonderful 100 yen chain - is your friend for fans sets.

You might partially address humidity by going early in July rather than later.
https://weatherspark.com/m/143809/7/Average-Weather-in-July-in-Tokyo-Japan#Sections-Humidity