四季 · The seasonal guide to Japan
Japan,
Season by Season
Cherry blossoms to winter onsen — where to go, and when, to catch Japan at its most beautiful.
四季 · The four seasons
Travel by Season
夏 · Right now
In Season Now: Summer
Fireworks festivals, yukata nights and cool alpine escapes.
Kawadoko: Dining Over the River in Kyoto's Summer Heat
Kawadoko season turns Kyoto's rivers into open-air dining rooms each summer — when to book Kibune's platforms and the Kamogawa's riverside decks.
Gion Matsuri: A Guide to Kyoto's Month-Long Summer Festival
Gion Matsuri 2026 runs all of July in Kyoto — here's when to see the Yamaboko Junko float parade, Yoiyama nights and the best street food.
Furano's Lavender Fields: Japan's Purple Summer in Hokkaido
Furano's lavender fields peak in mid-July — here's when to see Farm Tomita, Biei's flower hills and Hokkaido's Blue Pond at their best.
物語 · From our writers
Latest Stories
Kawadoko: Dining Over the River in Kyoto's Summer Heat
Gion Matsuri: A Guide to Kyoto's Month-Long Summer Festival
Furano's Lavender Fields: Japan's Purple Summer in Hokkaido
Climbing Mount Fuji: Japan's Short Summer Window
Kakigori and the Taste of a Japanese Summer
Obon: When Japan's Ancestors Come Home
手紙 · The monthly letter
Never Miss a Season
A short monthly roundup of new guides — bloom forecasts, festival dates and the best time to visit, in your inbox once a month.