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.
Climbing Mount Fuji: Japan's Short Summer Window
Mount Fuji's trails open for barely ten weeks a year. Here's how to time the climb, pick a trail and catch sunrise from the summit.
Kakigori and the Taste of a Japanese Summer
From queue-worthy shaved ice in Tokyo's Yanaka to flowing noodles on a Kyoto riverbank, here's how Japan eats its way through the heat.
Obon: When Japan's Ancestors Come Home
Every August, Japan lights fires and sets lanterns on rivers to guide its ancestors' spirits home for the Obon festival.
Tanabata: Japan's Star Festival
The story of Tanabata, Japan's star festival — wishes tied to bamboo, streets buried in streamers, and when to catch it: 7 July or early August.
Japan in Summer: Fireworks, Festivals and Beating the Heat
Japan in summer: the big festivals from Gion Matsuri to Nebuta, the best fireworks nights, and how to beat the July–August heat.