Seven reasons to travel to Japan during summer 2019

It might be hot and sticky, but there is an amazing energy in Japan in the summer months. Not only is it festival (or "matsuri") season, but there’s also the spectacle of local people in their beautiful summer kimonos ("yukata"), fireworks displays lighting up the skies, bustling beer gardens, beaches looking their best and delicious foods to try.

THE FESTIVALS

Summer is "matsuri" time in Japan. And the Japanese love a good festival. Taking place all throughout the year, the biggest and best happen during the warmer months. Streets come alive with parades, colourful floats, food stands, fireworks and music. With everything ranging from traditional dance festivals to fireworks festivals, lantern festivals, to drumming festivals, there really is something for everyone.

Kyoto's most famous event is Gion Matsuri, which runs for the entire month of July and includes a huge line-up of parades and festivities, though the main parade takes place on July 17th and 24th, with festivities lighting up the city on the three nights prior to each parade. Another favourite, Awa Odori, held in Tokushima on the island of Shikoku, is the largest dance festival in the country and onlookers are invited and encouraged to get involved.

THE FOOD

The food in Japan is always a highlight of any visit, but in summer there are extra delicious things to try, specially designed to help beat the heat. One of Japan's most popular (and pretty) summer desserts is “kakigori” (a cup of shaved ice, flavoured with syrup). Cold noodle dishes are also very popular at this time: try "somen", boiled thin white noodles served with “tsuyu” dipping sauce; "zaru soba", chilled buckwheat noodle dish served on a bamboo tray; and "rei shabu" (cold pork hot pot), which unlike regular "shabu-shabu" is more like a cold salad dish.

Street food such as "yakitori" is also worth trying. Popular year-round, these grilled chicken skewers are especially big as a summertime festival dish. Likewise "takoyaki" (balls of deep-fried octopus) and "unagi" (eel) are delicious and believed to help fight summer fatigue. Wash these down with an icy cold and refreshing Japanese beer. There are plenty of great craft beers, as well as well-known names such as Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory. Another refreshing drink loved by kids and adults alike is “ramune” soda — a carbonated soft drink that comes in a variety of flavours, served in a cute blue bottle with a marble inside. And last but not least, Japanese ice cream. With interesting flavours such as "kurogoma" (black sesame), "beni-imo" (sweet potato) and matcha (green tea), this is too good to miss.

"takoyaki" (balls of deep-fried octopus) and "unagi" (eel) are delicious and believed to help fight summer fatigue. Wash these down with an icy cold and refreshing Japanese beer.

THE BEACHES

Japan might not be the first place you think of when it comes to choosing a beach holiday destination, but with nearly 35,000km of coastline you are pretty much guaranteed to find a beach that ticks all the boxes. The subtropical islands of Okinawa are a good place to start, offering up some amazingly beautiful beaches. If you’re looking for surf, head to the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka where waves are aplenty. The best surf can often be found during the typhoon season, which starts in June, nicely timed with the beginning of summer.

THE FIREWORKS

The sky is on fire during summer in Japan, literally. With so many fireworks festivals taking place across the country, it’s a spectacular time to visit. One of the best is the Omagari Fireworks Festival. Held in August, the competition attracts almost 1 million people to see around 30 manufacturers compete, setting off around 20,000 fireworks in total. Another very popular and impressive festival, definitely worth checking out, is the Sumida River Fireworks Festival held in Tokyo each July. It’s the oldest recorded fireworks festival in the country, dating back to 1733.

THE OUTDOORS

While Japan’s cities can be very hot and humid in the summer months, the mountains offer a cool retreat. Mount Fuji is a perfect escape from the city heat, and its six-hour climb up is an incredible way to enjoy the iconic World Heritage site.

Climbing season starts in early July, so be prepared to share the path with hundreds of other people. On a clear day, you can enjoy spectacular views over its rocky, volcanic landscape, with plenty of mountain huts offering respite along the way (though you may have to pre-book a space inside). Also worth checking out is the Kii Peninsula, the largest peninsula in Japan. Just 100km south of Osaka, it is most famous for its Kumano Kodo, a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that crisscross the peninsula. Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, its remote and natural beauty is staggering with mountain views, cedar forests, rocky paths and streams.

THE MUSIC FESTIVALS

Held at the base of Mount Fuji, the spectacular setting of the Asagiri Jam music festival is reason enough to go. It attracts international indie hit artists such as Belle and Sebastian, as well as a collection of domestic favourites. Alternatively, check out the famed Fuji Rock Festival; originally held near Mt Fuji, it now takes place in Niigata Prefecture. The impressive line-up is the major drawcard here, with world-class names such as Kendrick Lamar, Skrillex, Jack Johnson and MGMT taking part this year. If you can’t make it to Fuji Rock, also worth checking out is the Summer Sonic festival — a two-day music festival held simultaneously in Osaka and Chiba each August.

THE BEER GARDENS

The Japanese love a beer garden in summer. Sapporo is home to the king of beer gardens for a month spanning from mid-July to mid-August, with the Sapporo Summer Festival attracting more than a million-strong crowd each year. A massive temporary beer garden is set up in Odori Park, designed to seat more than 13,000 people. Beer gardens can be found across the country; often located on the rooftops of major department stores and hotels, most offer the Japanese tradition of nomihodai ("all you can drink") with plenty of beer and barbecued food on offer.

Japanpedia Team,

Credited & Arranged from:
www.news.com.au
www.wikipidea.com
www.japan-talk.com
www.tsunagujapan.com
www.japan-guide.com
www.japanpedia.asia
www.theculturetrip.com 

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