A complete guide to the rainy season in Japan
In Japan, aside from the four typical seasons that we all know of (spring, summer, fall, and winter), there is something called the “rainy season,” or Tsuyu in Japanese. This damp, gloomy weather is rather annoying and may cause frustration for many residents here.
Knowing your concerns, this article is GoEMON’s ultimate guide on how to support Japan’s rainy season! Let’s jump right in, shall we?
1. Introduction to Japan’s rainy season
Japanese rainy season is referred to as Tsuyu/梅雨 (also pronounced Baiyu), which translates to “plum rain” in English as this season coincides with the seasons of ripening plums.
During this period, cold winds from the North will collide with warm winds from the South, which results in several weeks of extreme humidity and rainy weather in Japan.
2. When does it start?
The rainy season in Japan generally lasts from early June to mid-July, whereas the islands of Okinawa experience this about one month earlier, from early May to mid-June. The northernmost regions of Japan, such as Hokkaido, are locations that are less affected by the rainy season.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the rainy season in Japan in 2023 goes as follows:
3. What to expect
When it comes to the rainy season in Japan, the best tip that I can give is to “Expect the unexpected.” This is because the weather during this period is extremely unpredictable: one moment the sky can be slightly sunny, and then rain can come pouring the next. And as can be referred from the name itself, do expect a fair amount of rain during this period.
Additionally, due to the excessive precipitation, the air would be humid all the time, leaving the air constantly smelling musty and making doing the laundry an absolute nightmare.
On the bright side, just because it is rainy season does not mean that it will definitely be raining every day; there will also be days when the skies are consistently cloudy and gloomy as well.
Another plus is that the temperature will mostly be on the cooler side.
4. How to survive this period
(1) Tip number 1: Always be prepared:
As mentioned earlier, the weather during this period is extremely unpredictable; you never know what it has in hand for you. Better safe than sorry, we recommend always being prepared by bringing some necessary items before going out during this period. The list of things includes:
- A compact umbrella to bring with you at all times. We recommend getting sturdy ones as the wind during this period is usually pretty strong, and the last thing that you would want to happen is for the umbrella to break because of it.
- Rain boots or shoe covers for rain
- Wet wipes and/or towel to wipe off the rainwater
- Waterproof bag/backpack (especially recommended for students who have to bring their laptops and electronic devices daily)
(2) Tip number 2: Keep the humidity away from your home
Two of the worst things about the rainy season are that your room will be left smelling musty and extremely humid for weeks. And not to mention the mold… The best countermeasure for this is to use dehumidifiers. Dehumidifying machines, moisture-absorbing sheets, etc, anything should do the work as long as it can help take away the moisture.
Don’t forget to put some in your closet/wardrobe as well! Trust me, it will make such a major difference in keeping your clothes smelling fresh during this period.
Another way to dehumidify your place is to turn on the exhaust fans and switch your air conditioner to drying mode. It is not uncommon to see people leaving the exhaust fans on for long periods of time, or even all the time during this period.
(3) Tip number 3: How to dry clothes
One of the most frustrating things during this period is that due to high humidity, the clothes never seem to dry and would always end up smelling unpleasant. One solution is to hang the clothes indoors while also maintaining the moisture inside of your house. You could do this by either putting your air conditioner on drying mode, turning on exhaust fans, using dehumidifiers, and so on. Pairing this with using detergents, especially for drying clothes indoors will make a major difference.
Don’t have anywhere to hang your clothes indoors? Don’t worry, since you can find a plethora of different indoor hanging racks on the internet! These come in various sizes and types, so you are sure to be able to find a suitable one!
The rainy season may seem intimidating, especially for those who are experiencing it for the first time. However, with just a little bit of preparation, you will sure to be able to overcome it just fine! GoEMON hopes that the article was of use to you in preparing for the upcoming rainy season!
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