All you need to know to get through the rainy season in Japan

This is the rainy season, which generally takes place during early summer from the beginning of June to around mid-July. The weather is always rainy and gloomy, and everyone’s mood during this period also seems to be dampened as a result. 

The rainy season can be hard and annoying to deal with, especially for those who have yet experienced it before. As the rainy season is right around the corner, GoEMON figured this would be the perfect time to prepare this guide on all the things you need to know to get through this period! 

Let’s get started, shall we? 

1. Introduction to Japan’s rainy season 

As previously mentioned, Japan’s rainy season generally starts in early summer from the beginning of June until around mid-July. This also coincides with the seasons of ripening plums, which explains the reason why it is given the name “梅雨” (Tsuyu/Baiyu), or plum rain in English. 

During this period, the cold winds from the North will collide with the warm winds traveling from the South, which results in several weeks of extreme humidity and rainy weather in all of Japan. 

2. Tsuyu forecast 

The effect and period of Tsuyu vary quite significantly depending on the region. More specifically, the island of Okinawa will experience it about one month earlier (from May to mid-June). In contrast, the northernmost regions of Japan like Hokkaido are generally much less affected. 

Credit: savvytokyo

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the rainy season in Japan in 2024 will come a bit later than in previous years. You can check the detailed forecast of the beginning and end of the rainy season of each region on their official website via this link: https://www.data.jma.go.jp/cpd/baiu/sokuhou_baiu.html 

3. What to expect

“Expect the unexpected” might just be the best term to describe the rainy season here due to how unpredictable the weather can be. One moment the sky can be clear and slightly sunny, and then rain can come pouring out of nowhere the next. The rainy season usually does not last the entire forecasted one-month-and-a-half period, with some reasons where it only lasts for around 3 weeks. It also might not be rainy for the whole day, every single day of the week; some days are just super gloomy with cloudy, dark skies. This explains the reason why everyone’s spirit always seems rather down during these few months (except those who like rain, maybe). 

Additionally, as a result of excessive precipitation, it will be humid all the time, leaving the air constantly smelling musty, and doing the laundry, as a result, is no different from an absolute nightmare. 

On a more positive note, the temperature will be much lower during this period, so try to enjoy the cool weather before the sun starts radiating an unbearable amount of heat again. 

4. Tips on how to survive the rainy season in Japan. 

Below are some of GoEMON’s tips on what you can do to get through the rainy season in Japan

(1) Always be prepared 

As previously mentioned, the weather during this period is extremely unpredictable: you never know what it has in hand for you. Thus, our recommendation is to always be prepared and carry along with you some necessary items whenever you are going out during this period. This includes: 

• A compact foldable umbrella to bring with you at all times. We recommend getting a sturdy, high-quality one as the wind can get pretty strong. The last thing you’d want to happen is too get soaking wet after your umbrella got completely destroyed by the wind, right?
• Rain boots or shoe covers for rain. Though not a must, this item will be useful to those who want to keep their shoes clean and dry and hate the feeling of damp socks. 
• Towel or some tissues to wipe off the rainwater. Again, this is not a must but may come in handy. 
• Waterproof bag/backpack. We especially recommend this to students or those who have to bring their electronic devices like laptops or tablets outside daily. 

Preparing this much might seem annoying, but it is always better to be safe than sorry, right?

(2) Tip number 2: Keep the humidity away from your home 

Rainy season equals high precipitation, which also means the air both inside and outside of your house will be smelling musty and extremely humid for weeks. Not to mention the mold that might develop as well…

Source: Humidifiergeek

Obviously, the best countermeasure and prevention method for this would be to dehumidify your room. Dehumidifiers, moisture-absorbing sheets, dehumidifying crystals, etc., anything should do the work. For those who are sensitive to scents, we recommend putting some dehumidifying crystals and fragrant sachets in your wardrobe/closet! This will make such a major difference in keeping your clothes smelling fresh and clean during this period. 

Another effective way to dehumidify your place is to turn on the exhaust fans and switch your air conditioner to drying mode. It is definitely not uncommon to see people leaving the exhaust fans on for long periods or even at all times during this period, especially for places that can get extra humid like the bathroom. 

(3) Tip number 3: How to dry clothes 

One of the most frustrating things about the rainy season is doing the laundry: the clothes never seem to really dry and would always end up staying damp and smelling unpleasant. And since it’s always raining, you can’t really hang the clothes to dry outside as well. What should we do then?

Some Japanese houses and apartments have built-in exhaust fans or clothes-drying systems for their bathrooms, as well as hanging racks installed specifically for this purpose. If your place happens to be one of these then lucky for you! 

Source: Maki-art 

If not, don’t worry since you can get an indoor hanging rack instead. You can find these in different designs, sizes, and colors easily in shopping centers, malls, home centers, or online. Our recommendation is to put the rack in your bedroom and then put your air conditioner in drying mode; your laundry will be dry in no time! There are also specific laundry detergents that are specifically designed for indoor drying that you can try out. 

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 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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