Beyond the Fireworks: Unconventional Ways to Survive and Enjoy Summer in Japan

When people think of summer in Japan, the first things that usually come to mind are fireworks festivals, shaved ice, and yukata strolls under the night sky. While those are undeniably beautiful parts of the season, they barely scratch the surface of what summer in Japan can offer. If you’ve already checked off the typical tourist experiences or want to avoid the overwhelming crowds, here are unique and often overlooked ways to appreciate the season—without the clichés.

Discover the Soundscapes of Cicada Season

One of the most iconic (and loudest) parts of summer in Japan is the sound of cicadas. For locals, it’s the soundtrack of July and August. Head to a temple or shrine surrounded by trees—places like Meiji Shrine in Tokyo or Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka—and just sit for a while. The natural chorus of insects is strangely meditative. It creates a space for reflection and calm, even when the humidity is heavy.

While most travelers ignore this simple experience, locals consider it deeply nostalgic and a symbol of transience, much like cherry blossoms in spring. Listening to cicadas in silence offers a rare, poetic side of summer in Japan.

Explore Abandoned Summer Resorts (Legally)

Japan has a number of abandoned resorts that boomed during the bubble economy but were later forgotten. These places—often located in cooler mountain regions—offer hauntingly beautiful sights of crumbling pools, silent arcades, and empty lodges surrounded by thick green vegetation. Areas in Gunma, Yamagata, and Nagano feature several of these “ghost resorts,” and you can often join photography tours led by local explorers who know the legal and safe spots.

It’s a thrilling and offbeat way to engage with summer in Japan—without sweating in a crowded theme park or beach.

Stay at a Remote Mountain Ryokan with Cold Springs

Most people associate ryokans with winter and hot springs, but a handful of traditional inns in Japan also offer cold mineral baths sourced from nearby rivers or high-altitude streams. These are sometimes called reisuiburo, and they’re deeply refreshing during the hottest months.

Places like the Kiso Valley or the Okuhida region in Gifu are dotted with these mountain inns. Combined with bamboo forest views and local soba noodles, this side of summer in Japan feels entirely detached from city life.

Try Crafting Your Own Bamboo Fans or Wind Chimes

Instead of just buying summer trinkets from souvenir stores, try making them yourself. Workshops in Kyoto, Kanazawa, and even parts of Tokyo allow you to create your own uchiwa (flat fans) or furin (wind chimes). These traditional crafts are more than cute decorations—they’re historically tied to how people in Japan coped with the oppressive heat before air conditioning.

Crafting gives you a hands-on understanding of the aesthetic side of summer in Japan, while also offering something physical to take home that’s tied to your memory of the season.

Go Night Hiking with Local Guides

Hiking during the day in Japan’s summer can be punishing, but night hiking has been gaining popularity, especially in regions like Mt. Takao or Mt. Rokko. These guided hikes often include stargazing sessions, insect observation, and learning about nocturnal animals. You’ll avoid the heat, mosquitoes are less active, and the quiet mountain paths under moonlight feel almost mystical.

For anyone interested in nature but not heatstroke, this is one of the most underrated ways to appreciate summer in Japan.

Escape to an Art Island in the Off Season

Art lovers flock to Naoshima and Teshima in spring or fall, but summer actually offers a quieter experience if you go during non-holiday weeks. The sea breeze cuts through the humidity, and installations like the Chichu Art Museum or the Teshima Art Museum feel even more surreal in the hazy summer light.

Bring a hat, wear linen, and avoid Obon week crowds. This version of summer in Japan blends art, architecture, and coastal serenity.

Join a Community Bon Odori in a Small Town

Forget the big tourist festivals in cities like Kyoto or Tokyo. Instead, venture out to smaller towns where the Bon Odori (Bon festival dance) is still deeply rooted in community traditions. Towns like Gujo Hachiman in Gifu or Uwajima in Ehime host all-night dances with locals—where participation is more important than performance.

You won’t just be watching a cultural performance; you’ll be part of it. These kinds of experiences capture the heart of summer in Japan, far away from flashy Instagram moments.

Visit Old-Fashioned Summer Kissaten (Cafés)

While most tourists head to chain cafés with air conditioning, locals in their 60s and 70s often retreat to old kissaten—retro Japanese-style coffee shops that serve chilled cream sodas, coffee jelly, and handmade sandwiches. These spots are air-conditioned time capsules with newspapers from the 90s and old Showa-era pop music playing softly in the background.

A visit to a kissaten is a quiet cultural escape that captures the slower, more deliberate pace of summer in Japan.

Learn the Art of Japanese Cooling Foods

Instead of piling on ice cream, try Japanese summer dishes designed to cool your body from within. Hiyashi chuka (cold ramen), zaru soba (cold soba noodles), and kuzu manju (chilled translucent sweets made with arrowroot) aren’t just delicious—they’re functional. Many are seasoned lightly or with citrus to aid digestion in the heat.

Try taking a short cooking class that teaches these meals. It’s a way to bring a piece of summer in Japan back to your kitchen at home.

Final Thoughts

There’s no denying that summer in Japan can be intense. But it’s also full of gentle, reflective, and sometimes strange experiences that you’ll never find in tourist brochures. Whether it’s listening to cicadas in an old shrine, bathing in cold spring water, or dancing all night in a remote town, there are infinite ways to find beauty in the heat—without doing what everyone else is doing.

The best part? These experiences reveal a different rhythm to Japan—one shaped by nature, nostalgia, and quiet community traditions. And that’s what summer in Japan is really about.