June in Japan marks a clear shift into early summer. It’s starting to get hot and humid in most of Japan, and delicious summer foods are coming into season.
June is most known for being the rainy season! The rain brings lush green landscapes, blooming hydrangeas and newly planted rice seedlings.
While June doesn’t have any major holidays, it’s still a time with a rich seasonal atmosphere and lots to enjoy!
Whether you’re visiting Japan or learning about Japan from home, here’s what June in Japan looks like:
Festivals and events in June
Rainy season (tsuyu)
June in Japan is best known for tsuyu (梅雨 / つゆ), the early summer rainy season.
Rainy season usually lasts for around six weeks. During rainy season, it doesn’t rain every day. But it rains more often than usual, and many of those rainy days can be very heavy rain called ooame (大雨 / おおあめ) – literally ‘big rain’!
By the way, the kanji for rainy season 梅雨 literally mean ‘plum rain’. This is because plums become ripe during this season.
The old name for June was Minazuki (水無月) – the month of water.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan this season, don’t let the rain put you off! It’s generally not a problem if you have an umbrella and the right clothing.
Although, in rural areas, it’s important to be aware on ooame days because country roads and footpaths can easily become flooded.
Thanks to all the rain, the countryside becomes vivid and green, and many flowers thrive during this period.
One cute June tradition is to make teru teru bōzu (てるてる坊主) – little dolls intended to ward off rain!
Rice-planting season
Late May and early June is the time for rice planting in Japan. Farmers try to get the rice in the fields before the rainy season starts so that the plants can benefit from the rain.
Small rice seedlings are transplanted from seed beds to flooded rice paddies. Traditionally this was a painstaking but spiritual process done by hand, but now it is usually mechanised.
There are still some events where you can see rice planted the traditional way, such as the Otaue Rice Planting Festival in Osaka.
Many other local towns also have rice planting festivals. Rice farming is associated with the Shinto religion, so there are many associated rituals. It’s common for school children to be invited to experience rice planting too.
With all the seedlings in and the iconic rice fields full of fresh seedlings, the countryside looks lush, green and beautiful. I love how the countryside looks in this stage and it really represents Japan to me!
Hydrangea season
Hydrangeas, known as ajisai (紫陽花 / あじさい), bloom throughout June and are closely associated with the rainy season.
You’ll see them at temples, shrines, parks and along quiet streets. They come in shades of blue, purple and pink, often deepening in colour after rain.
You already know Japan loves its flowers, so you won’t be surprised to hear that many parks and towns have special hydrangea festivals during this time and people will take a special trip to see them.
Sannō Matsuri
Held in Tokyo in mid-June, the Sannō Matsuri is one of the city’s (and country’s!) biggest festivals, and is widely known across Japan.
The main event (which only happens every two years) is a large procession through central Tokyo which takes nine hours! The whole festival lasts for 11 days.
No national holidays
June is one of only two months in Japan with no national holidays (the other being December). There are also no school holidays. Life is pretty routine, and it’s a quiet time for travel.
This makes June in Japan a good time to observe everyday culture and days out without major crowds!
Things to do in Japan in June
June is quieter for tourism, but it offers its own rewards if you don’t mind a little rain.
- Visit temples and gardens famous for hydrangeas.
- Enjoy popular sights while there are fewer crowds, compared to spring and summer peaks.
- Try seasonal foods such as cold noodles and early summer vegetables.
- Look out for fireflies in rural areas toward the end of the month (some towns hold firefly festivals or events).
- Use those rainy days to explore cafés, museums and covered shopping streets.
What is the weather like in June in Japan
June is warm, humid and often rainy across much of Japan. Tokyo and central regions typically range from 20 to 26°C (68 to 79°F).
Northern areas are slightly cooler, while southern regions can feel hot and sticky.
Pack light layers, breathable clothing and a waterproof jacket or umbrella. Good shoes that can handle wet weather are essential!
Japanese activities to try at home in June
June is a nice month to slow down and enjoy seasonal details.
- Create hydrangea-themed artwork or colouring pages.
- Make your own teru teru bōzu – so easy to make with things you already have in your home!
- Try plums or plum-flavoured Japanese snacks. I love umeshu (plum wine) and umeboshi (pickled plums) if you can find them. In Japan many people make these at home in June!
- For crafty folks, here’s a beautiful ajisai paper craft!
- Practise weather-related Japanese vocabulary.
Useful Japanese vocabulary for June
- tsuyu (梅雨 / つゆ) – rainy season
- ajisai (紫陽花 / あじさい) – hydrangea
- ame (雨 / あめ) – rain
- kion (気温 / きおん) – temperature
- mushiatsui (蒸し暑い / むしあつい) – hot and humid
- hotaru (蛍 / ほたる) – firefly
- Sannō Matsuri (山王祭 / さんのうまつり) – Sanno Festival
- kasa (傘 / かさ) – umbrella
- somen (素麺 / そうめん) – thin noodles, usually served cold
- shitsudo (湿度 / しつど) – humidity
- minazuki (水無月) – month of water (old name for June)
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Rebecca is the founder of Team Japanese. She spent two years teaching English in Ehime, Japan. Now back in the UK, she spends her time blogging, self-studying Japanese and wrangling a very genki toddler.