How hot is Tokyo in July?

Hot and humid: highs around 30°C (86°F) early, mid-thirties (around 95°F) by late month, lows around 23°C (73°F), humidity high. The rainy season usually ends around the middle of the month and the heat arrives in earnest after it.

When are the Sumida River fireworks?

The last Saturday of July, over the river near Asakusa: around twenty thousand fireworks, a million spectators, yukata everywhere. Arrive hours early for a riverside spot or watch from a side street with a konbini beer like locals do.

Is July or August better for Tokyo?

July, narrowly: a degree or two cooler on average, the first half still rainy-season grey rather than blazing, and fewer domestic travellers before the Obon holiday in mid-August. Both are hot; neither is pleasant for a midday walk.

How do you cope with Tokyo's summer heat?

Be outside before 10 and after 5, spend the afternoon in museums, department stores and cafés, carry water and a hand towel like everyone else, use the cooling sprays and wipes sold in every convenience store, and eat cold noodles and kakigori shaved ice.

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Travel Guides · Tokyo

Tokyo in July: Heat and Humidity Honestly, the End of the Rains, Fireworks, Summer Festivals and July vs August

July in Tokyo is hot, humid and alive: the rainy season ends mid-month, the fireworks and summer festivals begin, and the heat becomes the thing you plan around. What the weather does by week, the Sumida River fireworks, Mitama Matsuri's lanterns, beer gardens, how to survive 33°C with 70 percent humidity, and whether July or August is better (July, narrowly).

Oscar Garcia·Founder of Roavi··2 min read

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July is the month Tokyo gets hot and decides to celebrate it.

Weather#

	Early July	Late July
Days	~29°C / 84°F, rainy-season grey	~33°C / 91°F, blazing
Nights	~23°C / 73°F	~25°C / 77°F
Rain	Rainy season until ~mid-month	Occasional storms
Humidity	High	Higher

June before, August after.

What's on#

Mitama Matsuri, mid-July, Yasukuni Shrine: thirty thousand lanterns, food stalls, Bon dancing.
Sumida River Fireworks, the last Saturday: the biggest show in Tokyo. Riverside spots fill by mid-afternoon; locals watch from a side street with a konbini beer.
Beer gardens on department store rooftops, open from June through September.
Tanabata, 7 July: wishes tied to bamboo across the city.
Summer festivals every weekend somewhere: a shrine, drums, yakitori, kids in yukata.

Surviving the heat#

Out before 10, in from noon to 5, out again at dusk. Water, a hand towel, the cooling wipes every convenience store sells. Cold soba, hiyashi chuka, kakigori. The air-conditioned city (museums, department stores, arcades) is where afternoons go. Things to do, where locals eat.

Escaping it#

Nikko and Hakone are cooler in the hills; Kamakura's beaches are open (day trips). Mount Fuji's climbing season runs July to early September.

Prices and crowds#

Moderate until school holidays begin around the 20th. Where to stay, Tokyo on a budget.

Pack#

The lightest clothes you own, a hat, a small towel, a folding fan, something for cold air conditioning. What to wear in Tokyo.

A festival with a local#

A summer matsuri is a neighbourhood's party and a Tokyoite knows which weekend and which shrine. Post your dates on Roavi Community and a Local Friend can take you, yukata optional.

Tokyo in July? Go to a summer festival with someone who lives there.

Meet a Local Friend

Frequently Asked Questions

How hot is Tokyo in July?
Hot and humid: highs around 30°C (86°F) early, mid-thirties (around 95°F) by late month, lows around 23°C (73°F), humidity high. The rainy season usually ends around the middle of the month and the heat arrives in earnest after it.
When are the Sumida River fireworks?
The last Saturday of July, over the river near Asakusa: around twenty thousand fireworks, a million spectators, yukata everywhere. Arrive hours early for a riverside spot or watch from a side street with a konbini beer like locals do.
Is July or August better for Tokyo?
July, narrowly: a degree or two cooler on average, the first half still rainy-season grey rather than blazing, and fewer domestic travellers before the Obon holiday in mid-August. Both are hot; neither is pleasant for a midday walk.
How do you cope with Tokyo's summer heat?
Be outside before 10 and after 5, spend the afternoon in museums, department stores and cafés, carry water and a hand towel like everyone else, use the cooling sprays and wipes sold in every convenience store, and eat cold noodles and kakigori shaved ice.