Things to Do in Japan in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
August Weather in Japan
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is August Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + August delivers the final stretch of Obon, when Tokyo's usually merciless subway finally exhales and every ward throws its own matsuri. Charcoal smoke from yakitori stalls snakes through Shibuya's alleys, and taiko drums bounce off office façades at dusk.
- + Hiking the spine from Nagano to Wakayama is at its best: the 3,000 m (9,843 ft) ridgelines have shaken off winter snow yet remain empty of leaf-chasers, and the air at 2,000 m (6,562 ft) sits at a cool 20 °C (68 °F) while Kyoto swelters at 32 °C (90 °F).
- + Hotel occupancy drops the moment Obon ends (around 16 August), so ryokan in Hakone and machiya guesthouses in Kanazawa suddenly flash last-minute space, ideal if you buy the plane ticket first and worry about beds later.
- + Summer bonito and squid flood seafood markets from Hokkaido to Kyushu; Tsukiji's outer-market gavel still slams at 5:30 am, minus the spring tourist scrum.
- − The humidity is no joke, Tokyo's 70 % clings like a wet cloth, and a 20-minute stroll can drench a cotton shirt. Locals keep tenugui tucked in every pocket for good reason.
- − Afternoon storms crash in without warning, one minute Osaka Castle's sky is postcard blue, the next you're racing for shelter as raindrops detonate on the stones.
- − School holidays keep bullet trains packed. The Tokyo, Kyoto run can be standing-room-only on weekends. Lock in reserved seats 72 hours early or spend the trip wedged between suitcases.
Best Activities in August
Top things to do during your visit
From 13, 16 August, lantern processions wind through temple grounds and quiet lanes, paper globes sway above, cicadas drill from every cedar, and grilled squid drifts from yatai carts. The timing follows the lunar calendar, so these walks are a once-a-year August gift.
August is the lone month when the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route runs snow-gate-free. Ride the electric trolley bus through tunnels at 2,450 m (8,038 ft), step into 15 °C (59 °F) air, then hike the 5 km (3.1 mile) ridge to Kurobe Dam where mist arcs in rainbows above the 186 m (610 ft) drop.
Sagami Bay's breeze slices the humidity, and the 17 km (10.6 mile) coastal trail is almost level. Salt air mixes with grilled whitebait while surfers and volleyball players crowd Shonan beaches on either side.
For six exact weeks in August, department-store roofs turn into beer gardens. Cold Asahi Super Dry on tap, steam curling from edamame baskets, and neon flickering off nearby towers give the night a flavor found only in Japan.
Furano Lavender Farm keeps its purple coat until mid-August, and the old-school Biei Norokko train rattles past hills that smell like soap. At 600 m (1,969 ft) the daytime high is a sane 23 °C (73 °F), far from Honshu's sticky 30 °C (86 °F).
August Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Tokushima's 400-year-old street dance pulls 100,000 performers in yukata whose wooden geta clack in perfect time. Yakitori smoke drifts between lines of dancers, and the chant 'Yatto sa, yatto sa' ricochets off Edo storefronts.
In Akita, teams balance 12 m (39 ft) bamboo poles hung with 50 paper lanterns while taiko pounds. Cedar smoke from street torches fills the night. This is the only moment you'll watch grown men walk beneath 50 kg (110 lb) of swinging fire without blinking.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Book Experiences in Japan
Top-rated things to do in Japan this August
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Japan.
See All Japan Tours on Viator