2019 June Best Events in Japan

Rainy season

June marks the start of the rainy season in Japan, which usually extends until mid-July and is known locally as tsuyu (translating as “plum rain”). It results from the collision of cold northerly and warm southerly air masses, leading to unfavorable conditions across much of the archipelago. It impacts the islands of Okinawa around a month earlier but hardly affects the northernmost main island of Hokkaido.

However, the rainy season doesn’t mean it will rain heavily every day, with some days only experiencing light showers or even clear, sunny skies. The precipitation and humidity are also the perfect conditions for hydrangeas that bloom spectacularly across the country, with the hydrangeas of Kamakura the most famous.

Read more
・Kamakura’s best hydrangea spots for 2019
・14 Indoor Activities and Spots for Rainy Days in Tokyo
・10 Best Indoor Places for Rainy Days in Yokohama

Suigo Sawara Iris Festival

Suigo Sawara Iris Festival

With more than 1.5 million irises coming into bloom, the Suigo Sawara Ayame Park provides the setting for the annual Suigo Sawara Iris Festival. More than 400 varieties of irises will be on show, transforming the picturesque parklands into a sea of purple, white and yellow. Traditional boats are one of the most popular ways to experience the park and numerous wedding ceremonies are also held during the festival, as are tea ceremonies and live performances of Sawara music.

Suigo Sawara Aquatic Botanical Garden

3.5

48 Reviews

Chiba Pref. Katorishi Ougishima 1837-2

0478560411

9:00-16:30[Ayame Festival Pe…

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Kifune Festival

Enshrining two local water gods, the Kifune Shrine was founded more than 1,000 years ago in Kyoto and has become a symbol of rainfall ever since. The annual Kifune Festival is held at the changing of the seasons to celebrate the coming of the rain, with rituals and events taking place at the shrine from early morning until the evening. The outfits of the gods are changed to suit the new season and a sacred court dance is held before devotees carry the portable mikoshi shrine through the neighborhood.

URL：Kifune Festival Facebook Page

Kifune-jinja Shrine

4.5

710 Reviews

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Kuramakibunechou 180

0757412016

[Reception hours]9:00-17:00[…

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Photo by Yosakoi Soran Festival Organizing Committee

Photo by Yosakoi Soran Festival Organizing Committee

If you’re wanting to escape the rainy season, head north to Hokkaido and the Yosakoi Soran Festival in Sapporo. This energetic festival attracts around 30,000 colorfully costumed dancers from across Japan to perform in Odori Park and along Menuki Street. It incorporates the traditional Yosakoi percussion instrument known as naruko with Hokkai’s Soran-bushi folk songs, with dancers of all ages divided into more than 270 teams to showcase their energetic choreography.

URL：https://www.yosakoi-soran.jp/about.html#english

Odori Park

4.0

3804 Reviews

Hokkaido Sapporoshi Chuou-ku Odorinishi 1 from 12-chome

0112510438

Open 24 hours

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Asahikawa Design Week

Open Factory

ACDA Exhibition

Also taking place on Hokkaido Island during June is Asahikawa Design Week, which provides a platform to spread innovative ideas about lifestyle and design. It showcases the craftsmanship for which the city of Asahikawa is renowned, with unique furniture manufactured here utilizing a range of natural materials. Asahikawa Design week includes factory tours, installation artworks and seminars related to design, with a different theme selected every year. It’s a special opportunity for people interested in design and lifestyle trends to meet some of the city’s most renowned furniture designers and learn from their craft.


URL：
・ASAHIKAWA DESIGN WEEK 2019
・ASAHIKAWA DESIGN CENTER

ASAHIKAWA DESIGN CENTER

Hokkaido Asahikawa-shi Nagayama 2-jo 10-1-35

0166484135

10:00-17:00

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Learch Asahikawa

永山1条13丁目2-5 B3 Asahikawa

Oedo Waen Soba and Sake Festival

Oedo Waen Soba and Sake Festival

At Yoyogi Park

If you’re a foodie, then don’t miss this gastronomic festival that celebrates two of Japan’s most famous creations - soba noodles and sake. It’s held in Shibuya’s Yoyogi Park, with more than 100 different kinds of sake available to try, alongside a variety of soba noodle dishes from across the country. Discover the regional variations in both hot and cold soba dishes, as well as unusual toppings and delicious dipping sauces. The sake available includes rare brands that you won’t easily find elsewhere, making it a “must-visit” festival for true fans of Japanese rice wine.

URL：https://www.oedo-waen.com/

Yoyogi Park

Tokyo Shibuya-ku Yoyogikamizonochou , Jinnan 2

0334696081

Always Open

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Special Exhibition “The Mammoth”

Special Exhibition “The Mammoth”

Mammoth found Frozen

This summer, Miraikan (The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) is unveiling its newest exhibition “The Mammoth”, which will be showcased until early November. It will explore the ecology of the mammoth and the natural world as it was when the mammoth roamed the Earth. Drawing on leading scientific research and precious specimens of ancient animals, this exhibit is sure to engage both young and old alike. After visiting the special exhibition, you can browse the rest of Miraikan, including real-time displays of Japan’s seismometers and a rock core illustrating a major meteorite impact that is thought to have led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

URL：https://www.mammothten.jp/

National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)

4.0

1089 Reviews

Tokyo Koutou-ku Aomi 2-3-6

0335709151

10:00-17:00 (Ticket purchase…

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