We are planning a trip to Japan in June. However, we have seen weather status report that indicates it is the rainy season. Is that accurate? And how much rain is normal during their rainy season?

WE've gone twice in June. Very muggy and grey drizzly skies with occasional heavy showers. You'll be happier in towns at higher elevations. Takayama and Nikko come to mind..

Take an umbrella and you'll be okay. Oor go in mid-May and it will be a lot drier and cooler.

Yes it's the rainy season. But that doesn't mean it rains all day every day. But it's certainly more humid than usual and there are all the usual warnings about not eating raw fish in the rainy season. That said however, the rainy season has a special beauty of its own: the flowers are particularly fine, the temples have an atmosphere not encountered at other times of the year. If you are going to any of the gardens in Kyoto, Nara, Kamakura or Takamatsu you will see them at their best.

The good thing is that umbrellas are cheap in Japan.

I paid about 500 yen for the collapsible one I bought in Nagoya and promptly left on the train going to Gifu. I walked from the station on a street with a couple of shops and stopped into one that might sell umbrellas. They didn't have any for sale, but proprietor went in the back and came back with an umbrella and gave it to me.

That might have been in Ise.

All the hotels have loaners, too. Last month I left mine on the gondola in Hakone, so we were really glad I grabbed one from the hotel lobby for DH.

For what its worth - I was in Japan twice during the month of June - in 2005 and also in 2009.

The first time (2005) the weather was fantastic for the 10 days I spent there, little or no rain, abundant sunshine, comfortable temperatures (mid 20 degrees) and relatively low humidity.

This year however, things were rather gray with on again/off again rain (this rather easy to deal with), but with a high humidity level (thank god for air cond.) all throughout my shorter stay (4 days) on an extended layover. This did not deter from my enjoyment of my stay - just be prepared with different type of activities (indoor/outdoor) and "go with the flow".

You will have a great time regardless !
kanadajin

Many thanks for these replies. It's interesting that the best info you can get for stuff like this is from people who have been there, done that. Thanks, again.

Hi there. We went to Japan in the middle of rainy season in 2009 - from June 24 to July 8, and only got one day of rain. Part of it was luck and part of it was planning - we started off three days in Tokyo (no rain), then spent two days in Tohoku (no rain), six days in Hokkaido ( no rain) and then four days in Kyoto (one day of rain). We planned to hit Hokkaido, however, because there is no tsuyu there.

We got more rain when we spent two weeks in Honshu and Kyushu in April 2008.

Hokkaido would be a great choice for a visit in June. Lots to see and do and nice weather at that time to boot.

Aloha!