Hi !
We are a family of 4 (2 adults and 12 and 16 years old kids). After being in Europe 7 or 8 times we are looking for another experience. Japan is on the top of our list. The thing is that we must travel only in summer (we are teachers and the kids are in school). The earliest we can go is july 3. We would go for 3-4 weeks and we are from Montréal.
We know that July isn,t the best time to in Japan beacause of the heat and humidity. So we have two options: Go anyways and try to manage the heat or wait until we are retired (and maybe dead before !) .

Questions:
1) Is airbnb legal and the best way to rent appartements in Japan ?
2) Trains are expensive, is driving a good idea like we have done it many times in Europe ?

Thanks a lot !

Summer in Japan is marked by a rainy season that runs from early to mid June to mid July for Tokyo followed by a hot season. Typhoon season tends to run July though mid October. July during the hot season tends to run temperature of 28-30 with high humidity. There have however been heat waves to 40 not that dissimilar to Europe except Europe has less humidity.
Driving in Japan is not usually a good idea unless you want to visit places not well served by buses or trains.
Car rental is not that expensive and gasoline is not that much more than the US but tolls for highways and bridges and tunnels can be very expensive. There are few freeways so expect to pay about a $ a mile in tolls. Parking is also expensive. Driving is also on the left side and roads are narrow. A car with room for 4 adults plus baggage will probably cost over $100 a day including taxes and insurance. You may wish to go in July but I doubt renting a car will save money

Going in July is better than not going. Your kids are at a good ages. Assuming you all can overcome the heat and humidity which i would assume to be the case if you were from Florida or St Louis. Coping with July weather in D.C. meant (for me) going from one air conditioned place to another in a car with A/C, and just perspiring the rest of the time with some whining along the way. IDK what weather is like in Montréal. But it really depends on what you are used to.

Anyway, driving could make sense depending on your itinerary. Yes in Kyushu, Hokkaido, Tohoku, Shikoku. Outside of the big cities (Fukuoka or Sapporo).

I like to use agoda.com and japanican for lodging and have seen home/apartment rentals. I googled your question and got the answer that I totally expected: Yes – Airbnb is legal in Japan!

I've been to Japan three times in the summer, and I loved every trip. It's important to have head covering because the sun will beat down on you, but anytime you're in the shade it's fine. Not like Shanghai, or even worse, Hong Kong for humidity. When I went with my kids that age, we hit Disney Sea, Sea Paradise, Cosmo World. Sunshine City Ikebukuro has an aquarium, zoo, a planetarium, a theme park (Namjatown), and a 60th-story observation deck. All indoors. Don't overplan.

However, I do have a son that lives in Montreal and I understand what it's like to live up there and be used to the damp and cold. Even a year living in Northern Michigan did not prepare him for Montreal.

I’ve also been to Japan during summer a few times and it was hot and humid. But as mrwunrfl said going in July is better than not going at all, totally agree.

If I were to travel to Japan now, I would spend more time in Hokkaido where it is more tolerable summer weather wise. Great food and lots of natural scenery. But I understand this is your first trip so you will want to see and experience the top visitor sites. I say go for it, 100%!

Seems like a lot of festivals are during the summer months. I've looked at a few detinations and see that the place is famous for some festival which is held in July/August, (like the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri in early Aug)

Thanks a lot for all those answers. So the general idea is that Japan in July is better than no Japan ! From what I can see in Aibnb, AC seems to be widely avaible, it would at least help us to have good nights of sleep !

Weather in Montréal is nothing like the weather in Florida or St-Louis. We can have some days of heat and humidity, but nothing we should get in Japan. Werther is the only (and it`s a big one) question mark we have for now.

Now we will have to wait that flights goes a bit lower (fingers crossed). Direct flight from Montréal (YUL) to Tokyo are 2300$ cdn most of date in July.

Summer is high season for airfares to Japan. Do you have any one week holidays during your school year other than summer and Christmas?

We have one week for ''spring break'' in march. But making (twice) a 14 hours flight to be only one week in a place doesn't worth it to us. And the week we have is not at the same time this year

I was reminded elsewhere to check on the legality in Japan of meds available in USA (and Canada). Not sure if my alergy meds are ok.

I think I read that ADHD meds are illegal. I believe those drugs are taken mostly by kids in an age range that includes 12 and 16 year olds. That made me think of this thread.

Depending on how much you would be using the trains and in what regions, have you looked into JR Rail passes? They are specifically designed for foreign tourists. You will need a foreign passport to pick them up.

I am currently in Hakone at a Onsen on a 12 day trip. Was in Osaka and Kyoto and now staying in Tokyo. Osaka is inexpensive. Tokyo and Kyoto are expensive and heavily touristed. The countryside is not expensive. My good friend in Tokyo told me last night that last summer was miserably hot which matches what my niece in Osaka told me. The JR pass just went up 70% in price so I do not think it’s worthwhile for most people. Did not look at the regional passes. We stayed at a Airbnb in Kyoto which worked out well for the four of us but are staying at a hotel in Tokyo. There are Airbnbs in Tokyo but I did not find one I liked so back to my usual hotel. The one good thing is that the yen is currently cheap to the dollar. You can also eat cheaply here