By Ivy OcampoOctober 5, 2026Osaka & Kyoto, JapanTravel

What It's Like in Japan in Summer: Tips for Surviving the Heat

I was in Japan this year in July for 9 days, so I got the full experience of summer heat and matsuri festival season in the same trip. If you're planning a July visit to Osaka or Kyoto, here's what the heat actually feels like and how I dealt with it.

Curious what the same 9 days cost me? I broke it all down in my Japan trip cost breakdown.

Heads up: this post contains affiliate links. Booking through them may earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

How Hot Does It Actually Get?

In July, Osaka and Kyoto experience intense summer heat and heavy humidity, with average daytime highs reaching 30°C to 35°C (86°F to 95°F) and peak temperatures often climbing past 38°C to 40°C (100°F+).

Osaka: Average highs range from 30°C to 34°C (86°F to 93°F), with record highs nearing 39°C.

Kyoto: Average highs range from 29°C to 35°C (84°F to 95°F), with record highs reaching nearly 40°C. Kyoto often feels slightly more trapped in its basin, amplifying the stagnant heat compared to Osaka.

It's not just the number on the thermometer — the humidity is what makes it exhausting to walk around all day.

What to Wear

Bring flowy, loose-fitting clothes. Linen or any lightweight, breathable fabric that doesn't cling is a lifesaver once the humidity sets in — anything tight or synthetic will have you drenched by midday. A tiered maxi skirt like this is exactly the kind of flowy, breathable silhouette that works:

Cooling Gear: What to Buy Before You Go vs. What to Buy in Japan

Bring from home:

Cooling mist spray
Sunscreen
A UV-blocking umbrella

Buy once you're there:

Neck cooling rings (ice rings) — sold at nearly every konbini and drugstore
Portable handheld fans

Having an eSIM ready the moment you land makes it easier to pull up maps and weather apps on the spot rather than hunting for shade while you figure out wifi. I use Airalo for this — my code is in the deals box below.

Avoid Being Outdoors From 12–3 PM

This is the single biggest tip: as much as possible, don't stay outdoors between noon and 3 PM. It's the hottest stretch of the day, and we saw elderly visitors suffer heatstroke during this window. Plan indoor stops — museums, department stores, cafes — around these hours and save outdoor sightseeing for morning or after 4 PM.

That's also roughly when I caught Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka — the land procession and fireworks happen in the evening, after the worst of the heat has passed, which made the festival itself much more bearable than wandering around at midday.

Apps That Got Me Through It

mymizu — maps free water refill stations and cooling shelters across Japan, so you can stay hydrated without buying bottled water every hour.

Tabelog — for finding air-conditioned restaurants and cafes nearby when you need to escape the heat.

Google Maps — for route planning and finding the nearest indoor stop when it's time to get out of the sun.

DeepL — my preferred translation app, since it's the one used at my last company (a Japanese one). Google Translate works fine too if you're short on storage.

Final Thoughts

Summer in Osaka and Kyoto is genuinely intense — the heat and humidity catch a lot of visitors off guard, especially around matsuri season when you want to be outside for the festivities. Pack light, breathable clothes, grab cooling gear as soon as you land, and build your day around avoiding the 12–3 PM peak. Do that, and the heat becomes a manageable part of the trip instead of the thing that ruins it. If you want the full itinerary and what everything cost, my Japan trip cost breakdown covers it day by day.

Book Your Own Trip

For hotels, book through Agoda; for tours and activities, use my Klook Kreator Shop. My discount codes for both are below.

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