photo by Mariko Kato
The summer has come! Every day, we hear how hot it is going to be on TV, “Today is going to be an extremely hot day.” An extremely hot day refers to a day on which the temperature exceeds 35℃. On top of the heat, Japanese summer is humid making days more uncomfortable. Many says traveling in Japan during summer is too much because of the heat. Yes, Japanese summer is hot and humid, but wait a minute. There still are a lot to enjoy during summer in Japan, like outdoor events and summer-specified indoor activities.
Metro Museum
Tokyo is one of the largest cities in the world. The public transport systems run all over the city, including numerous lines of buses, trains, subways, and trams. Of these transport systems, the subway line is an essential transportation tool for Tokyo residents and visitors. The Metro Museum displays the amusing history, technologies, services of the subway lines in Tokyo. It is called Metro Museum but located on the ground level and does not look like a museum from the outside. There is the Tokyo Sea Life Park nearby, where you can escape from summer heat.
Metro Museum
Address: Tokyo Metro Kasai Station, 6-3-1 Higashi Kasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (close Mon)
Fees: Adult 220 yen, child 100 yen
Access: Tokyo Metro Tozai Line Kasai Station, cross the Kan-nana Dori
Tokyo Bay Yakatabune Dinner Cruise
Yakatabune cruising is a luxury activity that you can enjoy dinner while viewing beautiful sceneries on a small boat. Cruise boats are available throughout a year but summer is the best season for dinner cruising. Not just having gorgeous dinner, but you can also go up on the top of the boat to have a look around the sparkly Tokyo night view. You need to put on an extra layer to go outside during seasons other than summer, but a sea breeze would be nice and gentle during hot summer evenings.
Tokyo Bay Yakatabune Dinner Cruise
Trip Advisor
Price: from 13,000 yen
Access: Inquire the service provider about the boading location
Art Aquarium (at Ginza Mitsukoshi)
Gold fish often remind Japanese people of goldfish scooping at a summer festival. Also, gold fish is often used as a design patter of items like traditional woodblock prints and yukata. Goldfish has a strong tie with the traditional Japanese culture. Art Aquarium is a special summer exhibition held annually at Ginza Mitsukoshi, demonstrating picturesque art works using goldfish vases and the entire venue. Artworks are displayed with many of traditional Japanese craft works such as woven fabrics, ceramics, and mother‐of‐pearl works (raden). Also, a rental yukata service (fees apply, dressed at separate location) is available to fully enjoy Japanese summer.
Art Aquarium
Address: Ginza Mitsukoshi, 4-6-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Fees: 2700 yen (at the venue), 2500 yen (online booking)
Duration: June 27 – September 29 2025, 10:00 – 19:00
Access: By Ginza Station, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Marunouchi Line and Hibiya Line / 5 min from Ginza 1-chome Station, Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line / 2 min from Higashi-ginza Station, Toei Asakusa Line and Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line / 9 min from JR Yurakucho Station
September Grand Sumo Tournament
Sumo is Japan’s national sport. Every odd-number month, a ground sumo tournament called basho is held for 2 weeks in which professional wrestlers compete their very best techniques. Of these tournaments, January, May, September competitions are held at Rygoku Kokugikan. Spectators enjoy watching heated sumo battles on the ring, as hot as the outside temperature, at the venue with a long history. The Grand Sumo Tournament is not always held at Kokugikan; in Tokyo, it is held only 3 times for 2 weeks each time. The rest is held in other cities. If you are staying in Tokyo while a tournament is held, why don’t you visit Kokugikan to watch sumo wrestling? The September tournament 2025 will be held from September 14 to 28.
September Grand Sumo Tournament @ Kokugikan
Address: 1-3-28 Yokozuna, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Fees: from 4000 yen/seat
Access : 5 min from Toei Ryogoku Station, Toei Subway Oedo Line / 2 min from Ryogoku Station, JR Sobu Line
Nippara Cave
Okutama Town preserves a wealth of natural beauty that is hard to believe it is within Tokyo. This town is home to one of Japan’s most notable limestone caves, attracting many visitors every day.
Originally, Nippara Cave welcomed pilgrims as a center of mountain worship. Now, the inside is illuminated for good view of stalactites, allowing visitors to appreciate the natural mysteries formed over hundreds of years. Inside the cave, the temperature is kept cool and chilly at about 11℃. Because the temperature is low even in summer, be sure to bring a jacket.
Nippara Cave
Address: 1052 Nippara, Okutama-cho, Nishitama-gun, Tokyo
Opening hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (Apr – Nov), 9:00 – 16:30 (Dec – Mar)
Fees: Adult 900 yen, Child 700 yen
Access: Take JR Oume Line to Okutama Station, then take Oku20 Bus to Shonyudo Bus Stop and 5 min walk.
Step outside, summertime’s in bloom
Summer 2025 is almost there! It is getting hot every day. In Japan, having a day exceeding a temperature of 30℃ is common during summer, extremely hot days reaching 35℃ is not rare at all. The summer in Japan is known not only for its high temperatures but also for its high humidity. Many may think summer is not a good season to travel to Japan, but actually, there are many things you can only enjoy during summer, such as special indoor summer events and visiting a summer resort. How about going out to Tokyo this summer?
