Kansai by month · 24–33°C
Festival fever, river breezes and serious summer heat
July is Kansai's festival month. Lanterns, drums and yukata fill the streets, and the rainy season usually ends around mid-July, giving way to blue skies, cicadas and real heat. Evenings by the river or in the mountains are the best part of the day.
It's great for festival lovers, night owls and families on summer break. The honest trade-offs: heat and humidity are intense in the middle of the day, festival days are extremely crowded, and school holidays start around the 20th.
Central Kyoto
Kyoto’s biggest festival lasts all of July. On 17 and 24 July, wooden floats up to 25 m tall are pulled through the streets by hand.
Getting there · Around Shijo-Karasuma, central Kyoto
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Osaka Tenmangu shrine and the Okawa river
One of Japan’s three great festivals. On the evening of 25 July, about 100 boats sail the river under fireworks.
Getting there · Near Minami-morimachi Station, central Osaka
Open in Google Maps ↗Plan outdoor sights for the morning and evening, and rest in the afternoon.
Restaurants in this mountain village set tables over a rushing stream, often several degrees cooler than central Kyoto. Reservations are essential.
Kyoto Kibune, north Kyoto
In the evenings, boatmen use trained cormorants to catch fish by firelight. Watch from a viewing boat.
Kyoto Arashiyama (Oi river) and Uji river
Department stores and hotels open rooftop beer gardens with city views on summer evenings.
Osaka Umeda department stores and hotels
During the Mitarashi Festival in late July, visitors wade through a cold spring stream at the shrine and light a candle for good health.
Kyoto Shimogamo Shrine
Suma beach is a train ride from Kobe. For white sand, Shirahama in Wakayama is a classic summer getaway.
Kansai Suma Beach, Kobe; Shirahama, Wakayama