Hydrangeas blooming in the rain at a Japanese temple

Rainy Season in Japan (Tsuyu): Why June Might Secretly Be the Best Time to Visit

Ask any travel guide about visiting Japan in June and you’ll get the same warning: β€œIt’s rainy season β€” avoid it.” As someone who lives here, let me tell you a secret: tsuyu (撅雨) is one of the most underrated times to visit Japan. What Exactly Is Tsuyu? Tsuyu, literally β€œplum rain,” is Japan’s rainy season. It typically runs from early June to mid-July, moving north from Okinawa (which starts in May) to Tohoku. Hokkaido barely gets a rainy season at all. ...

June 10, 2026 Β· 3 min Β· Japan Insider Team