June has arrived, and with it comes a contender for the worst month of the year. Surely, other times test our limits. Japan’s most important holidays are Golden Week from late April to early May, Obon (commemorative days for remembering ancestors) in mid-August and the New Year holidays. Vacationing during these periods can be chaotic as the number of travelers explodes, especially in major cities. But, at most, they only last for about a week and life returns to normal. But not in June.
June in Japan is unique for its impact on our daily lives, from choosing our outfits for the day to going to bed. Inside and outside, at work and at home, June can take a toll on our bodies and minds, not to mention our wallets and homes.
Here are a few reasons why June might be the worst month of the year.
- It’s The Rainy Season
- Mold and Mosquitoes
- No Public Holidays
- How to Stay Prepared
- The Upside to June in Japan
It’s The Rainy Season
Simply put, June in Japan is wet. From Aomori in the north to Okinawa in the south, June is the rainiest time of year. The East Asian rainy season affects several countries, except Japan’s northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido.
For roughly six to eight weeks during the transition between spring and summer, opposing cold and warm air masses collide to create a band of precipitation. The rainy season ends when the subtropical front gathers enough strength to continue its journey northward. Because these fronts are migratory, the rainy season can begin and end on different dates across Japan. In 2023, Okinawa’s rainy season started on May 18 and ended on June 25, while Aomori’s northern location meant a later start on June 9 and ended on July 22.
Of course, it doesn’t rain every day in June, but the humidity is sky-high on many days. In June 2023, Fukuoka had an average relative humidity of 76%, while Tokyo hovered around 80%. For some, that muggy feeling is worse than the rainy days. To add insult to injury, government subsidies for electricity consumption end at the end of May, making your air conditioner use in June more expensive.
Mold and Mosquitoes
June’s rising heat and humidity welcome two more unwanted guests: mold and mosquitoes. Mold loves warm and wet places, which means the rainy season is one of its favorite times of the year. It can come in many colors, but pink, black, gray and green are the most common hues you’ll encounter. And you’ll run into it everywhere. Shower rooms and the kitchen may be the most obvious places, but other surfaces, from your air conditioner to towels, become more susceptible to fungus in June. Buying appropriate cleaning products and having a good dehumidifier are your best bets at keeping the mold back.
As for mosquitoes, they also love stagnant water. What better time of year to emerge for their mating period than the rainy, humid month of June? Rising temperatures in recent years mean their active season has shifted slightly earlier to April and later to October. But mosquitoes can’t resist a warm water source, and June abounds in these potential breeding grounds. Luckily, with tips from drying up water sources to the best repellents, we’ve got you covered with a guide on getting rid of mosquitoes and other common bugs.
No Public Holidays
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- External Link
- https://gaijinpot.com/
26 Comments
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Pukey2
August is pretty unpleasant. Boiling hot and humid.
GuruMick
August sucks.
I like rainy days.
Redemption
June because of the rainy season or February due to hay fever.
David Brent
June is the worst month simply because there are no national holidays.
The long drag from Golden Week until Marine Day kills me every year!
genki5
For a Californian, summers were ALWAYS our biggest challenge during our 13 years living in Japan. It was wet, hot, and sticky, and sometimes the cooler relief of June's 'rainy season' was not as bad as July and August. For our last 4 years in Japan, we lived in Kagoshima City and the last 6-weeks we lived there, June to mid-July, it rained...for 40 days straight (two short breaks that lasted only a few hours). Anyhow, we LOVED our years in Japan in spite of the summer weather and would definitely live there again.
wallace
Heavy overnight rain but good for the garden. Mosquitoes are biting when I go outside. Time for my Samurai suit.
Aly Rustom
I would say that it just plain sucks from June to August- weather wise.
JeffLee
June isn't the worst month, August is. The heat, the congestion, ugh. We have an ajisai-onsen trip planned next week.
Our home doesn't get moldy as all our windows are always wide open this time of year, letting breezes come though, even though our neighbors button up their homes with metal shutters all day. LOL.
zibala
Last two weeks of July through first week or so of September dominate being the worst time in Japan.
kohakuebisu
For me, July is worse.
John-San
June is great for hunting. The rain storms muffle your noise and there little wind under the canopy to carry your sent in forest of Izu peninsula. I enjoy each season and each season offer benefits. Don’t dwell on negitive aspects of a season. This rain proceeds the fireflies of mid summer with the harmony of belling frogs at night.
factchecker
No. August and the oppressive heat is much worse.
But anywhere, January sucks big time.
BertieWooster
It's usually the best in Hokkaido. Snow's finally melted, the flowers are blooming, birds singing and it's nice and warm.
Hawk
I don't know if June is the worst month, but spring is definitely the worst season. In my opinion.
DanteKH
No. It's one of the best.
I find winters in Japan, specially Kanto and Chubu areas, the worst months.
No snow, very cold windy, cold rain, but just above the freeze zone.
Also you have to use heaters, hot air conditioning, etc, increasing the energy price by a lot.
N. Knight
It's been lovely so far! BBQ's, sundowners on the deck, golf and sailing.
grund
I think June is quite nice. The heat from July to September is much much worse.
And the lack of public holidays can easily be remedied by a day or two off work. If only Japanese people learned to actually use their holidays.
finally rich
For people who love outdoor activities, February is the worst. A whole month planning indoor activities.
Moonraker
Personally, I loathe winter so April to November is fine for me. Rainy seasons are pretty mild affairs in Japan compared to south-east Asia. Often they seem more in name than reality.
Chairman Rexton
June's by no means pleasant, but it's still preferable to the heat of July, August and the first half of December. We do a good job at keeping the mould at bay, partly due to good airflow through the apartment, but the bath/shower room needs daily attention. Drying laundry can be challenging though, as the damp air slows things down even when warm.
wallace
Careful attention to mold. Bags, clothes, and shoes. I found two starting yesterday. Spray them with alcohol and air them outdoors.
bass4funk
Our place is new(er) higher and in the countryside, never seen a roach in our house since we built it a few years ago, I have seen them outside, but I put enough traps every year, so that is one problem that we don't have to worry about, we have Maytag washer and dryer unit so no need to hang anything out or get a moldy smell. We don't have any problems with mold, that is one thing that I have always been concerned with, I hate this season with a passion, but once that humidity gets back underway, I know the water bill will go up. 2-3 showers a day, it's coming.
Ah_so
Climatewise, Japan has a lot of months that are pretty bad for visiting. Too hot, too cold or too wet.
Entuojo
June, July & August all blow goats but August is the worst.
Entuojo
Pick up skiing/snowboarding.
Wellington
Without a doubt, June and the rainy season it brings is the worst month in Japan.