If you want to escape the heat, you'll not only have to go into the mountatins but you'll need to go up to higher altitude spots (like 1000m or higher) like Karuizawa. Places like Gero and Takayawa may be in mountainous areas, but they're just as hot and muggy as the cities. I was in Takayama one summer, and it was just brutal during the daytime.
Originally Posted by
raifordlloyd
As a Canadian I have rather limited interest in mountainous regions/forests, etc. haha I'm used to 90-95% humidity in the summers so I think I'll fare just fine. Can anyone comment on visiting Nagoya or Fukuoka? Is it worth it, given the more urban centric interests I have. I think I'll be getting my castle fix as it is... Thanks for all responses thus far!
I don't know what part of Canada you're from, but I can almost guarantee you that you'll find Tokyo/Osaka's summgertime mugginess to be on a different level of discomfort. I used to live in Arizona and I've dealt with humid summers of the Northeast USA. Neither of that compares to summer in Tokyo/Osaka.
Fukuoka is a pleasant town and even Nagoya can be fun in its own right, but maybe not worth making time for on your trip.