Onsen in summer?
Jan 28, 2011 | 2:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
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Onsen in summer?
I'm thinking about booking a ryokan in Hakone or Kyoto. But should I bother picking one with an outdoor bath? Would it be too hot in early July for onsen?
Jan 28, 2011 | 11:35 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 87
Summer is the worst time for Japan
Hi. If you've got flexibility don't plan on Japan during summer. It's gruesome especially from mid June through the first week of August, when it is constantly rainy and humid and yucky, and from August through mid September it's just hot and humid and exhausting.
Having said that, even in summer onsens are inviting as you can feel slightly refreshed afterward, for awhile anyway-- until the humdity outside again makes you feel sticky and damp.
If you are from a place with a dry summer, Japan will be a genuine challenge in summer, especially when you want to be outdoors.
Having said that, even in summer onsens are inviting as you can feel slightly refreshed afterward, for awhile anyway-- until the humdity outside again makes you feel sticky and damp.
If you are from a place with a dry summer, Japan will be a genuine challenge in summer, especially when you want to be outdoors.
Jan 29, 2011 | 12:51 am
#4
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
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Actually, I used to have the same fears about summer in Japan, but in the mountains of northern Honshu, it can be rather decent. I haven't been to Hokkaido, but I bet the same is true there. In both places there are lots of onsen.
Jan 29, 2011 | 5:32 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Early July is often (not always) tolerable. It's getting toward the end of rainy season, but my experience (Seattle boy living in Kansai area) is that the searing summer heat doesn't really hit until about July 20. On the other hand, there's never a bad time to go to a nice onsen!
Jan 30, 2011 | 5:04 am
#7
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Hi. If you've got flexibility don't plan on Japan during summer. It's gruesome especially from mid June through the first week of August, when it is constantly rainy and humid and yucky, and from August through mid September it's just hot and humid and exhausting.
Having said that, even in summer onsens are inviting as you can feel slightly refreshed afterward, for awhile anyway-- until the humdity outside again makes you feel sticky and damp.
If you are from a place with a dry summer, Japan will be a genuine challenge in summer, especially when you want to be outdoors.
Having said that, even in summer onsens are inviting as you can feel slightly refreshed afterward, for awhile anyway-- until the humdity outside again makes you feel sticky and damp.
If you are from a place with a dry summer, Japan will be a genuine challenge in summer, especially when you want to be outdoors.
Three more words: Hokkaido.
Jan 30, 2011 | 8:41 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Jan 31, 2011 | 7:56 am
#10
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It's subjective of course. For my constitution, early July is nearly always too hot and late July to early August is just ridiculous.... And the rent is still too damn high.
FWIW - I lived for a couple of years in a city that often earned the "hottest place today" mention on the national weather report. On the hottest days in Tokyo, I'd remind myself that at least I wasn't living there any more.
FWIW - I lived for a couple of years in a city that often earned the "hottest place today" mention on the national weather report. On the hottest days in Tokyo, I'd remind myself that at least I wasn't living there any more.