You’ll hear it before you see it: cicadas buzzing like a static hum in the trees. Festival drums echo down backstreets. Paper lanterns sway above yakitori grills, while kids chase goldfish through makeshift pools.

This is summer in Japan: loud, lively, and layered with tradition.

One evening you’re watching fireworks over the Sumida River, the next you’re slipping off your shoes at a countryside inn, cooling down with a bowl of chilled soba. It’s a season that pulses through every corner of the country—different in every region, but always tied to rhythm, ritual, and a deep sense of place.

If you’re planning on spending summer in Japan, here’s what you need to know.

Japan’s summer season isn’t just about warm weather and beach outings—it’s also the time for spectacular fireworks festivals, or hanabi taikai. These vibrant displays of light and color, set against the night sky, have become an integral part of Japanese culture, attracting locals and tourists alike.