From Shizuko Mishima,
Your Guide to Japan Travel.
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Japan's rainy season usually starts in early June and ends in middle July except in the Hokkaido region. It caused by the seasonal rain front which stays above Japan between tropical high pressure and Siberian cold high pressure. Since Hokkaido does not have a rainy season, its weather tends to be nicer than other areas at this time. This is the best time to visit Hokkaido! Natural areas are beautiful there. In the rest of Japan, the weather during tsuyu is very unstable. It is important to prepare for rain at anytime. Although typical tsuyu weather is rainy with lower temperatures, sometimes it has less rain and can be hot. Often the front brings heavy rain in Kyushu area. If you are visiting western regions, you need to be more aware of the probability of rain.

The main problem during tsuyu is the humidity. People tend to become irritated by it. Taking a bath or shower often helps you keep comfortable. Please try to relax. Also, things are easily covered by mold. It is important to air your closet or house when the sun is out. During tsuyu, there are many cases of food poisoning. Watch out what you eat and do not leave food out of the refrigerator.

Although tsuyu is a gloomy time, the rain is very important for rice cultivation. Also, there are many pretty flowers blooming at this time. One of them is ajisai (hydrangea) which is a symbol of the rainy season in Japan. The flower changes its color slightly depending on the time or climate of the day. Kamakura and Hakone are famous for ajisai flowers. The iris is another beautiful flower which blooms during tsuyu. You can view irises in many gardens and parks around Japan. It might be a good idea to hike small mountains near you or take a walk to neighborhood parks. Viewing pretty flowers makes us feel better during gloomy rainy days.

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