12 best summer destinations in Japan

If you’re looking to escape the blistering city heat, Aomori is a great option. The northern prefecture is noticeably cooler than Tokyo and the Kansai region, and is home to a number of picturesque spots where you can enjoy the refreshing summer breeze. It’s also a destination where you can experience both the mountains and the sea, with plenty of outdoor adventures around Mt Hakkoda, Lake Towada and Oirase Gorge, or relaxing coastal escapes at Hotokegaura and the Tanesashi Coast. 

What’s more, Aomori city is home to one of Japan’s most renowned summer festivals: the Nebuta Festival, taking place from August 2 to 7. Here, you can admire giant illuminated paper floats parading through the streets alongside energetic Haneto dancers, plus a grand fireworks finale.

Hakuba may be best known for its superb ski conditions in winter, but the valley is just as spectacular during the green season thanks to its stunning alpine scenery, outdoor activities and easy access from Tokyo. Popular summer pursuits include golfing and cycling, while the area’s three lakes – Lake Kizaki, Lake Nakatsuna and Lake Aoki – are ideal for canoeing, kayaking, fishing and even swimming. Hiking is another major draw, with beginner-friendly trails leading to scenic spots like Happo-Ike Pond.

It’s also worth visiting for landmarks such as the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium, one of the venues from the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Here, you can see the towering jumps without snow and even ride a lift up to the stadium building, where Olympic memorabilia is on display.

This seasonal beach down on Yoronjima is often called an illusion as it only appears for a short time from spring through to summer, in accordance with the tides. Although located extremely close to Okinawa, Yoronjima is actually part of Kagoshima prefecture and is famed for its crystal clear waters and white sand beaches.

When Yurigahama Beach finally appears, it sure is a stunner. Essentially a long sandbar, the beach is a gorgeous expanse of white, star-shaped sand made up of tiny coral and is surrounded by emerald waters that are perfect for snorkelling and taking in the area’s natural sea life.

To get to the island of Tsunoshima, you’ll have to cross over the picturesque Tsunoshima Ohashi bridge, which stretches 1,780m across the crystal clear waters of the Sea of Japan. A popular road trip destination, the island is home to beautiful sandy beaches and restaurants to sample fresh seafood. 

Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate Tsunoshima's lush patches of nature and calm waters for swimming. The island's 130-year old lighthouse is also a must-visit attraction.

If the summer is too hot to handle, cool down in Hokkaido at the stunning Unkai Terrace. The scenic spot is an extension of Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, and is the perfect place to witness the natural phenomenon known as unkai, or a sea of clouds.

There are seven different vantage points which you can access via gondola from the bottom of Mt Tomamu. Unkai Terrace is open until the mid-October, just before ski season begins, so there’s plenty of time to head on over before the snow starts to fall. 

Shikoku Island is home to some of Japan’s best surfing spots, and has beaches suitable for surfers of all levels. Ikumi is a particularly popular area thanks to its breathtaking coastline and Instagrammable sunrises and sunsets. What makes it such a great spot for surfing are the highly consistent waves, which are best between June to November. Not so into surfing? Ikumi has plenty of other summer activities including hiking, camping and fishing.

A tropical summer paradise, Miyakojima boasts some of the best beaches in all of Okinawa, but it’s also worth a visit for the amazing stargazing opportunities. Once the sun goes down, the island has one of the darkest night skies in all of Japan and makes for an ideal spot to watch the stars come out. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to catch sight of the Milky Way, a galaxy that’s usually hard to see with the naked eye.

Just a hop and a skip from Tokyo, this mountain resort is less than an hour and a half from the capital by shinkansen and offers fresh mountain air and less sweltering summer temperatures. Located at the foot of Mt Asama, the small town is a fun place to explore with numerous cafés, restaurants and souvenir shops lining the streets. The surrounding area is also home to lush campgrounds, hiking trails, golf courses, and plenty of other spots to enjoy the great outdoors.

The Furano-Biei area of Hokkaido is a wonderful summer destination known for its colourful fields of lavender that bloom from early to mid-July. The best spot to catch the fragrant lavender is at Farm Tomita, which fills its well-manicured fields with other colourful blooms to complement the purple flowers. Besides strolling the flower fields, you'll also be able to sample all sorts of products made with lavender such as perfume, incense, and even lavender-flavoured ice cream.

Take a rowboat through the stunning Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki prefecture, known for the jaw-dropping 17m-high Minainotaki waterfall. The area is accented by dense green foliage and sheer cliffs made from volcanic basalt that resemble the scales of a dragon.  

The best way to see the gorge up close is from the water, but you can also walk a paved path that runs around the edge of the gorge for a top-down view. During the summer, the gorge is lit up in the evenings giving it an otherworldly vibe.

Shodoshima is the second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea and boasts a warm summer climate a little like a Greek coastal town. 

In fact, Shodoshima was the first place to grow olives in Japan and olive trees are still found all over the island. There's even the public Shodoshima Olive Park where nearly 2,000 olive trees are planted. Olives season runs from May through to June, so summer is the best time to head over and sample this local delicacy. 

Shodoshima takes part in the Setouchi Triennale art festival, so you’ll also find a number of permanent artworks and installations dotted around the island.

From spring through to autumn, there are a handful of beaches around Japan where you can witness umihotaru, the ‘sea fireflies’ which illuminate coastlines in a brilliant shade of blue. One of the best places to witness these colourful creatures is on Notojima, an island found near Toyama Bay. 

The sea fireflies are actually tiny round crustaceans, usually no bigger than 3mm, which live in the shallows. On warm nights, when they come out to feed, they give off a beautiful blue light, turning the surrounding shoreline into a magical sight.