Everyone warned us, and yes it’s true. Tokyo summers are hot and humid with 36° C (97° F) and humidity regularly crossing into the 90% zone. It’s ‘Miami’ hot and humid.
People carry hand towels to soak up the sweat.
Umbrellas are used to shield the sun (thousands have been treated at hospitals for heat stroke and 32 deaths have been reported).
Self-propelled hand fans are also common.
This store has many choices…
… in many colors.
This queue at a train station caught my attention. What could possibly create this much demand?
People are patiently waiting for little “thank you gifts” at a reduced price from the train operator. And the most popular item is the hand towel.
Here’s another way to stay cool.
Construction workers have a tough job in the hot sun. What are they doing here? Is it the YMCA? No, they are bending and stretching before starting work.
Cicadas are quite vocal. I can’t see them, but the sounds emanating from the trees is a clear signal of summer.
School children wear summer outfits.
Obon is celebrated in mid-summer when grave sites are cleaned and spirits of deceased are welcomed back into the home. This 3-day tradition began more than 500 years ago.
This bit of shade is very clever…
… and is created by weaving tree branches through this lattice.
Another common cooling method is shaved ice.
This is a very popular summertime treat.
A 50 minute train ride brought us here to Kamakura Beach.
There are lots of beach rules…
… and police enforcement.
The goal is to keep the beach family-oriented.
We wondered why no one was going into the water beyond knee deep…
… and here’s why. Sharks had been recently sighted nearby.
Japan is known for summertime fireworks. We enjoyed a 90 minute show over Tokyo bay.
Fans of the book / move Hachikō will recognize this statue. Hachikō greeted his owner each day at the Shibuya train station, and when the man died, Hachikō awaited his owner’s return each day for the remainder of his life (nearly 10 years).
Also in Shibuya, this appears to be a typical intersection.
However, right on cue, all the traffic lights turn red…
… and then the people move.
This is known as the Shibuya Scramble.
And finally, we recently visited an Onsen. As Japan is a volcanically active country, naturally hot water (40° C — 104° F) from geothermally heated springs provides healing powers from its mineral content. Enjoy. ts
Ukrainian Tom 