The article and photos by Fumiko Koike 

I hope the following information can be useful for the readers and those who plan to visit Japan especially for the first time.  

Contents:

(1) Is the tap water drinkable?

(2)  Is the weather changeable?

(3) What animals and insects should I watch out for in the mountains?

Usually "Yes", with some exceptions.

In most accommodations and hotels in Japan, tap water is drinkable. At restaurants, water is usually free of charge, if the water price is not written on the menu.

However when you use public restrooms in cities/train stations or in the mountains, it is better NOT to drink water as it might not be filtered for drinking. So it is recommended you bring enough drinking water with you especially when hiking in the mountains. 

In cities or towns, you can access vending machines easily.

Usually "Yes".

Especially in summer and autumn, sudden short torrential rain can happen. Personally, even when the weather forecast says there is no chance of rain, I myself usually take my rain gear with me (or at least a small umbrella) especially when I go hiking in the mountains.

Temperature difference is another thing you may need to take into account. The temperature between daytime and morning or night time can vary greatly, especially when you are in a mountainous area. It is a good idea to have a layer or something extra to put on in case it gets cooler/colder later on the day. Also, you might need to adjust the gear a couple of times a day to control your body temperature, so bringing something easy to put on and off with you can be very useful.

In addition, summers in Japan seem to be becoming hotter year by year.

For example, the average temperatures during August in 2020 were:

Kyoto ; 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit/ 33 degrees Celsius (high) , 75.2 degrees Fahrenheit/ 24 degrees Celsius (low) 

Kyoto is located in the Western part of Japanese Honshu island and Tokyo, the capital, has the similar average temperatures.

On the other hand, Hokkaido, which is the Northern most island of Japan is much cooler; the average temperatures in usual years  are about 78 degrees Fahrenheit / 26 degrees Celsius (high)  and 66 degrees Fahrenheit/ 19  degrees Celsius (low) .

In general, if you are in a city,  you can easily find a shade. However in the mountains, you may need something to cover your head to prevent a heatstroke, especially during summer months between June and early September. 

During the period between 1st June and 16th August, 35,317 people nationwide were taken to hospital due to heatstroke in Japan.

Japanese archipelago is long from North to South, so the climate can be quite different depending on the region. In addition, Japan has four distinct seasons. Therefore it is recommended to check the weather or climate information of  your particular destinations beforehand. 

Please do not hesitate to visit Japan in summer after reading this article - if you prepare properly, there is nothing to worry about and there are a number of beautiful festivals and interesting events waiting for you!

Snakes

There are snakes in Japan, among which pit vipers and tiger keelbacks are in particular dangerous.

Bears

Asiatic black bears inhabit on Honshu and Shikoku islands. Brown bears live on Hokkaido and they can be nearly twice as large as Asiatic black bears. There are no bears on Kyushu island.  Luckily, I have never encountered any bears  in person so far but have seen their scratches on trees.

Leeches

They are not seriously dangerous, nevertheless I recommend you minimize the exposure of your skin if possible when walking in the woods as they could bite you.

Wasps and Hornets

During summer, you might need to watch out for wasps and hornets.

Reportedly, hornets kill up to 50 people a year in Japan and the large ones can be more than two inches in size, five times larger than a normal honeybee. It is said that insect repellent does not work against hornets.

Here are some tips when you come across hornets or their nests:

・Do not make a loud noise

・Do not shake the nest or give it vibration

・Do not chase off hornets with your hand

・Slowly step back and go far away from the hornet/the nest

・Try NOT to wear black garments as hornets tend to attack something black  (If you have black hair, you can cover your head with a hat with brighter color)

・Try NOT to wear perfume or something which contains similar substance

If you are bitten by a hornet:

・Move to a different place as soon as you can to prevent you from the second attack

・Remove the poison

・If you have symptoms such as hives and/or difficulty in breathing, call an ambulance

    (If you are bitten second time, it can be much more dangerous)

There are some other animals/insects to be careful  in the mountains - such as centipedes.  Before you go into the woods,  I highly recommended  you check out the up-to-date local information. For example, when a bear come close to residential areas, the local municipal office make an announcement to notify people so that they can stay indoors for their safety. 

I hope your visit to Japan will be safe and without any worries, accidents or injuries!   I recommend you have a travel insurance to cover unexpected happenings just in case. 

The article and photos by Fumiko Koike

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