Niigata has long been known as Snow Country and has proudly boasted many famous ski resorts for people to enjoy all winter long. But did you know there is plenty of fun to be had in the summers as well?

What’s the weather like?

Niigata is located on the coast of the Japanese Sea. It has a humid and semi-continental climate (which means cold, damp winters and hot, moist summers). These are the average temperature and rainfall statistics based on information from 2009 to 2019.

(https://www.worldweatheronline.com/niigata-shi-weather-averages/niigata/jp.aspx)

In general, the weather in the summer cycles from hot and humid to windy and rainy, with June seeing many cool and refreshing nights, perfect for long walks. The hottest month of the year is consistently August.

What to wear?

Here summers can be warm, humid, and wet.

Women

Outerwear: I recommend shirts, shorts or skirts. It may be more comfortable with looser clothing made from thin fabric, to get the full cooling effects of the cooling breezes. It should be noted that Japanese women rarely wear shorts and skirts that don’t cover the knees. Girls, however, are usually less shy.

Footwear: comfortable walking shoes or sandals depending on terrain.

Accessories: sunglasses, small towels, sunscreen, personal umbrella for summer rains or burning sun.

Men

Outerwear: I recommend shirts and shorts. It may be more comfortable with looser clothing made from thin fabric, to get the full cooling effects of the cooling breezes.

Footwear: comfortable walking shoes or sandals depending on terrain.

Accessories: sunglasses, small towels, sunscreen, personal umbrellas.

When getting ready to go out, it is also important to bring with you extra water and, perhaps, a change of clothing.

What to do?

The great outdoors.

Tired of city bustle? Want to escape the heat? Then could be a great time to try camping in Niigata! Niigata has campsites for every taste – from comfortable cottages with beds, to long stretches of beach where one can pitch their tent. For those who want to travel light, many places offer equipment rentals.

Of course, there is also hiking. The Northern Alps of Japan reach into Niigata Prefecture, which allows for incredible hikes and sights. However, if shorter walks are more to your liking, there are plenty of smaller mountains that can be climbed in roughly 1 or 2 hours.  Many of them would be possible to climb with children as well.

Japanese sea.

One obvious fun activity is going to the beach! The coast of Niigata is filled with clean, sandy and beautiful beaches. Some are isolated and quiet, others have many coastal restaurants and cafes to enjoy Niigata’s famous cuisine. Niigata beaches are great for barbecuing, swimming, and launching fireworks in the evening. A perfect beach can be found for any palate.

Fishing is also very popular in Niigata. The Japanese sea is stocked full of many delicious fish awaiting some alluring bait. In Niigata, the most abundant summer fish are bean horse mackerels, barracudas, sea bass, and flounder. Of course, most of these fish can be caught right from the shore. However, some shops organize boat trips, for fishermen that want to try the open water. Rental equipment is often available.

Festivals and cultural sites.

There are almost too many festivals in Niigata to choose from. So only a few popular choices will be described here.

There is the 3-day Niigata Festival that features many skilled dance teams and parades of colourful mikoshi.

Actually, there are many festivals that have mikoshi, from massive ones like Niigata Festival, to small ones, limited to neighbourhoods. Some festivals have teams of strong men carrying the mikoshi run at each other and compete in the contest of whose mikoshi stays solid the longest.

In August, Kenshin Festival is held in Joetsu to honour the Sengoku warlord Kenshin Uesagi’s bravery and virtue. The festival includes a parade of brave warriors dressed in traditional Japanese armour and ends with a battle re-enactment. Every year, volunteers can join the parade and try on the traditional armour. Ever wonder how you’d look as a samurai?

Niigata also holds many awe-inspiring firework displays.

You can read more about those here.

Indoor activities.

Of course, a great way to fight the heat is also to put a roof over your head. Niigata has many options for this as well.
There are many great museums that can be fun and informative for the whole family.
There is a famous coastal Aquarium with a fantastic dolphin show and regular feeding shows (also the penguins are adorable).
Niigata onsens are famous all over the country and a perfect way to relax the days away.
Lastly, here are an array of other experiences that can be enjoyed from the comfort of air-conditioned rooms.

For example, try some of these.

Jenya Yuss came to Japan in 2015 and has not left since. She has lived in Nagoya, Ishikawa and finally settled in Niigata. She loves to be in nature and enjoys all types of outdoor activities. She likes to write about history and culture, but really would tackle any topic!