Well, summer is definitely here and so is the heat and humidity.  There are plenty of fun things to do in Japan during these hot summer months.

Swimming

One of my favorite spots is Lake Biwa.  This is the largest lake in Japan.  It's located just north of Kyoto, about a 2 hour train ride out of Osaka.  This lake is a great way to escape the summer heat.  It has really good swimming areas.  The water is clean and fresh.  There is plenty of room to have bbqs and play in the sun.  It does get crowded in the hot summer months, so get there early to claim a spot.  Don't forget to bring a frisbee and your sunscreen!  Go to www.hyperdia.com to get directions.

You don't have to go all the way to Lake Biwa to cool down.  Japan has plenty of swimming pools all over.  Many fitness gyms have great swimming pools.  You can get some exercise or just relax.  The downside is a membership fee to join the gym.  If you are interested in joining a gym visit our blog series for more advice.  There are also plenty of community pools around Japan.  They may charge a small fee for use, but often they have one day of the month that is free, so check out your local community pool.

Festivals

Festivals or matsuri are a huge part of the Japanese culture.   Some of the festivals are really big with 1000's in attendance and others are basically just neighborhood get-togethers.   They are held year round throughout Japan.  Both are worth checking out to experience the real Japanese culture.

Kyoto is my favorite city, so I love the Gion Festival.  This is a very large festival and it's often crowded and hot.  It's held in the middle of July and it's a week long.  They close the streets so the floats and food vendors have room to set up.  It takes place in front of the Yasaka Shrine. I recommend going on the weekend to experience the full glory that is Gion.  Don't forget to try a green tea float.  They are famous in this area.

If you have a favorite summer hangout in Japan, sign in and blog it here.