5 Best Umbrellas for Surviving Rainy Season in Japan
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CONTENTS
Visiting Japan during rainy season, you need an umbrella! So if you love Japanese design, or can appreciate a good wacky Japanese novelty product or two, here are five great options for you―both cute and practical!
1. The Jellyfish Umbrella
Tsuyu (梅雨), Japan's rainy season, has arrived! And that means that more often than not, an umbrella is an absolute daily necessity (unless you like getting drenched every time you go outside). While many people in Japan stick to clear vinyl umbrellas throughout the year, there's no reason not to make the most of rainy season with a fun Japanese umbrella with a little more instabae appeal!
This first find actually comes from Kamo Aquarium, a facility in northern Japan sometimes nicknamed "The Dream House of Jellies." Not only will a visit to the aquarium get you a fun day hanging out with sea lions and jellyfish, but you can bring one of those jellies home with you thanks to their extremely popular jellyfish umbrellas. This novelty giftshop umbrella is made in collaboration with manufacturer and retailer Felissimo You + More, and it's a nice example of Japan's knack for mixing practicality and unique design. The deep dome shape should keep your head nice and dry, and from the inside it looks like you're gazing through the floating transparent body of one of the aquarium's jellyfish.
➡ Bring it with you while you tour Tokyo's aquariums, too!
2. The Backpack Protector Umbrella
At first glance this umbrella's distinct shape might be a little… jarring. But as soon as you see it in use, the oddly stretched circumference seems like an obvious step in umbrella evolution! Well, at least it's an appealing choice for students and commuters the world over. Made by Tokyu Hands, a Japanese department store known for good gift shopping and novelties, the backpack protector fills an empty space in the world of rain gear―conveniently protecting important homework and documents, stashed away laptops, or even just fancy leather backpacks themselves.
3. An Elegant Umbrella and Flowers to Boot
These Japanese umbrellas may be a little simpler in design, available in solid colors, stripes, and florals, but they come with an exciting bonus: flowers! The Umbrella Bouquet from Japanese florist chain Karendo looks like a new way to bring a little color and joy to a dull, rainy day during Japan's rainy season. If you're looking to escape the rain, the subtle designs would fit right in during Japanese afternoon tea and sweets. Available to order from their webshop, they arrive at your doorstep as a portable little carrier for a bouquet of frilly flowers. Then they make for an elegant accessory in the rain, or protecting you from Japan's bright summer sun.
➡ Rainy season is the perfect time to go flower viewing and check out Japan's hydrangeas!
4. The Gax Car Umbrella
Whether you decide to rent a car in Japan or tour the cities in a taxi, this cleverly designed umbrella will come in handy. Instead of folding down, catching on car doors and roofs and proceeding to splash water inside the car, the unique spokes on this umbrella fold up. That means the umbrella can easily be held while you close it and slip it through mostly closed car doors as you sit down, and the rainwater is then contained inside while it dries. The handy design is award-winning!
➡ The fresh, cool weather of Nagano makes it the perfect place for an early summer road trip.
5. Share an Umbrella with the Locals
If you don't want to buy a new umbrella, or even have to carry one at all when it's not raining, this service might be the answer. Starting this summer, 39 Hanshin Electric Railway train stations and 51 other locations will have new kiosks set up with one purpose: umbrella rentals! The service, new to the Kansai area, is called Ikasa, and it makes it easy to grab a little protection from the rain on your way out of the station, and then return it when it's no longer necessary. Until the end of July 2020, the service is even free. So head out into Osaka or spend a day in Kobe, without worrying about the weather!
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NAME:Rainy Season
Between collaboration items and special-edition limited-time-only goods, Japan has some pretty interesting products, and if you're anything like me... well, you can't help but be interested!
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Niki, in south-west Hokkaido, is about 30 minutes from Otaru. The small town is rich with natural resources, fresh water, and clean air, making it a thriving center for fruit farms. Cherries, tomatoes, and grapes are all cultivated in the area, and thanks to a growing local wine industry, it's quickly becoming a food and wine hotspot. Together with the neighboring town of Yoichi, it's a noted area for wine tourism.
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Niseko is about two hours from New Chitose Airport, in the western part of Hokkaido. It's one of Japan's most noted winter resort areas, and a frequent destination for international visitors. That's all because of the super high-quality powder snow, which wins the hearts of beginners and experts alike, bringing them back for repeat visits. That's not all, though, it's also a great place to enjoy Hokkaido's culinary scene and some beautiful onsen (hot springs).
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Tokyo (東京) is Japan's busy capital, and the most populous metropolitan area in the world. While the city as a whole is quite modern, crowded with skyscrapers and bustling crowds, Tokyo also holds onto its traditional side in places like the Imperial Palace and Asakusa neighborhood. It's one of the world's top cities when it comes to culture, the arts, fashion, games, high-tech industries, transportation, and more.
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Niigata is a prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu, situated right on the coast of the Sea of Japan, and abundant with the gifts of nature. It's known for popular ski resorts such as Echigo-Yuzawa, Japanese national parks, and natural hot spring baths, plus local products like fresh seafood, rice, and sake. Visitors often spend time in the prefectural capital, Niigata City, or venture across the water to Sado Island.
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Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.
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NARA
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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OSAKA
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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CHUGOKU
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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HIROSHIMA
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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