Bon Odori

Bon Odori - Summer Festival

Shin Yamashita, Yokohama

Yakitori booth

Oishii desu - Delicious chicken skewers

Partying goes on for few days

Summer flowers

Imperial Palace East Gardens, Tokyo - 皇居

Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens is located close to the Otemachi Station.

Rainy Season

The rainy season usually lasts from mid June to around mid July.

It does not rain all the time and of course there are days without rain but a typical day has at least one rain shower. It can vary from a light rain shower to pouring rain.

However this year it has not been as hot and humid as on previous years.

Early summer, Yokohama

Hikawa Maru

Shin Yamashita Park, Yokohama

Kaiwa Maru visiting Yokohama

Cherry Blossoms

Hanami

Hanami is the season for cherry blossom viewing. Families and friends gather in parks for picnics and celebrating  the new season. 

Parks are crowded and people are in a festive mood. Mothers with small children meet during the weekdays. Later on in the evening workmates meet over an obento and sake under the blooming cherry trees.