Summer in Japan

I got a very pleasant surprise while riding the Narita Express into Tokyo – a view of the Sumidagawa fireworks! This great Tokyo Summer tradition is usually held on the last Saturday in July. This year, the Sumidagawa and other fireworks festivals around Japan were going to be cancelled (to save money and as part of the more general sombre mood in Japan), just as hanami (picnicking under the cherry blossoms) had also been scaled back earlier this year. Luckily, however, the authorities changed their mind and fireworks festivals, as well as traditional summer festivals such as the Morioka Sansa Odori, have been held all over Japan, helping to cheer up people and bringing communities together.

One of my other favourite things about Japan in summer – rooftop beer gardens!