News archive
Past daily articles for learners.
- travel
Mount Fuji 2026: reservations and a ¥4,000 fee now required on every trail
Mount Fuji's 2026 climbing season has begun under new rules. Every climber on all four official trails must reserve online in advance and pay a 4,000-yen entry fee, receiving a QR-code permit to show at the trailhead. The Yoshida and Subashiri trails opened on July 1 and the Fujinomiya and Gotemba trails open on July 10; the season is expected to close in early September. On the busy Yoshida route, numbers are capped at 4,000 climbers per day, and anyone without a mountain-hut booking must pass the gate by 2 p.m. If you plan to climb, book your permit and pay online before you go.
N5N4N3N2N1 - daily life
Japan Braces for Another Very Hot Summer in 2026
According to Japan's three-month forecast, temperatures from June to August are expected to be higher than normal across the country, and forecasters warn that heatstroke risk will be high even during the rainy season. Days with a maximum temperature of 40°C or more — newly called 'kokushobi' (extreme heat days) — are expected at 7 to 14 locations nationwide. Officials urge people to use air conditioning appropriately, drink water often, take salt, and check heatstroke alerts. On very hot days, heatstroke warning alerts are issued when the heat index (WBGT) is predicted to reach 33 or higher.
N5N4N3N2N1 - travel
Japan sets its first numerical goal to fight overtourism: measures in 100 areas by 2030
In its Tourism Nation Promotion Basic Plan for fiscal 2026–2030, approved by the Cabinet in March 2026, Japan set — for the first time — a numerical target for tackling overtourism: doubling the number of regions with anti-overcrowding measures from 47 in 2025 to 100 by 2030. At the same time it keeps ambitious goals of 60 million foreign visitors a year and 15 trillion yen in tourism spending by 2030. The 'international tourist' departure tax was tripled from 1,000 to 3,000 yen starting July 2026, and the extra revenue is set to fund local governments, transport and reception infrastructure, and crackdowns on illegal private lodging (minpaku). The aim is to spread tourism's benefits to rural areas while protecting residents' daily lives.
N5N4N3N2N1 - daily life
JMA one-month forecast: a hot summer ahead across Japan — take early heatstroke precautions
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) released its one-month forecast on July 3, 2026, covering July 4 to August 3. Warm air is expected to cover northern, eastern, and western Japan, so temperatures should run higher than normal. On the Pacific side of eastern and western Japan, the seasonal rain front (baiu) has less influence in the first half of the period, so rainfall is likely to be near or below normal. With hot days continuing, the risk of heatstroke (netchusho) climbs. Practical takeaway: use air conditioning appropriately even indoors, and drink water or tea frequently before you feel thirsty — take early precautions against the heat.
N5N4N3N2N1 - daily life
Doyo no Ushi no Hi (July 26): the day Japan eats grilled eel to beat the summer heat
July 26, 2026 is Doyo no Ushi no Hi, the summer 'day of the ox,' when many people in Japan eat grilled eel (unagi). 'Doyo' is the roughly 18-day transition period before a season changes, and eating nutrient-rich eel on its 'ox day' is a long-standing custom for building stamina against summer heat fatigue (natsubate). A popular story credits the Edo-period scholar Hiraga Gennai with the marketing idea; some regions also eat foods starting with the sound 'u' (like umeboshi plums or udon) for good luck. Expect eel to be pricey and shops busy around this date — this year there is only one ox day, with no second 'ni-no-ushi.' Note that Japanese eel is now an endangered species, so sustainable consumption is increasingly discussed.
N5N4N3N2N1 - daily life
'Cool Biz' is in season: why Japanese offices go tie-free and aim for 28°C in summer
'Cool Biz' is a nationwide campaign, launched by Japan's Ministry of the Environment in 2005 and now run every year from May 1 to September 30, that encourages people to dress lightly at work in summer so offices can rely less on air conditioning. During this period most workplaces do not require a necktie or jacket, and staff wear short-sleeved shirts and other cool clothing; offices aim to keep the room temperature around 28°C rather than over-cooling. The goal is to cut electricity use and CO2 emissions and help fight global warming. After the 2011 disaster, a more relaxed 'Super Cool Biz' — allowing polo shirts and even sandals — was added. If you work at a Japanese company, expect light, tie-free summer attire to be the norm, and offices that may feel a little warm.
N5N4N3N2N1 - society
'Marine Day' (Umi no Hi) falls on July 20 this year — a national holiday to thank the sea, and a three-day weekend
Marine Day (Umi no Hi) is one of Japan's national holidays, observed on the third Monday of July — this year it falls on Monday, July 20, 2026. By law it is a day 'to give thanks for the blessings of the sea and to hope for the prosperity of Japan as a maritime nation,' and Japan is often described as the only country with a national holiday dedicated to the sea. It first became a holiday in 1996 and was moved to the third Monday of July in 2003, so its date shifts from year to year. Because it forms a three-day weekend with the preceding Saturday and Sunday (July 18-20), beaches, aquariums, and other leisure spots get crowded, and trains and highways are busy. Banks, government offices, and many companies are closed that day, so if you need to visit city hall, make a bank transfer, or take care of other paperwork, do it before the long weekend.
N5N4N3N2N1 - daily life
Cyclists in Japan now face on-the-spot fines under the "blue ticket" system
Since April 1, 2026, Japanese police can issue on-the-spot "blue tickets" (ao-kippu) to cyclists for traffic violations under the revised Road Traffic Act. The rules apply to anyone aged 16 or older riding a bicycle, regardless of nationality or visa. About 113 violations are covered — reported examples include roughly 12,000 yen for using a phone while riding, 6,000 yen for running a red light or riding against traffic, and 5,000 yen for riding without lights or while holding an umbrella. Fines must be paid within the set period, or the case can escalate to criminal proceedings. Police say many fatal bicycle accidents involve a rider who broke a rule, so obey signals, use lights at night, don't ride distracted, and slow down around pedestrians.
N5N4N3N2N1 - economy
Japan begins talks on raising the 2026 minimum wage
Japan's Central Minimum Wages Council, an advisory body to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, has begun deliberations on how much to raise the minimum wage for fiscal 2026. The minimum wage is the legal hourly floor that applies to all workers — including part-timers and foreign workers — and it varies by prefecture. The council weighs prices, wage trends, and the ability of (especially smaller) companies to pay, and aims to issue a recommended increase within July; each prefecture then sets its own figure, usually taking effect around October. Last year's record increase pushed the national weighted average to about 1,121 yen per hour.
N5N4N3N2N1 - daily life
Japan's beaches open for summer — Coast Guard urges water safety
As July arrives, beaches across Japan hold their "umibiraki" (sea-opening), the official start of the swimming season: usually early July in Kansai and mid-July in Kanto, while Okinawa opens as early as March. Once a beach opens, lifeguards are on duty, swimming areas are marked with flags, and some beaches hold a Shinto ceremony praying for safety. Summer is also when water accidents peak, so the Japan Coast Guard urges swimmers to stay within designated areas, never swim after drinking alcohol, keep a constant eye on children, and beware of rip currents and sudden weather changes.
N5N4N3N2N1 - travel
Tanabata, Japan's Star Festival, brightens early July
Tanabata, Japan's "Star Festival," is celebrated on July 7 (and in August in some regions that follow the old lunar calendar). It comes from a legend in which Orihime and Hikoboshi, two stars separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet just once a year. People write wishes on colorful paper strips called tanzaku and tie them to bamboo branches, and shopping streets and stations fill with bright decorations. Famous festivals include Hiratsuka in Kanagawa in early July and Sendai in early August. If you are in Japan, it is an easy custom to join: write a wish and hang it on the bamboo.
N5N4N3N2N1 - daily life
Japan's heatstroke alerts: what they mean and what to do
Japan's summers keep getting hotter, and heatstroke sends many people to hospital every year. To warn the public, the Ministry of the Environment and the Japan Meteorological Agency jointly issue a 'Heat Stroke Alert' when dangerously hot conditions are expected, and a higher-level 'Special Heat Stroke Alert' for extreme heat. The trigger is the 'heat index' (WBGT): an alert is issued for an area when the value is forecast to reach 33 or above. When an alert is out, stay indoors with air conditioning, avoid outdoor exercise, drink water and take some salt regularly before you feel thirsty, and check on elderly people and small children, who are most at risk.
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