The sweaty months of July through September in Tokyo can evoke a sense of climatic dread among visitors and residents alike, not to mention palpitation-inducing budgetary concerns. There's a widespread misconception that summer in the metropolis either translates to woeful binge-watching of TV series beneath the air conditioner — with the odd trip to the convenience store to buy matcha-flavored ice cream and pay the steep electricity bill — or costly escapes to cool oases both domestic and overseas. But this time of year can be more fun, and friendly to your bank balance, than you think. Here are a few suggestions to make the most of summer in 2017.
Things to do
Catch a sunrise: The sun is up around 4:30 a.m., and you might as well be too. Make like something out of a nature documentary and watch the sun rise over the city while the air is still at its pre-heat setting. If you don't have access to a rooftop, head to Kasai Rinkai Park on the Edo River to see the sky change color. The early morning is also a good time of day to pop into a shrine or temple, as some of them open at dawn. The grand-daddy of such places, Meiji Shrine, is one of these early-bird hot spots.