2 days ago
How to survive Japan's rainy season: 10 practical ways to stay dry
By Aaron Baggett
Your laundry is still damp, your futon smells weird, and your umbrella just flipped inside out. Welcome to the rainy season in Japan. Known as tsuyu, it typically begins in early June and lasts through mid-July. During this time, weeks of overcast skies, near-daily rain and suffocating humidity set in. Mold creeps into corners, clothes take forever to dry and the air starts to feel like miso soup. With no national holidays in June to break up the monotony, it's no surprise that it is considered the most depressing month of the year in Japan. Here's a guide on how to survive Japan's rainy season.
1. How to Deal with Humidity
2. Drying Laundry Inside Without That Musty Smell
3. Stop Mold Before It Spreads
4. What to Wear to Stay Cool and Dry
5. Rain Gear That Actually Works
6. Best Shoes for Rainy Season Commutes
7. Keep Your Tech Safe from Rain
8. How to Survive Commuting During Tsuyu
9. What to Stock Up on Before Heavy Rain
10. How to Enjoy Rainy Days at Home
Bonus: Escape the Rainy Season in Hokkaido
1. How to Deal with Humidity
Use your aircon's dehumidifying mode.
Japanese apartments, especially older ones, are built for winter insulation, not summer ventilation. Without central air or good airflow, moisture collects in closets, under beds, and especially around shoes and bedding. Mold spores thrive in the warm, damp air and without some strategy, your apartment can start to smell like a neglected towel.
Use a dehumidifier (除湿機, joshitsuki) or your aircon's dehumidify mode (除湿, joshitsu).
Place moisture absorbers (湿気とり, shikke-tori) in closets, cabinets and drawers.
Use futon dryers or dry your mattress near a window or fan.
or dry your mattress near a window or fan. Don't forget shoes — stick silica packs in them when not in use.
2. Drying Laundry Inside Without That Musty Smell
Use an indoor-drying detergent.
Drying laundry indoors during tsuyu is almost unavoidable. But without airflow or the right detergent, clothes will smell like mildew before they dry. Many apartments have tiny balconies or none at all, and the humidity indoors can make drying jeans take two full days. Fortunately, Japan has specialized products and setups for this exact situation.
Use indoor-drying detergent (部屋干し用洗濯剤, heya boshi you senzai) to reduce odor.
Hang clothes near a window or fan for better airflow.
Use a bathroom dryer (浴室乾燥機, yokushitsu kansouki) if your apartment has one.
Invest in an indoor drying rack (室内物干しラック, shitsunai monohoshi rakku) or a ceiling pole for inside drying.
3. Stop Mold Before It Spreads
Manage this sooner rather than later.
Even clean apartments can develop black spots along window frames, in the kitchen, and under the futon. If you have tatami mats, you're even more vulnerable. Prevention is key, and Japanese drugstores are stocked with powerful anti-mold products made for exactly this time of year.
Spray Kabi Killer (カビキラー, Kabi Kirā) in high-risk areas like bathrooms and windows.
Keep bathroom doors open to let air circulate after showers.
Dry mats, floors, and futons thoroughly — don't let moisture linger.
Use moisture control sheets (除湿シート, joshitsu shīto) under futons, especially on tatami.
4. What to Wear to Stay Cool and Dry
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