Record Heat Impacts Kyoto Tourism

Aug 04, 2024 | News On Japan

KYOTO - Japan is experiencing peak summer heat, with a record 292 locations nationwide recording temperatures above 35°C on August 3rd. This extreme heat has disrupted tourism in Kyoto, where temperatures reached 38.7°C, marking the tenth consecutive day of such high temperatures.

Tourists are altering their plans, opting to stay indoors or return to their hotels earlier than planned. Popular tourist spots like Kiyomizu Temple and Gion are seeing fewer visitors, and traditional summer attractions such as the "Kawayuka" dining platforms along the Kamogawa River are suspending lunch services due to the heat.

Hotels in Kyoto report longer stays as guests prefer to avoid the peak heat, choosing to explore the city early in the morning or late in the evening. The intense heat is significantly impacting businesses and tourism in the region.

Source: ANN

Flights Canceled and Trains Fill as Typhoon Hits Travel Season

Japan's Obon travel rush began on August 7 under severe disruption from Typhoon No. 13, with hundreds of flights canceled across Okinawa and Kagoshima as Shinkansen trains and expressways prepared for their main outbound peak on August 8, while a second typhoon raised concerns about further travel trouble next week.

Typhoon No. 13 Batters Okinawa

A large and strong Typhoon No. 13 was making its closest approach to Okinawa's main island and the Amami region on August 7, bringing torrential rain, violent winds and waves exceeding 8 meters as the slow-moving storm threatened to prolong severe weather through August 8.

Instant Houses Installed in Kumamoto Disaster Area

Requests for rapidly constructed "instant houses" are growing across areas of Kumamoto Prefecture devastated by the recent earthquake, providing air-conditioned temporary shelter for residents who have been sleeping in tents and vehicles beside their damaged homes.

Toyota Futuristic City Begins Recruiting Residents

Toyota Motor has begun recruiting residents of Shizuoka Prefecture to live in Woven City, its experimental community for developing future technologies, with about 25 households expected to move into the site for two years from March 2027.

Supermarket Becomes Lifeline for Quake-Stricken Kumamoto

Nine days after the Kumamoto earthquake, a supermarket in Hikawa, where the strongest seismic intensity of 7 was recorded, is moving toward reopening while providing free groundwater to residents as about 3,200 households remain without running water.

MEDIA CHANNELS