Rainy Season Almost Over in Kyoto

梅雨明け京都

Rainy season is almost officially over.

The six-week season of cool nights and mornings and muggy days is now in its final throes.

The sound of the cicadas is the main clue. They are singing their high summer song, and it is hot.

That means High Summer is upon us.

In Kyoto, late July until mid-September equals torrid daytime temperatures.

Cycling is brutal this time of year.

We tend to do only local runs - shopping, going out at night - until early autumn.

From that point on, when Kyoto weather is sweet and forgiving, we head into the hills on the bike.

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Rainy Season Kyoto Hyrdrangea

梅雨いりの京都上七件の紫陽花

Rainy Season has begun on most of Japan's main island Honshu.

For cyclists in Kyoto, that means a mix of weather: from cool mornings and even blue skies, to downpours and high humidity.

The commute on Monday was cool - literally a breeze - but by late morning it was sticky and muggy.

Back on the positive side, rainy season also brings with it a riot of hydrangea.

This plant is at the western end of Kamishichiken, a geisha district that is adjacent to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.

We prefer this species to the more bulbous mophead type of flower.

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Rainy Season 2014 Cycling in Kyoto

梅雨京都自転車サイクリング

Rainy season finally arrived - and with a bang.

The winds are howling and a storm is barreling up from Kyushu.

In Kyoto, heavy rains are expected for tonight and through to Saturday.

May was hot and the farmers, as they always do, suffered.

Now it is a cool 25 degrees - and wet wet wet.

That however did not stop us or anyone else this morning. The roads were thronged with commuters on bikes.

Enjoy your commute.


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Rainy Season Cycling in Kyoto

梅雨京都自転車サイクリング

Rainy season finally arrived - and with a bang.

It has rained hard for three days in a row, and a typhoon is on its way.

In May there was hardly any rain. For three weeks in June, ditto.

There was the usual handwringing about the farmers and being careful not to get heat stroke.

Now it is a cool 25 degrees - and wet wet wet.

That however did not stop us or anyone else this morning. The roads were thronged with commuters on bikes.

Enjoy your commute.


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Rainy Season Kyoto Uji Hydrangea Mimurotoji Temple

アジサイ　雨待ち遠し　三室戸寺、試験点灯 印刷用画面を開く

In spite of high summer-like weather - highs are expected to hit 35 (96 F) in Kyoto today - it is rainy season.

That means hydrangeas.

In Uji, Mimurotoji Temple is as good a spot as any to enjoy the flowers.

The temple, which is in the northern hills of Uji, was founded roughly 1200 years ago. It is famed for its flowers, and is a good spot any time of year.

From June 15 - 30, the flowers will be illuminated every night from 7 - 9 pm.

Access on public transportation

Bus number 43 runs between JR Uji Station, Keihan Uji Station, and Mimurotoji Temple. It takes 20 minutes from JR Uji Station to Mimurotoji Temple and costs 220 yen. For those willing to brave the heat, it will take about 15 minutes to walk there from Keihan Mimuroto Station or about 20 minutes from Keihan Uji Station or Uji Bridge.

Cycling

It is 90 minutes to Uji from central Kyoto. Follow the map below.


View Cycling Kyoto to Uji in a larger map


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Rainy Season Begins in Kyushu and Southern Japan

九州・中国・四国地方で梅雨入り

It was announced yesterday that the 2013 rainy season has officially commenced in Kyushu, Chugoku, and Shikoku regions of Japan.

That is a bit earlier than a normal year.

Kyoto and the Kansai area, which are north of those regions, are also expecting an earlier than usual start to the six-week rainy season.

The weather lady this morning on NHK said that rainy season will begin on June 7 here in Kyoto.

For cyclists, it is not all bad. Days can be cool and rain-free.

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Rainy Season Announced Over in Kyoto 2012

梅雨明け京都

Rainy season is officially over.

The six-week season of cool nights and mornings and muggy days is now officially over for this year.

That means High Summer is upon us.

In Kyoto, late July until mid-September equals torrid daytime temperatures.

Cycling is brutal this time of year.

We tend to do only local runs - shopping, going out at night - until early autumn.

From that point on, when Kyoto weather is sweet and forgiving, we head into the hills on the bike.

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Kyoto Rainy Season Hydrangea in Kamishichiken

梅雨いりの京都上七件の紫陽花

Rainy Season has begun in Honshu.

For Kyoto, that means a mix of weather, not all of it bad.

The first few days have been cool, which is often the case.

The mugginess will come, but for now nights and early morning require long sleeves.

It also means the blossoming of hydrangea.

This spectacular bush is at the western end of Kamishichiken, a geisha district that is adjacent to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. The new street paving can be seen in the distance.

We prefer this species to the more bulbous mophead type.

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Rainy Day Cycling Kyoto

雨の中自転車乗り京都

Rainy season has started in Kyoto.

That is more than two weeks earlier than usual.

It is a grim time for commuters, shoppers, and anyone who needs to get around on two wheels.

Riding in the rain strategies vary, and to varying degrees succeed or fail.

The full body gear of the cyclist above is keeping him dry - perhaps: that will depend on the material of the outfit - but underneath he is probably coated in a layer of sweat.

The man below left is riding illegally, and probably getting soaked to boot.

It is now against the law to ride holding an umbrella, or any other item, thus leaving the rider only one hand to navigate.

The cops though rarely if ever enforce this prohibition.

The umbrella he is using is made of clear plastic, so he has the advantage of being able to see - a bit.

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Rainy Season Cycling Kyoto

京都で梅雨の季節の自転車活動

It is hard to decide the worst season for cycling in Kyoto.

A clear vote-getter would be The Dead of Winter.

This is when your fingers feel as they they will break off even though they are cocooned within the thick "all-season" gloves you paid dearly for; when your ears turn pink and burn from the cold; when black patches on the road mean ice.

Others might argue for High Summer. This is the dreaded time of year when riding at any time save late at night is a sweat-drenched exercise in self-immolation; when the sound of your breathing pounds in your ears; when bus fumes hang in thick clouds waiting for, no, daring you, to pass through.

Our personal vote might however be for rainy season.

Rainy season on the island of Honshu, which is where Kyoto is, generally lasts from about the second week of June until the third week of July. (Kyotoites say that rainy season ends with Gion Festival, which is held on the 17th.)

The weather varies during the six weeks, but in general it is muggy with a constant drizzle.

It rarely pours, but the rain is heavy enough that even a short ride requires rain gear.

Thus, the rain gear keeps out the rain, but keeps in a cold rancid layer of sweat that cleaves to your body and clothing for hours.

Still, compared to being stuck in a bus or subway full of similarly clammy commuters, the bike wins out.


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