Rainy Season: the joys and the woes.

It is officially rainy season now in Tokyo (or maybe tomorrow). That doesn't mean that it rains all the time, which confused us when we first moved to Tokyo. Here is a good explanation:

The rainy season is caused by the collision of cold northerly and warm southerly air masses, which results in a relatively stable bad weather front over the
Japanese archipelago for several weeks. . . . During the rainy season it does not rain every day. In fact, Tokyo registers only an average of 12 rainy days in June, while 120 hours of sunshine are recorded. As for the amount of rainfall, it varies from days with intensive downpours to other days with occasional sprinkles. (From here.)

Why I don't like the Rainy Season:

• It is a little gloomy. You rarely see the sun.
• It can be hard to get clothes dry.
• Everything feels a little damp.
• Somehow I can't get my footwear right. It is too hot to wear gum boots, but my summer sandals get slimy when wet. Rubber thongs (Aussie for flip-flops) are too casual in many instances.

Why I love the Rainy Season:

• It is the only time of year when the temperatures are pleasant, yet the weather is stable. The other times of year the temperatures are stable are at the extremes: winter and summer.
• The light brings out the best of the greens and the colours in flowers.
• Hydrangeas are amazing at this time of year.
• The clouds hold back the blistering heat of summer just a bit longer.

I wrote another post about this time of year three years ago here.