Even the Rainy Season Is a Blast! A Travel Guide to June in Tokyo Painted with Hydrangeas — and the Street Kart Adventure

“June in Tokyo is the rainy season, so it’s probably not a great time to travel, right?” — I hear this from time to time. But June in Tokyo is packed with charms you can only experience at this time of year. Glistening, rain-soaked cobblestones, hydrangeas dyed in blues and purples, and street karts racing through those very streets. There are sights you can savor precisely because it’s the rainy season. This time, I want to introduce you to the scenery you can enjoy in Tokyo in June — and the Street Kart experience that makes it all the more unforgettable — from the perspective of a visitor to Japan.

Why June in Tokyo Is So Appealing

When the rain falls, the city turns lush and moist, and the green of the plants deepens. And when it comes to the star of June, it has to be the hydrangea. This flower, called “ajisai” in Japanese, is said to change color depending on the acidity of the soil, so even the same plant can bloom in both blue and pink. Little trivia like this is one of those topics that often gets shared on social media.

June falls in that perfect “in-between” period — after the peak cherry blossom season has passed, but before the summer holiday crowds arrive. As a result, even popular spots tend to be relatively relaxed and easy to enjoy. For anyone who wants to use limited travel time efficiently, this seasonal calm might just be a point you don’t want to overlook. In the evening after the rain stops, the pavement glistens softly, and neon signs and streetlights reflect off it, giving your photos a sense of depth. Every time you shoot, you’ll capture a shot you’ll want to show someone.

How to Enjoy Hydrangea Season — Recommended Spots in Tokyo

The first place I’d recommend is Hakusan Shrine in Bunkyo Ward. Come June, the grounds are colored with hydrangeas, and you can feel as if you’re wrapped in blue blossoms. The combination of a shrine — a space so uniquely Japanese — with flowers is truly an experience you can only have when visiting Japan.

Next, I’d love to introduce Sumida Park. Frame the hydrangeas blooming along the Sumida River together with the Tokyo Skytree, and you’ll capture a shot that feels distinctly Tokyo. It’s one of those compositions you’ll want to nail when you come to Japan.

Here’s one tip for photography. Hydrangeas tend to photograph more beautifully on cloudy days or in light rain. Direct sunlight tends to wash out their colors, but under soft light, the blues and purples come out deep and rich. After shooting on your smartphone, just bumping up the saturation a little and dropping the highlights slightly can get you close to an atmospheric finish. Combining hashtags like “#TokyoHydrangea,” “#RainySeasonTokyo,” and “#JapanTrip” makes it easier to reach others searching for the same scenery.

Racing Through the City — Exploring Tokyo by Street Kart

Once you’ve had your fill of hydrangeas, it’s time for the Street Kart experience. The sensation of racing through clusters of buildings and intersections with the wind at your side, from a low vantage point close to the ground, is vastly different from seeing Tokyo on foot or gazing at it from a bus window. That feeling of blending into the city with your whole body is something you can hardly experience anywhere else. Many first-time riders say it’s “even more fun than I imagined.”

Here’s one important point. Street karts operate as guided tours led by a guide, running set courses determined by each shop. You can’t freely go wherever you please — it’s a style where everyone travels together along a route designed with safety in mind. That’s exactly why even overseas guests unfamiliar with Tokyo’s roads can enjoy it with peace of mind. At Street Kart, guides trained to support overseas drivers are on hand, so even people who feel uneasy about the language or traffic rules can ride with support along the way.

There are conditions regarding your driver’s license to take part. Since the required documents vary by country, please check the details in advance on the driver’s license page at kart.st. Please note that participation is for those aged 18 and over. Checking the requirements beforehand will help the day go smoothly.

Why So Many People Choose Street Kart

Among the many activities out there, there are several reasons why street karting tends to become a hot topic on social media. Here, I’ll walk you through its features one by one.

A wealth of track record. The total number of tours conducted exceeds 150,000, and the number of customers who have used the service so far tops 1.34 million (as of November 2023). The fact that so many people have experienced it may serve as a useful reference for anyone joining for the first time.

High ratings. The average customer rating is 4.9/5.0★, with over 20,000 reviews (as of the same date). Maintaining such a high rating with this many reviews collected is a helpful point to consider when deciding whether to join.

A full fleet of vehicles. With over 250 public-road karts available, the setup makes it easy for everyone to set off together, even when joining as a group. Time spent racing alongside your companions is sure to become a memorable moment of the day.

Store locations. Centered around 6 stores in Tokyo, the company operates 8 stores in total, including Osaka and Okinawa. It’s easy to fit into your Tokyo sightseeing route and simple to work into your itinerary.

Language support. The website is available in 22 languages, designed to be easy for overseas guests to use right from the booking stage. Since the actual service guidance is conducted in English, if you can speak English, on-site communication tends to go smoothly.

The presence of guides. Driving through the streets of Tokyo as a visitor from overseas is exciting, but it can also be a little nerve-wracking. Having a guide to lead the way makes it easier to focus on enjoying the scenery. This experience design is a reassuring point for visitors to Japan.

In Closing — See June in Tokyo from an Unforgettable Angle

June in Tokyo, when hydrangeas dye the city blue and purple. Cooping yourself up indoors just because it’s the rainy season might be a bit of a shame. The combination of moist, glistening streetscapes and a street kart racing through them is an experience unique to this season and this city. In the evening when the rain-soaked pavement glistens, just driving alone lets you capture striking footage. Come feel the real air of Tokyo in June with your whole body.

If you’re going to add street karting to your itinerary, I recommend booking early. Detailed guidance on participation requirements and licenses can be found at kart.st. For those who want even more information, be sure to also check out the official website, kart.st. See Tokyo’s rainy season from an unforgettable angle. A new view of Tokyo is waiting for you.

A Note About Costume Rentals

At Street Kart, we offer authorized, officially licensed costumes sold with the permission of the rights holders. For details on the lineup and how to use them, or for any questions, please visit the official website (kart.st).