Summer comes at you quick, and you’re gonna want to respond to it with the correct terminology if you’re in Japan. Japan’s language and culture are uniquely beautiful, with a rich array of vocabulary specific to each season.
Whether it’s planning your next adventure or braving a heat wave, we hope these simple phrases add a little color to your experience. If you find yourself in Japan any time between June and mid-September, you might want to have this list on hand to mingle with the locals.
Natsu ba-te 「夏バテ」：summer heat fatigue
まだ11時なのにもう疲れている。夏バテかな。
Mada juichi ji nanoni mo tsukareteiru. Natsu ba-te kana.
It’s still eleven and I’m already tired. Must be heat exhaustion.
Higaeri「日帰り」：day trip
一泊する時間はなかったから日帰りすることにした。
Ippaku suru jikan wa nakatta kara higaeri suru koto nishita.
I didn’t have time to spend the night, so I decided to do a day trip.
Tsuri bori「釣り堀」：manmade fishing hole
釣り堀に行ったけど何も釣れなかった。
Tsuri bori ni itta kedo nani mo turenakatta.
I went to the stocked fishing pond but wasn’t able to catch anything.
Tabe aruki「食べ歩き」：walking while eating
お祭りでずっと食べ歩きしていた。
Omatsuri de zutto tabe aruki shiteita.
I went to the festival and ate while walking around the entire time.
Suika wari「スイカ割り」：watermelon splitting
海に行って人生初めてスイカ割りをした。
Umi ni itte jinsei hajimete suika wari wo shita.
I went to the beach and tried watermelon splitting for the first time.
Mizugi「水着」：bathing suit
あの子は意外と水着が似合うね。
Ano ko wa igai to mizugi ga niau ne.
That bathing suit really suits her.
Furin「風鈴」：wind chime
松尾大社の風鈴はすごく綺麗だよね。
Matsunoo taisha no furin wa sugoku kirei da yo ne.
The wind chimes at Matsuno-o Taisha Shrine are really pretty.