Foreign Tourists Like it Hot?

The heated Olympic competitions in Rio aside, more tourists visited Japan in the month of July this year than in the same month a year ago, the Japan National Tourist Organization bared July 17. The mercury soared 36 degrees centigrade apparently more often this July than a year ago and more suffered or died of heatstroke this year.

Japan's summer is notorious for heat and humidity and foreign tourists are normally scarce this time around. But, strangely, 2,297,000 or nearly 20% more foreign tourists visited Japan this July than in the previous month of June. The month of April had marked 2,082,000 tourists from abroad and the statistics for July easily beat the all time record of per-month inbound tourism.

The phenomenon is basically due to an increase in the number of cruise vessels calling Japanese ports amid summer recess; the inbound from China increased substantially.

By country and region, China tops with 731,400 or an increase of 26.8% - over 700 thousand for the first time as per-month data. South Korea came second with 447,000 or up 30% despite the earthquake in Kumamoto. New flights were introduced and a series of tourist-related commoditieis were marketed to minimize the effects of the earthquake.

Taiwan marked an increase of 9.8% or 390,000.

Now, here's a timely tip for foreign tourists visiting Japan at its hottest. Be sure to join in any of those dramatic summer festivals to remember Japan by at this time of the year.

First, try to make it up north to watch Nebuta Matsuri in Aomori - that huge parade of lighted colorful figures built of bamboos and papers. It's slated for the first week of August. This is definitely a must.

Then, think of visiting Kyoto in the month of August to be among Kyoto citizens to observe Gozan no Okuribi or commonly known as Daimonji - five giant bonfires lit atop five mountains surrounding the town, each signifying set meanings in respective shapes and letters.

Japan' unbearable summer is made bearable with a variety of fests and events. Study them up and do dare tour Japan for another charming features of Japan. (Nathan Shiga)