Page 3 - japan
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where you can’t recognize and finding un-
expected oases of calm. in the tranquil
grounds of a neighbourhood Shinto shrine.
It’s all perfectly safe, and the locals will
go to sometimes extraordinary lengths to
help you if you just ask.
From modern electronics and gleaming
skyscrapers to cherry blossoms and the
Imperial Palace, this city represents the
entire country.
Tokyo is classified as lying in the humid
subtropical climate zone and has five dis-
tinct seasons.Spring kicks off with plum
blossoms in late February, followed by
the famous cherry blossoms (sakura) in
March–April. Parks, most famously Ueno,
fill up with blue tarps and sozzled salary-
men.
Rainy season (baiu or tsuyu) in late May
to June means a month of overcast skies
and drizzle punctuated with downpours,
with temperatures in the twenties.
Summer really kicks off in July, with clear
skies but temperatures peaking into the
high thirties and brutal steam bath hu-
midity. Even a short walk outside will leave
you drenched in sweat, so this is proba-
bly the worst time of year to visit, and is
best avoided if you have a choice. The one
bright spot is the plethora of fireworks,
most notably the epic pyrotechnic extrav-