Hot and humid summer is arriving in Tokyo, but there are some clever ways to enjoy sightseeing in Tokyo cool and comfortably. Tokyo has many places and activities, where various ideas, such as the pleasant cooling sensation of nature and effects of mist and light, effectively create a comfortable space in the hot season. This article introduces you to some ideas to enjoy summer in Tokyo in a cool and nice way.

Riverboarding on the Tama River

Located about 90 minutes by train from central Tokyo, the Okutama area has vast stretches of intact wilderness, which is unbelievable for Tokyo, offering some popular nature-based activities. One of them is “riverboarding,” where you swim down the Tama River while hanging onto a personal floatation device called a bodyboard. You can enjoy the coolness and speed of the stream with your whole body. As it is easy to manipulate the board, this activity is suitable to a wide range of people, including beginners. The riverboarding allows you to enjoy both the coolness and thrill at the same time on a hot summer day in Tokyo.
RIVER BOARD CLUB (Multiple languages available)

The misty garden at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo has an extensive Japanese garden despite the fact that it is located only 10 minutes by car/taxi from Ikebukuro. This garden offers a mystical event called “Tokyo Sea of Clouds.” Mist and the seasonal plants in the garden and the historic buildings create a beautiful scene, which looks just like a sea of clouds. This misty garden has been attracting visitors since 2020, and it will use the largest amount of mist ever to create an evolved version of the garden called “Tokyo Sea of Clouds－YAKUMO－.” With the addition of sound and illumination at night, the garden appears as if it is making rhythmic movements, creating a mesmerizing scenery. A performance called “Sea of Clouds Splash,” which splashes large droplets of water in the garden, allows you to enjoy the cool feeling of the garden.
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

TOKYO TOWER CITY LIGHT FANTASIA ~Summer landscape 2026~

Tokyo Tower has been one of the most famous landmarks in Tokyo. The observatory at an elevation of 150 meters is offering a summer-limited event of illumination until September 6. Projection mapping and illumination lapping over the night view of Tokyo filling the large windows create a fantastical space, where you can feel as if you are surrounded by fireworks and fireflies. You can enjoy an atmosphere of a fireworks festival or summer festival in a cool air-conditioned room without worrying about the weather.
TOKYO TOWER CITY LIGHT FANTASIA ~Summer landscape 2026~

Summer Night Museum 2026

Some of the Tokyo Metropolitan art museums and other museums join the “Summer Night Museum 2026” program, where these museums have extended opening hours up to 9:00 p.m. on every Friday in August. Along with Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum (Ryogoku), which just re-opened after a major renovation at the end of March, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (Ueno), Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum (Meguro, Shirokanedai), Tokyo Photographic Art Museum* (Ebisu), Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (Kiyosumi Shirakawa), and Tokyo Shibuya Koen-dori Gallery (Shibuya) will join this program. You can appreciate artworks and productions in a relaxing space during the later hours with less heat from daytime. Some special events and special offers for visitors are scheduled to take place.
* Tokyo Photographic Art Museum will offer this program on Thursdays as well.
Summer Night Museum 2026

Special exhibition “Antarctica”

Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Japanese Antarctic research, a special exhibition “Antarctica” will be held from July 1 to September 27 at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan). As Antarctica is a place where the state of the Earth tens of thousands years ago has been remaining strong under the environment locked in by ice, it serves as an important research field to understand global environment and climate changes. This exhibition introduces the vast wilderness of Antarctica and observation activities there with videos and hands-on displays. You can enjoy extreme coldness through the hands-on experiences, including touching real ice collected in Antarctica and walking through an artificial blizzard. It will offer you a chance to think about the past and future of the earth.
Antarctica

Tips: Tokyowater Drinking Station

A free water serving spot called “Tokyowater Drinking Station” installed at various places in Tokyo is very convenient for visitors to rehydrate themselves while sightseeing. About 900 stations are installed around stations, tourist facilities, and parks, allowing anyone to easily access them. Japan is known for having safe and delicious tap water, so you should feel safe using these drinking stations. It is a helpful service for you to enjoy summer in Tokyo safely and comfortably.
* Some of the drinking stations are installed within facilities where you are required to pay to enter.
Tokyowater Drinking Station