"That sound," Kenji said. "In English, you call it 'drip.' In Japanese, we have a word: shizuku . Every drop has its own voice."
She passed a small Shinto shrine. An old man was sweeping the wet steps—not to dry them, but to clear the fallen leaves so the rain could fall directly on the stone. He saw her watching and smiled.
Everyone talks about cherry blossoms in spring and neon leaves in autumn, but there is a massive, moody elephant in the room regarding Japan’s weather calendar: (梅雨), the rainy season.
The rainy season in Japan , known locally as (plum rain), typically lasts from early June to mid-July for most of the country.
Don't fear the rain. Pack a clear umbrella (a plastic vinyl umbrella is a must-have Japanese accessory!), buy a ticket for late June, and watch the country turn a lush, vibrant green.
At the airport, she deleted her "Perfect Japan Itinerary" spreadsheet. She bought a postcard of a hydrangea— ajisai —with a single raindrop balanced on its petal.