Since the simplest way to deal with the scorching sun is to avoid it entirely, many of the festivities can be enjoyed after the sun goes down, such as the artistic display of lanterns and “minamo fireworks” between the buildings of the Coredo Muromachi entertainment center.

Minamo is the Japanese word for “water’s surface,” and instead of lighting up the night sky, the minamo fireworks are projected onto the walkway, creating a colorful river of light nightly between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

For more nighttime fun, the nearby free-to-enter Fukutoku Garden hosts its repeating summer festival every weekend night. There, visitors can participate in traditional Japanese summertime activities like goldfish-catching and Bon dances.

For centuries, Japan has relied on the gentle ringing of wind chimes to produce a psychologically cooling effect on heat-frayed nerves. The path that connects Fukutoku Garden to its Shinto shrine is a relaxing stroll lined with 190 chimes.

And if looking at those fashionable yukata (summer kimono) are also making you feel cooler, on the third floor of Coredo Muromachi’s #3 building yukata dressings and rentals are being offered from August 3 to the 26.

Also returning to Coredo Muromachi is the Art Aquarium, in which hundreds of adorable goldfish are displayed in housing far more sophisticated than simple fishbowls. While the doors open at 11 a.m., the exhibition is open until 10:30 p.m. from Sunday to Friday, and 11:30 p.m. on Saturdays, making it a viable nightlife option after a full day of sightseeing or work.

And finally, a number of restaurants and cafés within Coredo Muromachi are offering goldfish-inspired desserts, which shows off the skill Japanese confectioners have in making treats that are both delicious and adorable.

Because really, it just wouldn’t be Japan without some seasonally themed sweets, would it?

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