Here's something you'll notice quickly if you're in Japan on a rainy day: the moment the rain starts, the streets fill with people carrying nearly identical clear plastic umbrellas. Not colorful ones, not fancy ones—just simple transparent umbrellas that look like they all came from the same convenience-store rack. And honestly, many of them did.
Japan goes through an estimated 120 to 130 million umbrellas every year, according to the Japan Umbrella Promotion Association. That works out to roughly one umbrella per person per year, making Japan one of the world's biggest umbrella markets—even though it's not actually one of the rainiest countries by number of rainy days. Most of those are the inexpensive clear plastic umbrellas you can pick up at convenience stores for around ¥500 to ¥800 (about $3–5 USD). It's one of those small, everyday things that says a lot about how Japan works.
The Convenience Store Umbrella Ecosystem
Japan has roughly 57,000 convenience stores—7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, and others—and most keep clear plastic umbrellas near the entrance, especially during the rainy season. During tsuyu (roughly June through mid-July), some urban locations sell dozens per day. Prices are fairly consistent across chains: expect to pay ¥500–800 for a standard umbrella, or around ¥1,000 for a compact folding one.
Past surveys by WeatherNews have found that Tokyo leads the nation in annual umbrella purchases. A 2022 survey also showed that 73% of Tokyoites open an umbrella even in light rain, and that the city tops the country in vinyl umbrella ownership. It makes sense: most people here commute by train and walk the last stretch to their destination. Nobody wants to arrive at a meeting looking damp. In more car-dependent rural areas, people tend to buy fewer umbrellas.
Umbrella Etiquette: What Every Visitor Should Know
If you get caught in the rain while traveling in Japan, the easiest fix is to duck into the nearest convenience store and grab a clear plastic umbrella. But there are a few unwritten rules around umbrella use that are worth knowing—the kind of things nobody will tell you, but everyone will notice.
1. Entering a shop or restaurant
Look for an umbrella stand, a dispenser of thin plastic sleeves, or an umbrella dryer near the entrance. If there's a dryer—a slot-like device you push your umbrella into—use it to shake off the water before heading inside. Otherwise, slip your umbrella into the provided bag, or leave it in the stand. Carrying a dripping umbrella through a store is considered rude. Department stores and many restaurants usually have these near the entrance.
2. On the train
Close your umbrella, hold it vertically with the tip pointing down, and keep it close to your body. If you're sitting, keep it by your feet or tucked neatly between your legs—but never let it block the aisle or drip on someone else's shoes.
3. Opening and closing
In crowded areas, be mindful of where you point your umbrella when opening it. Snapping it open sends a spray of water in every direction—it's often cited as one of the biggest rain-day annoyances for pedestrians in Japan. Open slowly, angled away from people.
4. Watch out for umbrella mix-ups
It's an unfortunate reality that umbrellas left in public stands can sometimes disappear or get picked up by mistake. If you're traveling with an expensive umbrella, carry it inside in a cover. Or just embrace the convenience-store umbrella lifestyle—at ¥500, it's cheap enough to lose without heartbreak.
Rainy Season Is Coming—And It's Beautiful
Japan's rainy season, known as tsuyu (梅雨), typically runs from early June through mid-July across much of mainland Japan. It rains a lot—sometimes lightly and steadily for days, sometimes in sudden downpours. For travelers, it can feel like a nuisance. But the rain brings its own rewards: hydrangeas blooming in temple gardens, moss-covered stone paths glistening in Kyoto, the sound of rain on tiled roofs in old neighborhoods.
And when you're standing in front of a shrine, watching the rain fall through the cedar trees, chances are you'll be holding a clear plastic umbrella from the 7-Eleven down the street. That's not a compromise. That's part of traveling in Japan during the rainy season.
▶ Japan Umbrella Promotion Association (JUPA) FAQ
▶ Clear Protection: Redefining Japan's Plastic Umbrella (Tokyo Updates)
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.
