暑中見舞い（しょちゅうみまい） is a kind of summer greeting card sent between early July and early August (before 立秋 （りっしゅう）—the first day of autumn, usually around August 7th). Traditionally, it’s a way to show care during the hottest time of year—especially to those you may not see often.
These messages often start with expressions like:
✒️「暑中お見舞い申し上げます」
I hope you are keeping well during this hot season
✒️「毎日暑い日が続いていますが、お元気ですか。」
The hot days continue—how have you been?
It’s a thoughtful custom that adds a personal, seasonal touch to your Japanese—and a great way to show cultural awareness when writing to a Japanese teacher, friend, or colleague.
When and How to Use It
Use 暑中見舞い in written form—postcards, emails, even short LINE messages (I posted on my Instagram!)—from around 7th July to 7th August. After that, it becomes 残暑見舞い（ざんしょみまい）, used from early August through the end of summer.
Here’s a short message you can adapt and use:
暑中お見舞い申し上げます
暑い日が続きますが、どうそご自愛ください。
またお会いできる日を楽しみにしております。
Summer Greetings
The heat continues here—please take good care of yourself and stay cool.
I very much look forward to the next time we meet.
Real Phrases for Talking About Summer in Japan
Want to sound more fluent and natural when talking about the season? Here are a few casual phrases native speakers really use:
🫠「暑すぎて溶けそう…！」
It’s so hot I’m melting!
▶︎ Casual and commonly used—perfect for texts or casual conversations.
🥵「夏バテ気味です。」
I’m feeling summer fatigue.
▶︎ Useful for describing low energy in the heat.
🎆「今年はどこか花火大会行く？」
Are you going to any firework festivals this year?
▶︎ Great for starting cultural conversations.
🍧「かき氷は何味が好き？」
What flavour of shaved ice do you like?
▶︎ Sounds casual, native, and playful.
More!「天然氷のふわふわかき氷が食べたい…。」I really fancy some fluffy shaved ice made with natural ice…
Cultural Note: Staying Cool, Japanese Style
Japanese summers are no joke—humid, sticky, and relentless. But instead of complaining (well, I complain, but…), people embrace it with creativity:
- 🎐 風鈴（ふうりん）: Wind chimes that sound like cool breezes.
- 👘 浴衣（ゆかた）: Lightweight cotton kimono worn to summer festivals.
- 🪭 うちわ・扇子（せんす）: Traditional fans used for both fashion and function.
- 🍜 冷やし中華（ひやしちゅうか）: Chilled ramen noodles—a seasonal lunchtime staple!
Take time to notice how Japanese people stay cool both physically and culturally—there’s a lot of beauty and mindfulness in these little things!
Try This Practice Challenge
This week’s mission:
Write and send a short 暑中見舞い message to someone you know—your tutor, a Japanese friend, or even as a comment on a language exchange app like HelloTalk or Tandem.
Keep it short and polite, and bonus points if you mention something seasonal like 花火 or かき氷!
Stay hydrated, stay curious, and…
ご自愛ください 🪷 (Please take good care of yourself.)
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