As soon as we descended upon the northern Japanese city of Akita, I knew I had brought the wrong clothes for this July holiday.
I read that the country was supposed to be cooler during the rainy season and was looking forward to some respite from Hong Kong’s humidity. As it turned out, there was no escaping the sweltering heat.
We went to Senshu Park, a scenic urban park in the heart of the city. A lady selling colourful handmade silk apparel and accessories caught my eye as we crossed the moat to reach the park.
She was setting up racks of men’s and women’s clothing alongside patterned bags and other fabric items, and I was immediately drawn to a red sleeveless A-line dress for 5,000 yen (US$32). Its retro tie-dye look made it perfect for balmy nights.
Senshu Park, in the heart of Akita city. Photo: Rebecca Lo
“My sister made all these things,” she said while giving me change.
AloJapan.com