Rain in Tokyo — 23°C, wind 12 km/h

If you've got friends or family in Tokyo, they're experiencing a rather pleasant rainy day at the moment — the sort of weather that makes you glad you brought a brolly but doesn't ruin your plans.

What's happening right now

The Japanese capital is seeing steady rain this afternoon, with temperatures sitting at a comfortable 23°C — that's about what you'd expect on a mild British summer's day. The wind is blowing at a gentle 12 kilometres per hour, which is barely enough to turn your umbrella inside out, and there's been about a millimetre of rain recorded so far.

For those unfamiliar with Tokyo's weather patterns, August typically brings warm, humid conditions, so today's 23 degrees is actually on the cooler side and likely a welcome break from the usual summer heat. The rain itself is light rather than torrential — the sort that makes pavements glisten rather than flooding drains.

Nothing to worry about

This is very much ordinary weather rather than anything dramatic. Tokyo is well-equipped to handle rain, having dealt with far heavier downpours during its typhoon season. The light winds mean there's no risk of flying debris or travel disruption, and the mild temperature means people can go about their business without either shivering or sweltering.

For Tokyoites, this will be a day for waterproof jackets, perhaps ducking into one of the city's countless cafés for a warm drink, and maybe enjoying the way rain makes the city's famous neon signs reflect beautifully on wet streets come evening.

A city that knows its rain

Tokyo gets its fair share of precipitation throughout the year, so residents are well-practised at carrying folding umbrellas and the city's infrastructure handles rainfall efficiently. The current conditions are mild enough that they're unlikely to affect transport significantly — though as anyone who's visited Japan knows, the trains run on time even in far worse weather than this.

Have you been caught in the rain in Tokyo, or does this remind you of a trip to Japan? Perhaps you've got relatives out there enjoying (or enduring) today's drizzle? Do share your experiences in the comments below.