Traditionally, a formal, summer garden-party dress did two things: it looked light and uplifting, while keeping all the bits one might generally expose to the sun covered.
Tokyo skyscrapers now mandate a higher room temperature for offices in summer, with workers encouraged to don short-sleeved dress shirts instead of reaching for the thermostat.
The city centre's bars and restaurants, continuing the laid-back summer vein, are for the most part low key and dress code and doorman free, many offering up British Columbia's bounty of local wines and microbrews.