お暑い中、わざわざお越しいただきありがとうございます。 — Thank you so much for coming all this way in this heat. (Cultural · Greeting, Polite to Guest, JLPT N2)

Gesture & etiquette

Greet at the entrance with a 15-degree bow. If indoors, offer a cool drink immediately after seating — this is standard hospitality in summer and will be deeply appreciated.

Acknowledging the weather or effort required to visit is a cornerstone of Japanese hospitality (おもてなし). 「わざわざ」recognizes the guest's effort; omitting it can feel slightly cold. This phrase applies to hot summer days — in winter, swap 「お暑い中」for「お寒い中」.