Annie's Excursions

As summer slowly creeps upon us, with it starting as soon as May down south, and end of June here up in Hokkaido, here’s a guide to survive Japanese summer! Of course, how you experience summer will greatly differ depending on where you are from, but in general, Japanese summer can be quite brutal, especially the peak season in July and August, with it dying down in September. It not only gets quite hot, but it’s also very humid, which makes the whole experience that much more disgusting. Hopefully these tips can help you avoid heatstroke and stay alive!

1. Air conditioning: In some places, especially the more north you go, AC is nonexistent. Historically, it didn’t used to get that hot in the summer, so air conditioning is really more prominent down south, or in newer buildings or facilities. Hiding inside a building, mall, or covenience store can definitely give you a nice soothing break though.
2. Use a fan: Handheld fans of all colors, shapes and sizes can be found at some boutiques, house supply stores, and even clothing stores. They’ve gotten especially popular recently, and if you can’t be bothered to hold one the whole time, you can get a neck fan. Some handheld ones double as a mobile battery. You can always opt for a traditional Japanese paper fan too.
3. Cooling Wipes: These amazing packs of magic can be found at drugstores, convenience stores, and sometimes even the grocery store. You wipe them on yourself to get rid of sweat and feel a cooling sensation at the same time. I think it’s because they contain ethanol?
4. Neck Ice belt: These also have been a trending item these past summers. It’s like a thin, round, soft ice pack for your neck. Unfortunately, you’ll need to keep these in the freezer or fridge before and after using it, so after a period of time outside, they become a little useless.
5. Sunblock: Wear sunblock (can be found at drugstores and even in collaboration packaging)! I find myself liking the smooth liquid-iness of Japanese sunblock more than American sunblock.)
6. Clothing: Wear a hat! Wear sunglasses! Shop at Uniqlo and check out their Airism line. Try out the old asian grandma black sleeves!
7. Umbrella: Although a normal umbrella could probably be ok, consider investing in a parasol or umbrella meant for blocking out the sun. These typically come with a black lining on the inside. Look out for ones that you can use for a normal rainy day too.
8. Food: Eat ice cream! Get a nice icy treat from the convenience store! Hydrate! Drink water! Drink your electrolytes (I’m a Pocari girlie myself)!

Heat stroke is a very real problem during the summer here, so make sure you take care of your body and health so you can enjoy your time to the fullest!