Summer in Japan - A Survival Guide

Becky Cresswell
Jul 28, 2016
4 min read

So Summer is in full swing now and, while the constant sunshine is lovely, the ridiculously high humidity is sending me running for the nearest air-con (it can't just be me right?). Maybe it's just my pale skin and lizard-like love of a lukewarm environment but even the most seasoned summer survivor should be prepared to stay cool and calm in the hot weather.

So here are my top tips for beating the heat.

1. Stay hydrated!

Yes I know, the grass is green, the sky is blue and you should drink lots of water when it's hot out. BUT, a great thing about Japan is on nearly every street there's a vending machine! I'm not talking pants stale chocolate and cans of coke vending machines here either. These bad boys are fully stocked with ice cold drinks (hot ones too for winter!) and carry everything from plain water to energy drinks and juice. In the super hot Japanese summer the best way to go is with one of the many hydrating sports drink brands full of salt to help replace all that sweat and a ton of minerals and good stuff. The most popular brands are Aquarius, Pocari Sweat (much nicer then the name suggests trust me!) CC lemon and the healthier Green Dakara (my personal favourite). An added bonus is you look all sporty and like you might have done some exercise (and not like you just need some stuff from the supermarket and might die before you reach its sweet sweet air-con. . . *ahem*).

2. Become one with the Japanese crowd and get yourself some crazy sun gear

If you've ever been in Japan in summer you will know what I'm talking about, but for the newbies and those who have missed the weirdness, let me explain. Japanese people are the most anti UV ray people IN THE WORLD, and to combat that nasty sunlight you will see A LOT of people sporting sun umbrellas, massive hats, ARM PROTECTORS (I wish I was joking) and my personal favourite, the welding helmet look-a-like sunvisor (popular with those crazy middle aged women who bike everywhere). It is honestly ridiculous seeing someone in a tank top and shorts wearing arm and leg protectors (surely you should just wear more clothes!?!?) but a little sun protection goes a long way. Get yourself a hat (especially light coloured hair people like myself!) and slap on the sunscreen. Maybe even get a sun umbrella. Your layers of skin will thank me.

Just for kicks here's a beautiful shot of those stylist sun visors. Oh boy.

3. Two words SEA BREEZE.

No I'm not talking about the nice breeze you get by the seaside, SEA BREEZE is a Japanese brand that makes THE BEST FLIPPING INVENTION EVER a.k.a COOLING PRODUCTS. Body wipes, Face wipes, body spray, roll-on,-you name it sea breeze makes it. They all come in an array of scents to leave you feeling all tingly and less like a fried foreign egg. All the products contain something called Deo + Water which I think is Japanese jargon for 'nice minty cooling stuff' but you can't go wrong with any of them really. Super easy to carry around with you and it really does cool you down instantly. (This isn't sponsored by the way, though if they do want to send me some free stuff be my guest ha!)

4. ITS FLANNEL TIME

Even out of summer it’s a good idea to get a hold of a small Japanese hand towel to carry around with you. You can buy them most everywhere from swanky department store ones to cheap 100yen store versions, but at the end of the day anything will do. The reason is a lot of public toilets in Japan (looking at you train stations!) will have no hand drying facilities so you either have wet hands (and look like a complete toilet noob) or get yourself a little towel. In summer these towels really earn their keep as they are great to fan yourself with, as an emergency shade giver and most importantly to mop up all that gross sweat pouring off you (again is that just me?!?). I have about 5 in total (2 I meant to buy and the rest were too cute and lured me in) and its handy to have one in each bag you use regularly to avoid getting caught short! The downside is you do feel a bit like your nan carrying a hankie. But hey, still not as weird as those sun visors so who cares?

5. Last but not least, Don't be a complete moron. No. Really.

I'm probably going to sound like your mum giving you a lecture but in all seriousness it is super important to know your limits! Summer is probably not the best time to go exercise crazy and run 10k at noon because you will get heat stroke and die. (okay maybe not die but you get the point). At the end of the day you need to know how well you can handle the heat and humidity and maybe admit defeat sometimes, take it from me.

2 years ago I went on a great trip to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka (highly recommend btw!) that was a 10 hour boat ride, a whole day at the park in 35 degree heat and then the same boat back, because I'm a glutton for punishment. I drank loads, I staying in the shade when I could but I got back and it all hit me. I had to be taken to hospital for dehydration and put on an IV drip...yeah, not my finest moment. Super embarrassing too, 'foreigner dying in a wheelchair gets paraded through university grounds to go to hospital' probably made the headlines. But anyway, my sob story aside, take care in the sun, stay cool and ENJOY THE CRAZINESS THAT IS JAPANESE SUMMER! Go to festivals! Go to the beach! Eat kakigori shaved ice and drink ice cold beer with your friends!

SHOW SUMMER WHO'S BOSS ;)