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Let me just say, Japanese summers are HOT. I live in the Kansai area (which is admittedly hotter), but most of Japan does experience hot, humid summers that just kind of suck the life out of you. The heat begins in May, with the humidity ramping up in June during the rainy season. July wraps up the rainy season with even higher temperatures, with summer finally reaching its peak heat in August. High temps can reach up to 40°C/104°F, with regular humidity levels above 70%.

Unlike the U.S., most people in Japan get around via trains, bicycles, and walking. This means that there’s a lot of time that we are not inside with the A/C blasting. People actually go outside during this time—biking to the gym, walking home with groceries, and walking to the train station in a long-sleeve button-down and slacks for work.

So how do we survive such high temperatures and humidity? Well, in Japan, we use a mix of conventional and not-so-conventional methods to stave off the heat.

Here are ten ways to battle summer in Japan.

#1: Air Conditioning

The obvious answer is air conditioning. Most homes have A/C, and for good reason. With such high temperatures, heatstroke is a very real threat. While everyone has a different threshold as to when to turn on the air conditioning, it’s one of the first things people turn on when it’s hot.

#2: Portable fans

The next thing that people bring out is a portable fan. While I personally don’t use them very much, it’s not unusual to see people walking around with a little handheld fan. Electronic fans are the most popular these days, especially among younger people. But you’ll also see people with uchiwa fans, and occasionally sensu fans. 

Fun Fact:

Uchiwa fans are popular handouts for merchandising, so most people probably have an uchiwa fan lying around somewhere, even if they don’t use it much.

#3: Sun protection — arm coverings, hats, and parasols

Japanese people are really concerned about sun damage to the skin, especially women. So it’s really common to wear arm coverings and hats to protect their skin from the harsh sun. Some of them are made with a cooling fabric to help cool you off. 

Many women (and some men, recently) also use parasols to block the sun and to add some shade to lessen the heat. It may appear strange to see people carrying umbrellas, but in Japan, it’s very normal—even encouraged.

#4: Cool showers

Ever come back from a long bike ride in the heat? Or a tennis game in July? How about a ten-minute walk home with your groceries when it’s 33°C/91°F? Well, once you get home, you are hot and sweaty. And your A/C is usually turned off when you’re out, so your house is also hot. The quickest way to freshen up and cool off is to take a cool shower. 

When I come home in the middle of the day, I almost always take a quick, cool shower just to cool off. It does wonders for managing your body temperature. 

#5: Cooling towels and scarves

There’s a huge market in Japan for cooling towels and scarves. I know—SCARVES. There are two main types: there’s the type that you wet first and then wear, and then there are scarves that have ice-pack inserts. I personally prefer the wet-then-wear kind, kind of like this one from Amazon.

They’re not the most discreet accessories, but they are helpful if you’re outside for long periods of time. I wear mine when I’m biking or hiking. It’s different, for sure, but it does help a little bit.

#6: Drink lots of mugi-cha

Nothing beats the heat like a cool, refreshing glass of mugi-cha. Mugi-cha is barley tea, and it’s a summer staple in Japan. Of course, people also drink other types of iced tea, but mugi-cha is definitely the most popular. Even kids’ water bottles are filled with it. As far as I’ve noticed, a Japanese kitchen isn’t complete without a pitcher of mugi-cha in the fridge. 

#7: Eat cold foods

In a similar vein, there are several cold dishes and foods that are summer favorites in Japan. Foods like zaru-soba (chilled soba noodles) and hiyashi chuka (chilled ramen noodles) are popular dishes in the summer. And let’s not forget all the ice cream and shaved ice that’s available. You can even buy ice cream from vending machines! There’s a definite increase in ice cream consumption when summer hits.

#8: Wear layers (yeah, I know)

So even with all these different ways to stay cool, inevitably, you still get sweaty outside. And if you get sweaty, you also get smelly. This method is counterintuitive, but I swear it helps. In order to minimize that BO smell, wear layers.

Yeah, I KNOW. Why on earth would you wear more layers when it’s so hot outside? Well, Japan has these thin, summer undershirts that have little patches in the underarm area. Honestly, these have saved my life so much. All of the smelly sweat (and sweat stains) stay contained in the undershirt, so my outer shirt 1) doesn’t smell as strong, and 2) isn’t discolored by the sweat stains. I am hot, but at least I don’t smell bad around others. 

**Disclaimer: I am a conventionally thin person that wears looser shirts, and I don’t have a history of excessive sweating. That being said, while this works for me and many other Japanese people, this may not effectively contain the sweat on a person that wears tighter shirts, has a different body type, or different biology.

#9: Use body wet wipes

Japan sells these body wipes that people use to freshen up a bit (and clean up the sweat). Some of them also have a cooling agent in them to help cool you off a bit. Sometimes, you just don’t have time to take a quick shower. These body wipes serve as a reasonable alternative. Just wipe down in the bathroom and go!

#10: Finally, don’t use Japanese deodorant

I don’t know if foreigners sweat more than Japanese people do, but from what I hear, Japanese deodorant is just not as strong as American deodorant. If you’re a foreigner, or have even normal amounts of sweat and body odor, then bring your own deodorant. Japanese products are often great, but the deodorant just won’t cut it for most of us. 

Conclusion

Japan is a country with its own ways of dealing with things, including the heat. Some methods may be familiar, and others a little foreign. But hey—if it works, it works. Stay cool, friends.