Preparing for Summer

Writer: Jordan O.
Editor: Ferano R.

Summer in Japan, if you have not experienced it before, is something that should not be underestimated. I, myself, made this mistake; coming from a tropical country, I thought I could handle the heat. However, what I did not expect was how much the humidity affects how hot it feels. Summers in Japan can reach temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius and sometimes exceed 40 degrees.

Japan is known for its high humidity during the summer, ranging between 78% to 83% relative humidity. It is also common for heavy rain to fall in sudden bursts. This makes it very troublesome to go about your everyday life if you are ill-prepared. Checking the weather forecast becomes an essential daily habit before leaving the house so you know whether to bring your umbrella or not and how light or waterproof you should dress.

Combatting the Heat

Due to the heat being a natural part of the seasons, many interesting ways to combat the heat have been created. Some of these tips we will go through are common throughout the world, but some are special to Japan.

The most important tip of this article would be the use of sunscreen. We cannot stress how important it is to protect your skin during harsh sunny days. Damage done to your skin is also irreversible, so it is of the utmost importance to take care of it as well as you can.

Another effective method, which is also very common, is the use of UV-resistant umbrellas/parasols. In addition to protecting you from harmful UV rays, it also reduces the extent to which you tan while walking around, and you will be doing a lot of walking here. Always having an umbrella with you will also keep you prepared and dry for when it suddenly rains.

Staying Cool Indoors

For the homebodies out there, staying at home would be the best option. This is true for most people; however, Japanese homes tend to be poorly insulated, so the moment you turn off your AC, the room will heat up again in no time. Having the windows closed to keep the cold air will be troublesome too as it will keep all the stale air inside. This is why some aircon units have a dehumidifying function (除湿) which will help a bunch.

Japanese summer foods

A silver lining that I recently discovered while experiencing summer in Japan was the appreciation of sushi. I never realized the potential joy and relief eating sushi on a hot day would bring me until I had it here. The cold fish immediately cooled my stress and revitalized my body and mind. In addition to sushi, there are also cold noodles called soba. This simple and refreshing dish is surprisingly affordable, depending on where you dine.

Although this is on the less affordable side of restaurants, a fantastic sushi shop that has a rich history is located in Kawagoe which is very close to our campus. Read more about this restaurant and other vegan restaurants in our article, “Vegan restaurants in Ikebukuro and Kawagoe”.

Japan summer festivals

One of the main joys that summer brings is the festivals that come along with it. In Kawagoe, there are massive matsuris held. Go with friends to experience this unique occasion and stand in awe at the massive floats that are pulled by strong, bulky men. Fireworks are a quintessential part of summer in Japan, and it wouldn’t feel like summer without fireworks. You can buy your own fireworks and sparklers from most convenience stores during the summer.

In the end, although it is tedious and sometimes painful to go through summer in Japan, there are a lot of opportunities to make great memories during this season. I hope reading this article gave you some insight on what you may want to do this summer.