Answer: Leave Japan until late September.
…I wish I were joking.
If this isn’t an option, fear not, there are things you can do to make life a little more bearable in this tropic climate!
1. Dress appropriately.
I could go into a lot of details here, but instead I’ll link back to my post How To: Dress for Asian Summers. Dress lightly, in cotton layers that can help pull sweat off the skin. If you’re heat sensitive, or have health issues with heat, take the additional precautions as recommended by a doctor.
2. Have your bag fully stocked
Make sure you visit a local 100 yen shop to pick up a few essentials. You WILL want and need a fewfolding pocket fans. Not only are they cute and accessorize any outfit, but they are the quickest way to keep cool. As well, a small hand towel in your purse will be handy on those really hot days. (Yes, you will sweat that much some days.) Last, but most definitely not least, make sure you have sarasara Powder wipes. These are like wet wipes, but instead of leaving you feeling damp, powder sheets are made with ultra fine absorbing powder. They’re refreshing and wipe up the gross, clammy feeling from the humidity. They come in a variety of scents. I’m a fan of the light scent one, which can be distinguised by the ridiculously gay unicorns and rainbow on the cover. :D! These should be in your purse at ALL TIMES.
3. Take the free stuff
If you forgot to pick up your fan from the 100 yen shop, keep an eye out for the people on the street. Quite often, companies will be handing out fans and tissues with advertisements on them. TAKE THESE. Never tell yourself you have too many of them, BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TOO MANY TISSUES. And if you think you do, put them away in a box and keep them in the winter. In 6 months time, you’ll be thanking me for this advice.
4. Know your surroundings… and use them
If you’re going to be out in the sun, make sure you know where you can escape to. Heat exhaustion can hit hard and fast, and you need to know where to take refuge. Keep an eye on the local fast food places and convenience stores when you go somewhere. There is absolutely nothing wrong in taking half an hour to grab a seat at a McDonalds or a Starbucks and sipping on a small iced drink while you bring your body temperature down and enjoy the air conditioned dining room. Or, if the day seems absolutely unbearable, there is always karaoke! Free AC for as many hours as you like!
5. Location, Location, Location!
Tokyo is a big giant smoggy mess in the summer. The further into the city you get, the hotter and smoggier it gets. So make sure you plan lots of days down by the water, or better yet, out of the city. Take a trip down to Odaiba and Rainbow City, or Yokohama on the waterfront. Check out waterparks or Disney Sea. Spend a day on the beach in Chiba or Kanagawa, or, better yet, visit some of Japan’s under appreciated locations like northern Honshu and Hokkaido!
If you have other suggestions, let me know, I’ll be more than happy to update my list!
Other suggestions!
From my friend Becca, aka Tayles:
- Keep a spritz bottle of cool water or face toner on hand. Since it’s a mist, it evaporates right away but provides a quick, refreshing burst of coolness.
- Wear open toe shoes, sandals, or flipflops
- Wear your hair up off your neck and shoulders. Keep elastics and hair clips on hand. There is no excuse to not have these, since Japanese accessories are adorable and easy to find at any 100 yen shop.
Wow, this is fantastic. Thanks for the great tips! 🙂
Dude, I’m almost out of my supply of powder wipes. Those things are AMAZING. Especially when I’m at work and don’t want to take all my make-up off by using a normal wet-wipe.
Other suggestions would be a small bottle spritz. Fill with water or face toner or something, and it’s really refreshing. As it’s a spritz it evaporates quickly and so is a million times better than just splashing water on your face from a tap/fountain.
Open-toed shoes/sandals/flip-flops are always good – I know the Japanese like wearing socks with their sandals, but that’s the last thing you want in hot weather.
Put your hair up and away from your neck – Japanese accessories shops have millions of adorable hair accessories, there’s no excuse for not being able to keep your hair off you sweaty shoulders, lol!
Those are some good suggestions! I could probably write a whole article about how japanese accessories > Everything. When I’m back there, me and the daiso will be making good friends. I love the hair clips from there. I’ll definitely add these suggestions to my list!
I miss Daiso ;_;
Me too. The one in Funabashi is awesome and HUGE and awesome.