10 easy-to-carry essential items for surviving summer in Japan

The combination of high heat and high humidity in Japan guarantees one thing in Japan: sweat, and a lot of it. This is especially true when in major cities with a heavy commuter lifestyle, like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. It is a commonality to keep a small towel on your person to dab away sweat during the hot months in Japan. Don’t be ashamed to keep a handy towel in your bag or pocket and wipe your forehead as you walk around. It definitely beats having beads of sweat running down your face! 

Convenience stores will have an array of towel types and brands to choose from, from small, square, handkerchief-esque towels to longer face towels that many will hang around their neck throughout the day. 

A major perk of the 21st century is the home luxury of air conditioning. However, we have not advanced in technology enough to air-condition the earth as a whole, and as such, humanity must do what it can to keep cool when braving the outdoors. In much of Asia, the best possible solution has come in the form of handheld portable fans. Be they traditional paper ones or electric ones that have downsized the classic home-use fan, anything that can blow some kind of cool air onto your face will be helpful. 

Small electric handheld fans can be found in convenience stores, drugstores, electronic shops, and more, and these days, the options are endless. Consumers can focus on practicality with units featuring cooling plates for cold air or choose them based on design to optimize their outfits. At the same time, Japan is famous for its traditional-style handheld paper fans, such as sensu (folding fans) and uchiwa (flat fans). Find one that is to your liking and enjoy a unique souvenir with a practical use!

It’s a given that it’s important to stay hydrated when dealing with summer in Japan.  Whether it’s a crisp bottle of water, some refreshing cold tea like jasmine tea or mugi-cha (barley tea), or an electrolyte-based drink like Pocari Sweat or Aquarius, it’s important to keep some fluids on hand. If you have one, keep a reusable water bottle filled with your drink of choice on you at all times. 

Fortunately, there’s also a stocked vending machine or convenience store basically around every corner in Japan. If you’re hiking in summer, away from populated areas, be sure to stock up appropriately. Oftentimes, people who will be out and about all day will keep a fully frozen drink with them that will gradually defrost and stay cold. Fully frozen drink bottles are even often sold at convenience stores.

Whether the weather is hot or not, sunscreen is a daily essential throughout the year. Good sunscreen protects against UV rays from the sun, which is important for skin health, and furthermore, helps against things like sunburn when the sunrays are especially strong in summer. Japan is actually quite famous for its quality sunscreen, so many visitors opt to bring a surplus back home with them. 

There are great options, with fully practical offerings found at convenience stores and ones with extra skincare benefits at dedicated skincare shops. Most important is that the sunscreen has an SPF of at least 30, but there are a few other things to keep in mind when looking for the perfect sunscreen. Something that has a light skin feel that doesn’t feel heavy or caked on, something with an easy-to-open-and-close bottle for easy application, and something that doesn’t stain clothes will be ideal for Japanese summers. 

It’s hard to get colder than straight-up ice, and while it may not be the most typical thing to carry pure ice on one’s person, its utility under the Japanese summertime sun should not be overlooked. For long-running summertime outdoor events in Japan, like sporting events, music festivals, hiking, etc., it has become fairly common practice to keep a thermal bottle filled with plain ice cubes. Given the context of the blaring heat, there is no shame in just rubbing an ice cube on the back of your neck to help cool you down. 

Alternatively, ice packs that are more portable are an option for countering the heat. A recent trend comes in the form of a thin, tubular ice pack to wear around your neck, providing constant heat relief. They are widely available at stores like Daiso and Don Quijote and make for an easy-to-handle, effective means of beating the heat!

A great option that is also easy to find is skin menthol wipes. These are disposable sheets with a cooling menthol that provide instant heat relief, almost like breath mints for your skin! They come in many variations with different scents and strengths, and some are even meant for different parts of the body, such as the back or the face, which have a less potent formula. 

When you’re really feeling the heat, these are also great for relieving the sticky, heavy sensation that comes with high humidity. Additionally, applying these wipes to your skin and using one of the aforementioned portable fans is one of the best feelings during the summer months. 

An alternative (or complement) to the previously mentioned menthol wipes is portable cooling spray cans. These sprays provide instant relief from the heat with similar formulas to the wipes, but there’s no need to throw away the wipe after using. There are versions that can be sprayed onto your skin, but also ones that you can spray onto your shirt. Though they are sprayed onto your clothes, they create a cooling effect for around 20 to 30 minutes. 

Most standard producers will have a version of this product, with names like Gatsby and Hakugen Earth known for their sprays that are meant to be sprayed on clothes. Biore, famous for their products like sunscreen, has a version that is meant to be sprayed right on the skin and quickly evaporates to help relieve heat. 

The application here may not be as immediately obvious, but electrolytes are an essential part of hydration and heat tolerance that many may overlook. That is where many sports drinks, such as Pocari Sweat and Aquarius in Japan specifically, show their benefits. However, these electrolytes also can come in a solid, easier-to-carry form with these salt candies that come in many flavors and are easily found at convenience stores and other shops. 

These tiny, pleasantly salty yet still sweet little candies help to replenish salts that the body loses when sweating. Furthermore, they often come individually wrapped, making them easy to share with your friends and travel companions. The Morinaga company has a well-known line known as “In.” Keep a few of these on you at any time to help against ailments such as heat stroke!

The difference between the shade and direct sunlight during a blazing Japanese summer can’t be understated. Studies show that, on average, shaded areas are 9 degrees Celsius (16°F)  to 10 degrees Celsius (18°F) cooler compared to non-shaded areas, which makes a huge difference in both comfort and body condition. Parasols, aka sun umbrellas, allow you to bring the shade wherever you go, keeping you cool while also effectively protecting you from strong UV rays.

Parasols are fairly common throughout Asia, toted by stylish individuals throughout cities. Japan is no different, and there are a few options for you to look at! Komiya Shoten is a manufacturer that has specialized in parasols and umbrellas since the 1930s, and their handmade products are coveted as both practical and aesthetically pleasing accessories. Get a collapsible one with waterproof fabric that also works as an umbrella when the sun hides away and rain starts to fall!

We're not saying you need to keep a whole extra outfit in your bag (though you can if you want; Tokyo is very fashionable). But a well-thought-out additional wardrobe option is worth considering when getting around in summer. For example, if you have an event to go to that requires more professional attire, it may not be a bad idea to commute with a more breathable, performance fabric top on and then change once arriving at the venue. Or you can at least change to something more comfortable afterwards!

Well-known Japanese brands like Uniqlo have options like the AirIsm line that is specifically made for hot weather. Of course, athletic tops for the gym with breathable fabrics and airflow are also ideal, especially since they’ll often be wrinkle resistant. What’s also important is to make sure your bag isn’t too heavy when going around in the hot weather, so bring what you need!