Tips for surviving summer in Tokyo

Don't be fooled by the degrees shown on the weather forecast. Last summer, the highest temperature shown on my weather app was 37°C (99°F). 37°C ? That's normal for summer, it usually gets over 40°C here... my friend from Madrid says. And while she's right, 42°C in dry Madrid is nothing compared to 37°C in Tokyo with 83% relative humidity. This is why you need a website or app such as AccuWeather that shows you the RealFeel temperature after taking in consideration the humidity. I don't remember the exact number but when the air temperature was around 35°C, RealFeel showed something in the 40's which made more sense to me although it felt like a hundred.

Summer in Tokyo is super sticky and scorching hot, like, thing of the hottest day you've experience and multiply it any number. That's how hot it is. If you haven't experience heat in a humid place, think of a gym's steam room.

Yeah, something like that. With someone blowing a huge blow drier towards you. Seriously.

For me, summer in Spain, even in the south, is now refreshing in comparison. I've also experience summer in some South East Asia countries, Australia and Florida. Na-da. Tokyo is on the top of my list now.

Unlucky for me, last year was the hottest summer in a long time, and coming from London when summer is... -well, there no such thing-, I can say that landing in July was a shock to my body. At 8 am in the morning, freshly out of the shower, I'll walk out of my house to get the public transport and within a minute I was drenched in sweat, ugh. I look at the people waiting in line with me, everyone is covered with multiple layers but had no drop of sweat in them. They must've have superpowers! Maybe it was the contrast in weather and hopefully, I'll manage better this year since I was pretty hot from April and my body must be acclimatising...

Here are my tips:

1. Carry a "summer survival kit"

Items to include would be: a fan or even better, a hand-held electric fan which can be easily purchase here, a small hand towel to wipe all that sweat, cooling spray, cooling sheets and stickers (great for underarm sweat, see below pic), hat, sunglasses, sun cream, UV umbrella with heat protector. You can get all the cooling stuff, sun cream along with your toiletries in the local drugstore such as Tomod's or Kokumin (Boots and Superdrug equivalent).

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/518t2QhT4cL.jpg

A bit too much? Okay, you don't have to have all of the above but will likely need most of it if this coming summer is as hot.

2. Stay in the shade

Even I have one of those umbrellas/parasol for the sun. On many of my holidays to escape London's gloomy weather, I used to look at Asian women with parasol and think, come on, enjoy the sun! Last summer, someone else would've been thinking that about me. Better safe than sorry, you don't want to ruin your holiday because of a heat stroke, right?

Oh, but don't try to use the usual umbrella for the rain, even if it's white. Get the ones marked as UV umbrella as they come with heat protection. If you use a normal one, it'll stop the sun rays but it'll concentrate the heat above your head which makes it worse. Don't make the same mistake I did!

3. Make the most of the vending machines

You won't have trouble keeping yourself hydrated. There are plenty vending machines in the street with all kinds of soft drinks and coffee, there are also ice cream ones! They take notes and coins, some take Suica and Pasmo (IC cards) but few will take contactless cards (credit cards or Apple Pay).

If you have a refillable bottle, you'll be able to fill it at your accommodation but it won't be much useful here as there aren't many water fountains available which is a shame really. However, next to every vending machine, there is a recyclable bin as bottles and cans are always recycled in Japan. Keep that in mind when you finish a bottle as you won't find bins in the street or if they are, they're probably for general rubbish only.

4. Carry a light cardigan, jacket or scarf

What? You just said it's freaking hot! Yeah, yeah, yeah, let me explain. One of the things that really works here it's the air conditioning (AC). Shops, restaurants, bus, trains, etc, have the AC on full blast during summer. It feels great when you hop on the bus and it feels like you have stepped into a giant freezer, not so great when you're covered in sweat and there's a blast of air hitting the back of your neck. This is why I used to get sick in Spain. No, not in London, AC in the tube? Yeah, right.

So when you walk into a air conditioned place, make sure you use that little towel I mentioned before to wipe all that sweat instead of letting the cold air dry you. Then a light scarf around your neck will save you from freezing out or catching a nasty summer cold!

5. Cool down at the konbini (convenience stores such as 7-eleven, Family Mart, etc.)

If you're in Tokyo for holidays, you'll most likely want to see as much as you can while here so you'll be out and about all day. To avoid letting the summer ruin your holidays, make many stops at the konbinis you'll definitely pass by. It's perfectly fine to stand inside without buying anything while using their free WIFI to cool down. They usually also have free toilets.

6. Bring deodorant from your home country

If you're used to antiperspirant deodorants (the kind that reduces the amount of sweat) then make sure you bring them with you as you won't find them easily in Japan. According to some studies, Japanese people in general have a different type of gene that bless them with less seat and little to no body odour. This gene can be identified via earwax. If you have dry earwax, your blessed, if not, then like the majority of people, better wear deodorant before a good workout.

Although I have a few Japanese friends, I haven't sniffed their armpits to verify this but it will explain why most foreigners will complain about Japanese deodorants not working for them. I did have however a Japanese boyfriend who even after an hour work out in the gym or other activity (*wink *wink) and being covered in sweat, he didn't smell at all! How unfair, isn't it?

So if you're moving to Japan and currently rely on your deodorant to avoid stinking, bring some stock with you. You can always order some from online sites such as Amazon but it'll be pricey as the western brands will be imported from the US.

7. Loose clothing or "cooling" fabrics

There's nothing worse that all those clothes sticking to your sweat-covered body. Soooo not sexy.

If you're moving here, don't bring all your summer wardrobe. You'll be better off with the clothes they sell here. They great for lighter and breathable fabrics that flow over the body.

The're also clothes that feel cold to the touch instead of keeping the sweat stuck to your body like cotton tops will do. A bought a few tops from Uniqlo from their AIRism line and they're great! Nitori also has summer home-wear and really made a difference for those hot and sticky summer nights.

Nitori also has this summer bedding range labelled from N to N Cool to N W-Super. It includes bed sheets, pads, covers, etc. The material feels cold to the touch and it keeps the heat from your body. No more turning all back and forth on your bed looking for the cold spot, nor walking up with the cotton bed sheets wrapped around your sweaty body, taking them off to waking up an hour later because your cold.

I can't stop telling everyone about it, should start asking Nitori for some publicity money! Of course, there are other brands and shops such as Donki and plenty online but haven't use them so cannot tell you about them.

#summer #heat #umbrella #parasol