Why You Should Think Twice Before Visiting Japan in Summer

I mainly work from home, but today was one of my office days.

My commute isn’t too bad. If I choose the right train, it’s crowded but not so packed that people are pushing each other. However, I have to walk about 15 minutes from my apartment to the nearest station and another 10 minutes from the station to my office. By the end of the day, I end up walking for almost an hour.

Today’s weather was cloudy, and it looked as though it might rain. In fact, it drizzled a little during lunch. The temperature was lower than it would have been on a sunny day, with a high of 30°C (86°F) and a low of 25°C (77°F). My office was comfortably air-conditioned, so being indoors wasn’t a problem.

The real challenge came when I left work.

I had been having stomach problems all day, and I still wasn’t feeling well when I headed home. Although the temperature wasn’t extremely high, the humidity was over 80%. Walking outside, I started sweating almost immediately. On my way home, I stopped at a supermarket, and by the time I left, I felt so exhausted that I honestly wondered if I might collapse before getting home.

Today wasn’t even a sunny day.

If the sun had been shining, it would have felt like walking through a sauna.

This is why I always tell my pen pals not to visit Japan during the summer if they can avoid it.

Japan’s summer is dangerous not only because of the high temperatures but also because of the extremely high humidity. Heatstroke is a serious risk. If you absolutely must visit Japan during the summer, please take precautions and don’t underestimate the weather.

Europe has experienced severe heatwaves in recent years, and thousands of people have died because of the extreme heat. In Japan, around 1,000 to 2,000 people die from heatstroke every year, even though air conditioning is widely available. One of the biggest differences is the humidity. Even when Japan’s temperatures are lower than those in parts of Europe, the high humidity makes it much harder for your body to cool itself, increasing the risk of heat-related illness.

That’s why I try not to go out very often during the summer.

When I do, I always carry a parasol. Many visitors are surprised to see people using them, but they make a remarkable difference. They protect your head and skin from both direct sunlight and UV rays, making it much more comfortable to walk outside.

I also make sure to drink plenty of water or barley tea to stay hydrated. At the same time, indoor spaces are usually heavily air-conditioned, so I always carry a light cardigan or jacket to avoid getting too cold.

The hottest part of summer hasn’t even arrived in Tokyo yet.

I know the coming weeks will be even tougher, so I’m already preparing myself to get through another Japanese summer safely.

今私はリモートワーク中心に働いてるんだけど、今日は出社の日でした。通勤電車は電車を選べば満員電車ではあるけれども、ぎゅうぎゅうに押し込められる事は無い電車です。ただ家から最寄り駅までは15分位歩く必要があって、会社の最寄り駅から会社までも10分位歩く必要があります。なので出社する日は1日で1時間弱位歩くことになります。 今日の天気は曇りでちょっと雨が降りそうな感じでした。実際お昼休みにはパラパラ雨が降ったりしたんだけどそれもあって曇っているし雨が降ったから気温は太陽が出ている時よりも低いはずなんだけど、湿度がすごい高くて歩いていると汗でべとべとになります。今日は最高気温が30度で最低気温が25度。会社はエアコンが効いていて適温に保たれています。だけど暑さとは別にお腹の調子が悪くなって今もお腹の調子の悪さは続いてるんだけど、会社を出て家に帰る時気温はそこまで高くないんだけど、湿度がものすごく高くてさらに体調も悪かったから仕事帰りにスーパーで買い物して家に帰るとき、ものすごく体調が悪くなりました。湿度がね80%以上あったみたいで、ほんとにちょっと歩くだけで汗がものすごく出てきて家に帰るまでの間に倒れるんじゃないかと思いました。今日はまだね太陽が出てないからマシなんだけど、これで太陽が出てたらほんとにサウナだったなって思いました。 私はペンパルに日本に来るのは夏は絶対やめたほうがいいって言っています。理由は気温が高いことと湿度が高いこと、熱中症の危険性があって非常に危険なこと。 もしどうしても夏に日本に行きたいなら、本当に暑さ対策に気をつけることが必要です。ヨーロッパに熱波が到来して死者が何千人と出ているけれど、日本は熱中症で亡くなる人が毎年1000人から2000人だそうです。日本はエアコンも普及しているけれど、こんなに死者が出ます。ヨーロッパの暑さと違うのは湿度です。この湿度が高いために、ヨーロッパよりも低い気温だったとしても、熱中症のリスクがものすごく高まります。 だから私も夏はあまり外出しないようにしています。外出するときは日傘をさして紫外線と太陽の熱から頭と皮膚を守るようにしています。日傘をさすのとささないのとでは暑さが全然違います。飲み物は水か麦茶を飲むようにします。でも屋内はエアコンが効いていて、冷える場合があるので羽織れるものも持ち歩いています。 東京はまだ暑さが本番ではないので、気を引き締めて夏を迎えたいと思っています。