Summer Survival Products in Japan 2025
By Jessie Carbutt
Summer wind chimes. Summer scenery in Japan. Accessories to heal the summer heat.
When Tokyo starts to feel like a subtropical soup, it's time to upgrade your summer strategy for staying cool and hydrated. Whether you're commuting, festival-hopping, or simply trying not to melt in your sleep, here's your go-to list of 2025's best summer survival products in Japan that I've suffered in Japan's Augusts for, so you don't have to.
G-Zero Lightweight Parasol – From Tokyu Hands, Built to Last
Hands down the best parasols. The G-Zero is ultra-light, ultra-UV-blocking, and ultra-tiny. It fits into even my smallest summer bags without weighing me down, and it's engineered to not flip or break (I've had mine for five years—still perfect). This Tokyu Hands exclusive is like carrying your own portable patch of shade.
Where to buy: Tokyu Hands
Price: ¥3,850
UNIQLO & MUJI Summer Tees
Sweat. Patches. I cannot deal. When I first arrived in Japan, I noticed that I was always the only one on the train with sweat patches. Literally no one else had them. Turns out you just need cotton you can trust, and both UNIQLO and MUJI deliver. Their summer lines feature breathable cotton or AIRism blends that wick away sweat without leaving stains or patches. Minimalist, soft, and odor-resistant.
Where to buy: Tokyu Hands, UNIQLO, Muji
Price: ¥2,000+
Disposable Cooling Sheets
Pop into any convenience store or pharmacy and you'll find racks of cooling wipes—the secret weapon of salarymen, cyclists and anyone braving Tokyo trains. The best brands (according to me): GATSBY Ice-Type, Biore SaraSara and Sea Breeze. These sheets are like menthol shots for your skin. Keep them chilled in the fridge for maximum effect.
Where to buy: Any drugstore or combini
Price: ¥500
Freeze Your Combini Drink
Grab a bottle of Pocari Sweat or mugicha, or electrolyte jelly pouches from 7-Eleven or Lawson, throw it in your freezer, and take it to go. Some combini's even sell them frozen. It thaws into a cold, slushy heaven.
Where to buy: Any drugstore or combini
Price: ¥100 – ¥300
Nitori's Cooling Bedding
Nitori's N-Cool Series includes cooling pillows, mattress pads, and bedsheets designed to wick heat and stay chill against your skin. The 2025 models have added moisture absorption and anti-odor tech. Realistically, I feel it's mostly a placebo effect that I'm feeling cooler using them, but it's certainly better than regular bedding or a thick duvet.
Where to buy: Nitori
Price: ¥1,990+
Cooling Spray Mists
Pocket-sized bottles that spritz a menthol mist on your skin or clothes. Try the Shoshugen Cool Spray or Biore Cooling Mist for a mid-day reset.
Where to buy: Tomod's, Matsumoto Kiyoshi
Price: ¥764
Furin Japanese Wind Chimes
Not a physical cooling tool, but a psychologically cooling effect for your brain. The soft tinkling sound evokes breezes and creates a calm, cooler-feeling environment. Hang by a window or balcony to get those mood-based chill points. Daiso has cheap ones that make great souvenirs for friends, too.
Where to buy: Daiso
Price: ¥1,500+
Portable Fan – The MVP of Every Japanese Summer
If there's one thing I refuse to leave home without between July and September, it's a rechargeable portable fan. Whether I'm waiting on a platform with no breeze in sight or standing in a festival crowd, this little lifesaver gives instant relief. Look for ones with adjustable speed settings and a neck strap (trust me). Some even double as power banks. I've dropped mine about five times and it's still spinning strong.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tokyo Weekender
10-07-2025
- Tokyo Weekender
Summer Hacks To Survive Japan's Heat
Tokyo summer is here, and one thing we can all agree on is that it's brutal. This time of year, ' atsuidesune ' (it's so hot) becomes a common greeting, and the humidity sticks to us like a second, unwanted skin. Because the heat is so intense, though, Japan — the country of convenience and innovation — has plenty of tools to keep its population cool. Here are some of our favorite ways of surviving the worst of summer in Japan. List of Contents: Get With the Sun Umbrella Program Wear Uniqlo's Airism Innerwear Keep Cooling Body Wipes on Standby Cooling Spray and a Portable Fan Try Grapefruit Ice Box With Pocari Freeze Your Drinks Make Use of Japanese Peppermint Oil Eat Cooling Foods Find Refuge Indoors Bonus: Bring a Light Layer Related Posts Get With the Sun Umbrella Program If you're one of the people who can't wrap your head around the Japanese culture of using a sun umbrella, it's time to grow up. The sun umbrella — or sumbrella , as I like to call it — acts as a portable shade, and is incredibly effective at keeping you cool, especially on days with a high UV index. Plus, it protects your hair, face and shoulders from sun damage. Wear Uniqlo's Airism Innerwear Uniqlo's Airism line is a summer staple for a reason. From underwear, loungewear, tops and even masks and bedding, Airism incorporates moisture-wicking and anti-odor technology in their fabrics to keep people comfortable in the summer months. The fabrics actually feel cool to the touch; layering in the summer might sound counterintuitive, but wearing an Airism undershirt helps keep you cooler than going without. Keep Cooling Body Wipes on Standby Another Japanese summer must-have is cooling body wipes, sold at most convenience stores and pharmacies, especially in the hotter months. The most notable brands are Gatsby, Bioré and Sea Breeze, and they're perfect for wiping away any sweat to leave your skin feeling clean and cool. Incorporating menthol into the wipes, most brands claim to cool down the body by three degrees Celsius. Cooling Spray and a Portable Fan Along the same lines of cooling body wipes, Japan also sells cooling body sprays. After spraying it on your neck and decolletage, blast yourself with a portable fan — sold in most electronic stores, pharmacies or at Don Quijote — for a super effective cooling experience. Our SNS director Lisa claims this technique makes her literally shiver. Try Grapefruit Ice Box With Pocari This trick is from Christian, our digital content manager: He fills a Morinaga Ice Box (a cup filled with grapefruit flavored ice cubes that flavor a drink as they melt) and then pours Pocari Sweat — or any drink of choice — over it for a cold, refreshing drink that is guaranteed to rehydrate. Freeze Your Drinks Japanese kids grow up taking a frozen bottle of water or barley tea on summer field trips. The frozen drink not only keeps their bento from spoiling in the summer heat, but it gradually melts, allowing kids to take cold sips of tea throughout the entire day. Just beware to not freeze any carbonated drinks, as it might cause the bottle to expand and explode. Make Use of Japanese Peppermint Oil This is a classic Japanese trick that's been used for generations. Hakka , or Japanese mint, has a uniquely high concentration of menthol, giving it its soothing and cooling properties. Throughout the summer, you can rub hakka oil into your neck or temples, or put a couple drops into your bath tub for a refreshing soak. Eat Cooling Foods Ayurveda, a 3,000-year-old medicinal system, has a lot to teach about surviving the summer, including eating water-filled fruits and vegetables to stay hydrated and cool. Try incorporating watermelon, cucumbers, aloe vera, coriander and berries into your diet to naturally cool your body down. Additionally, Japan has a lot of refreshing summer foods, like somen, cold soba, hiyayakko (cold tofu) and kakigori (shaved ice), all of which are perfect for summer days when you can't work up an appetite. The Best Cold Ramen Spots in Tokyo: Where To Eat Hiyashi Chuka Noodles Find Refuge Indoors After everything is said and done, the most sure-fire way to keep cool is staying indoors. Summer in Japan is no joke; if you don't want to be at home all day, try checking out a cute cafe , local library , museum or any indoor space, and try not to be outside for more than a couple of hours at a time. Bonus: Bring a Light Layer On the flip side, we spend so much time trying to stay cool that we forget AC is blasting in most indoor spaces throughout the summer. The combination of air conditioning and sweat can make for a drastic temperature difference that could shock your body; make a habit of carrying a cardigan or light jacket with you so you don't catch a cold. Related Posts 5 Japanese Products To Save You From The Summer Heat The 5 Best Pools in and Around Tokyo To Keep Cool This Summer The Dos and Don'ts of What to Wear in Japan in the Summer
Metropolis Japan
04-07-2025
- Metropolis Japan
Summer Survival Products in Japan 2025
It's time to upgrade your summer strategy for staying cool and hydrated By Jessie Carbutt Summer wind chimes. Summer scenery in Japan. Accessories to heal the summer heat. When Tokyo starts to feel like a subtropical soup, it's time to upgrade your summer strategy for staying cool and hydrated. Whether you're commuting, festival-hopping, or simply trying not to melt in your sleep, here's your go-to list of 2025's best summer survival products in Japan that I've suffered in Japan's Augusts for, so you don't have to. G-Zero Lightweight Parasol – From Tokyu Hands, Built to Last Hands down the best parasols. The G-Zero is ultra-light, ultra-UV-blocking, and ultra-tiny. It fits into even my smallest summer bags without weighing me down, and it's engineered to not flip or break (I've had mine for five years—still perfect). This Tokyu Hands exclusive is like carrying your own portable patch of shade. Where to buy: Tokyu Hands Price: ¥3,850 UNIQLO & MUJI Summer Tees Sweat. Patches. I cannot deal. When I first arrived in Japan, I noticed that I was always the only one on the train with sweat patches. Literally no one else had them. Turns out you just need cotton you can trust, and both UNIQLO and MUJI deliver. Their summer lines feature breathable cotton or AIRism blends that wick away sweat without leaving stains or patches. Minimalist, soft, and odor-resistant. Where to buy: Tokyu Hands, UNIQLO, Muji Price: ¥2,000+ Disposable Cooling Sheets Pop into any convenience store or pharmacy and you'll find racks of cooling wipes—the secret weapon of salarymen, cyclists and anyone braving Tokyo trains. The best brands (according to me): GATSBY Ice-Type, Biore SaraSara and Sea Breeze. These sheets are like menthol shots for your skin. Keep them chilled in the fridge for maximum effect. Where to buy: Any drugstore or combini Price: ¥500 Freeze Your Combini Drink Grab a bottle of Pocari Sweat or mugicha, or electrolyte jelly pouches from 7-Eleven or Lawson, throw it in your freezer, and take it to go. Some combini's even sell them frozen. It thaws into a cold, slushy heaven. Where to buy: Any drugstore or combini Price: ¥100 – ¥300 Nitori's Cooling Bedding Nitori's N-Cool Series includes cooling pillows, mattress pads, and bedsheets designed to wick heat and stay chill against your skin. The 2025 models have added moisture absorption and anti-odor tech. Realistically, I feel it's mostly a placebo effect that I'm feeling cooler using them, but it's certainly better than regular bedding or a thick duvet. Where to buy: Nitori Price: ¥1,990+ Cooling Spray Mists Pocket-sized bottles that spritz a menthol mist on your skin or clothes. Try the Shoshugen Cool Spray or Biore Cooling Mist for a mid-day reset. Where to buy: Tomod's, Matsumoto Kiyoshi Price: ¥764 Furin Japanese Wind Chimes Not a physical cooling tool, but a psychologically cooling effect for your brain. The soft tinkling sound evokes breezes and creates a calm, cooler-feeling environment. Hang by a window or balcony to get those mood-based chill points. Daiso has cheap ones that make great souvenirs for friends, too. Where to buy: Daiso Price: ¥1,500+ Portable Fan – The MVP of Every Japanese Summer If there's one thing I refuse to leave home without between July and September, it's a rechargeable portable fan. Whether I'm waiting on a platform with no breeze in sight or standing in a festival crowd, this little lifesaver gives instant relief. Look for ones with adjustable speed settings and a neck strap (trust me). Some even double as power banks. I've dropped mine about five times and it's still spinning strong.
Tokyo Weekender
03-07-2025
- Tokyo Weekender
The Dos and Don'ts of What to Wear in Japan in the Summer
Japan in July and August (and even into September) feels like a sauna. Daytime highs hover in the mid-30s and humidity is brutal. Dressing for such intense heat is always a bit of a challenge, but for tourists and transplants it raises an additional quandary: How much skin is OK to show? Here's how to stay cool while respecting social cues and ignoring unwanted attention, with tips that locals use to stay crisp and composed even on sweltering days. List of Contents: Sun Protection Revealing Clothing in Japan: How Much Skin is Too Much? Body Hair and Grooming Dressing for Cultural and Sacred Spaces Bottom Line Related Posts Sun Protection While southern Europe answers the sun with bare shoulders, Japan fights back with technology. UV avoidance is practically civic duty, bound up with two motives: an old aesthetic ideal that equates pale skin with refinement, and a modern fear of skin cancer. Arm covers, neck gaiters, UPF hoodies and parasols are everywhere. Sun umbrellas are a great way to avoid sunburn and stay cool, and carrying one won't get you any weird looks — a 2025 survey found that nearly 65 percen t of men have recently seen other men carrying a sun umbrella. Style blogs list dark-colored accessories as the most effective at blocking rays, and Uniqlo's UV-cut line sells out each summer. Revealing Clothing in Japan: How Much Skin is Too Much? When it comes to showing skin, legs are the least controversial body part you can display. Tokyo has treated the miniskirt as ambient decor since the late 1990s, so most people tend not to bat an eye when faced with one. Cleavage and midriff, however, are a different story. Some link the reaction to bowing culture, where leaning forward while baring your chest feels inadvertently intimate. Crop tops are becoming more common in youth-heavy districts like Shibuya and Harajuku, but they still turn heads in smaller cities. Bare shoulders, too, can be seen as inappropriate — most women tend to cover them even in the height of summer. For men, the eternal question is shorts. Yes, you can wear them. But they tend to read more casual, and often more touristy, especially when paired with graphic tees or flip-flops. Tokyo locals who do wear shorts usually stick to tailored cuts that fall just above the knee, and gym shorts tend to stay in gyms. Indoors, you'll encounter the paradox of Japanese climate control. Office towers and commuter trains often overshoot their own Cool Biz guidelines, chilling cars to twenty-six degrees or lower. Many seasoned commuters keep a light cardigan or shawl stashed in their bag or draped over their shoulders year-round. It may seem laughable at street level, but that extra layer is often the only thing standing between you and an unseasonal case of goosebumps. Body Hair and Grooming Grooming norms in Japan lean noticeably toward the hairless. The domestic laser hair removal market is projected to reach around $126 million by 2030, with men now the fastest-growing clientele. This attitude runs deep enough that the word for body hair, mudage , translates literally to 'unwanted hair.' That said, times are shifting. Body hair positivity is beginning to gain traction. One major razor brand recently announced it would stop using the term 'unwanted hair' in its advertising. So no, no one will be handing you a razor — and no one should. But just be aware that visible body hair, especially when more of your skin is exposed in the summer, tends to stand out more here than it might elsewhere. Dressing for Cultural and Sacred Spaces There are no official dress codes posted at the gates of most Japanese temples and shrines — no long lists of banned items, no robed monks measuring skirt length with a ruler. But that doesn't mean there aren't expectations. What you wear to Meiji Jingu or Fushimi Inari may not get you turned away, but it will shape how you're perceived. Dressing appropriately isn't just about respecting the people around you — it's also about respecting the sacred spaces themselves. In general, it's best to keep a quiet and calibrated presence in a temple or shrine. In practice, this means keeping your shirt on, avoiding ultra-short shorts or sheer tops, and skipping anything that reads as aggressively beach-coded. Just use your judgment and be respectful. And one final note — socks. If you visit temples with interior tatami flooring (think: Ginkakuji, Tofukuji, or any temple where you remove your shoes), your socks effectively become your shoes. It's often more practical to wear shoes that require socks instead of sandals, especially if your day includes multiple temple stops. Bottom Line Bottom line: Wear whatever you like. Japan isn't a fashion police state — far from it. This is a country where avant-garde designers have redefined what clothing can be, and where street style can range from minimalist to maximalist in the space of a single train car. Many locals dress with intention: to outsmart the sun, to avoid friction, to move fluidly through crowded public spaces. If you're wearing something that's atypical or unusually revealing, it's highly unlikely that anyone is going to call you out for it or treat you unpleasantly, although you're much more likely to attract looks. Use this guide if you want to blend in a little more, to dodge heatstroke and sidelong stares. Or don't. The point isn't to conform, it's to be conscious — to understand what signals you're sending, and to send them on purpose. It's your body, your wardrobe, your call. Related Posts Sashiko Gals: The Touching Story Behind Japan's Most Unexpected Fashion Icons How Japanese Construction Uniforms Went High Fashion Tokyo's Chicest Fashion Cafes: Where To Enjoy a Coffee in Style
