Seasonal
Stuff
Rain
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How to Deal with Humidity
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Weather
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Winter can be very cold and humid in Japan (lack of insulation at home and at school, etc.).
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You want to stay warm and avoid getting ill.
Hydration
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Being dehydrated during winter can cause your body to feel tired and make you more susceptible to certain illnesses.
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Drink plenty of water to give your body the fluids it needs to fight off these issues and maintain your core temperature.
Heaters
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You can use: your AC unit which also has a heating function, electric and kerosene heaters.
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Don’t forget about your kotatsu!
Clothes
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Just like for summer, there are thermal underpants and shirts during winter (e.g. UNIQLO's HEATTECH).
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You wear it under your clothes and it keeps you warm during winter.
Pocket Warmers
Pocket warmers (懐炉 kairo) are found at the drugstore or convenience store.
There are many different types which are self‐heating and one‐time use only.
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The non‐sticky type (貼らない or はらない haranai) is activated by removing it from its bag and giving it a vigorous shake to make it heat up.
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The sticky type (はる haru), which you can stick to your clothes, should not be placed directly on your skin since it could result in first‐degree burns.
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The medical heat packs (which don’t contain medicine) are made to be directly applied to the skin, and are perfect to ease back or muscle aches.
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The heated eye mask is made for tired eyes and can be used anywhere and at anytime you
want to relax. -
The heat packs for your feet come as a sticky heat pack meant for your socks (please don't
apply them directly on your skin) or as a heat pack you stick into your shoes (half or full
insoles).
Other Tips
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Take warm baths after showering to warm up.
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Face masks: You’ll see them around a lot during winter too. However, you’ll probably also notice that people don’t have the same habits regarding colds and the flu. Make sure to wash your hands and take all usual precautions.
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Stores such as 100 yen stores sell many items to insulate your place during winter and handle humidity!
Weather
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Heat starts in spring, but reaches its peak during summer and the rainy season with high humidity as well.
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So, in order to avoid any heat stroke and stay as comfortable as possible, there are many options available to keep you cool in (very) hot weather.
Hydration
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Drink enough water to stay hydrated and avoid getting a headache and being tired.
AC & fans
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Stay in an air‐conditioned indoor location as much as possible when it’s too hot.
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If necessary, go to the mall or the theater to spend more time in the cool indoors.
Clothes
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Wear loose, lightweight, light‐colored clothing (choose natural fibers like cotton if possible).
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Some stores offer special heat‐beating clothes (e.g. UNIQLO has AIRism which offers a wide variety of breathable clothes releasing heat and moisture so you can stay comfortable).
Other Tips
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Cooling sheets and sprays: they can be found everywhere (convenience store, drugstore, grocery store, etc.) and as their name suggests, they have a cooling effect.
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Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
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Pace activity: schedule workouts earlier or later in the day when the temperature is cooler.
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Don't forget your sunscreen and your hand or face towel!
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You can walk around with a parasol or an umbrella for extra shade.
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Japan has distinct seasons with one thing in common: humidity.
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The most important thing is to be ready when they come.
Japan Meteorological Agency
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This website has risk maps for heavy rain, typhoons, earthquakes, etc.
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The Japanese version is usually updated first.
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You can change the kind of map in the map menu.
Weather Warnings/Advisories Map
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Japanese version: https://www.jma.go.jp/bosai/map.html#5/38.013/131.001/&elem=all&contents=warning_level
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English version: https://www.jma.go.jp/bosai/map.html#5/38/131/&elem=all&contents=warning&lang=en