Twenty Ways Japanese Stay Cool During the Hot Summer

Friday, June 21st is the first official day of summer in the United States. Calendars in Japan are likewise telling the same story to residents and visitors there. Anyone who has lived in or visited Japan during the summer months knows how incredibly hot it can get, especially in the cities. I remember summer days stepping outside of my Tokyo apartment into what felt like a steam sauna.  In the time it took to walk to the train station, my clothes were damp and I'd finished off my first bottled water.  Japanese also need to deal with the onset of the rainy season, an approximate six-week period during June and July where humidity is elevated to the max, and afternoon rain showers pop up just about every day.

This time of year the goal becomes simple:  find ways to cool off.  Here are twenty ways that Japanese beat the summer heat and humidity. These suggestions range from the high tech to the old school, from the logical to the unexpected. 

1. Pick up an uchiwa (hand held fan)

Fans have long been an icon in Japan and you can still see people using them today. While fancy, artistic types can be purchased in stores, basic varieties prevail for on-the-street use. Inexpensive ones with nature decor  or free fans with promotional advertising seem to be most preferred.

2. Wear a yukata 

These lightweight summer cotton garments easy to wear with no elastic, buttons or zippers to bother with. There are elegant ones for special occasions and simple ones for every day wear.  Yukata are designed for women, men, kids, babies, even pets... 

 
3. Lower the sudare blinds and admire a furin (wind bell)

Many Japanese residences still use these wooden or bamboo roll up blinds as a way to block direct sunlight from entering and heating up rooms and balconies. Restaurants and office buildings are also equipped with sudare blinds.  The wind bell is said to evoke a feeling of coolness when the wind moves around it and causes a gentle chime to sound. 

 

4. Cold meals – Opt for salads and cold soba noodles

Chilled meals are a big favorite when the temperatures soar.  

5. Cold drinks – Sip iced coffee, iced tea, and iced sake
There is no better way to cool down fast than with a tasty chilled beverage.

6. Cold desserts – Enjoy green tea ice cream, kakigoori (shaved ice), and coffee jelly
If you have never heard of coffee jelly, or tried it, and you are a coffee fan, I recommend this dessert.  It is coffee gelatin, usually served with ice cream or cold rich cream. So refreshing!  Search You Tube for video tutorials on how to make it at home.

7. Go to a natsu matsuri (summer festival) 
Wherever there are Japanese, look for a summertime festival and join in! Annual summer events might be held for a day or over a weekend, and include parades, live music, dancing, taiko drumming, street food, carnival games for the kids, and fireworks. The atmosphere can be electric with the buzz of excited and happy crowds of people.

8. Go to the movie theater
Catching a movie at the local movie theater on a summer day or evening has become a global thing. Japanese theaters can be small or large.  In recent years I have seen some huge entertainment complexes in Tokyo that seem to take up a whole city block.  They can be nine or ten stories high and house movie theaters, a bowling alley, arcade bar, and food court.  Of course, you can pay for movie tickets ahead of time online, or pay onsite with cash, credit card, or a swipe of your smartphone. 

9. Turn on the A/C or your electric fan  
Push some buttons to activate your favorite cooling system. 

10.  Visit Tokyo Disneyland
The famous amusement park is a great escape any time of year, but especially summer. Take advantage of the many cool theaters, exhibits and attractions.

 

11.  Use an umbrella under the sun (for ladies)
Many women keep cool and protected from the harsh rays of the sun by taking an umbrella along when they go out and about.

12.  Take a bike ride with a friend
This is such a sign of summertime in Japan:  riding a bike with a friend as a back wheel passenger through Ueno park or along the Tamagawa River.
 

13.  Go to a park with fountains
Take your pick of beautiful municipal parks, then grab a park bench near a fountain and enjoy the breezes and water spray.  Fountains you find may be small and simple, artistic, digital-modern, or majestic and natural looking.

14.  Pay a visit to Tokyu Hands or The Loft

Tokyu Hands bills itself as the "Creative Life Store."  The Loft is of the same genre.  These are massive multi-story general goods merchants. Imagine a Target store that is narrower and seven stories tall. These variety stores have items for sale that you didn't know existed or never knew you needed.  Air conditioned and full of things to stimulate the senses, you can pass some serious time in these places.  It's a fun way to spend a sultry summer afternoon.

15.  Find a pool party 
Pools and water parks are always a good choice for hot summer days, and are popular in many countries and cultures, including Japan.

16.  Display a fresh summer flower arrangement
Japanese love the simple beauty of a flower arrangement and bringing the colors of nature into the home.  Ikebana is the art of flower arranging according to the season.  Whether you take a class, purchase an arrangment from someone who practices this art, or attempt to do it yourself, flowers and fresh greens are synonymous with a cool, relaxed feeling, and antidote to the summer heat.
 

17.  Walk the shaded grounds of Meiji Shrine, Tokyo
Meiji Shrine is in the heart of Tokyo and it is just one of many shrines and temples that you can visit.  Many are well known not only for their sacred buildings of worship but also for their grounds that resemble parks with woods. Take a detour into one of these sanctuaries and do some exploring.  Usually there are sidewalks for strolling, and gazebos for enjoying peaceful sights and sounds of nature.

18.  Visit an aquarium or museum
Lazy summer days usually mean less running around and taking care of urgent business. It is the perfect time to unplug from the computers and tablets and walk around massive fish tanks with cool dark corridors, or enjoy an art exhibit. Some standout facilities in Japan include:
-- Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN 
-- Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium 
-- The Tokyo National Museum
A guide to some of the many museums in Tokyo alone can be found here. 

19.  Go to the beach
Japan is an island country so that means you are never far from a picturesque beach, a cool ocean breeze, and water sports.
Okinawa has some of the most gorgeous beaches I have ever seen.  But that tiny island is far away, a long plane trip to the south that not everyone has the funds or time to visit.  Fortunately you can take your pick of many other great beaches closer to the main cities, and around vicinities and regions of Japan, such as Kamakura, Tottori and Ise.



This is Shonan Beach near Mt. Fuji.

20.  Get a foot massage at a Queensway oasis
I was introduced to Queensway by a Japanese friend.  It is a spa-salon chain owned by a company named Raja that specializes in providing walk in or by-appointment reflexology services, or foot massage. Some locations offer body massage as well.  Queensway spa-salons are located strategically wherever people are on foot and on the move:  busy city streets, train and subway stations, and inside shotengai, or walking malls.  

When your feet are feeling tired or achy and you'd like to take a break from the day's activities, walk into a Queensway spa-salon and leave your cares behind.  In a cool, darkened room you are offered a recliner and a cool towel for your forehead scented with lavender.  You select a service from the menu (such as a 50 minute foot massage), then sit back and let the expertly trained massage professional take over.  This is one of the few massage service businesses that appears to bring in just as many men as women. If in Japan be sure to include a visit to Queensway, and if not seek out a reflexology service closer to home. A foot massage is a nice way to stay cool and relaxed this summer.

Today Chicago Loop Gets First Tokyo Style Pedestrian Scramble!

The local ABC Chicago news station has just released a news story and video about a new development affecting thousands of drivers and pedestrians on a daily basis who navigate the downtown business district known as the Chicago Loop. Starting today, Chicago is getting its first pedestrian scramble. Pedestrians at State Street and Jackson Boulevard in Chicago's Loop can now cross diagonally through the intersection.

For those of us who know any of Tokyo's large and busy scrambles, seeing an image of the Chicago crosswalk may prompt a smile. That's because ours is quite smaller by comparison, due to the density of the Loop area. But it is nevertheless a big deal here, and actually a serious matter, since drivers will need to be aware that they can no longer make turns in this intersection.  Pedestrians also need to understand how to cross these streets safely. So news stations are broadcasting reports about the all-way pedestrian crossing, telling Chicagoans what to expect and how to navigate through this intersection. Click here to view one of these video broadcasts. The intersection now has a 35-second traffic cycle in which all traffic, including bicycles, stops to allow people on foot to cross the street in any direction, even diagonally. This is a pilot program.  If it is successful, more scrambles may be added.  This particular intersection was chosen because of its close proximity to DePaul University's Loop Campus and John Marshall Law School.  It is also fairly close to the CTA and Union Station train station.  More than 41,000 pedestrians cross at the intersection of State and Jackson streets each day.

Tokyo has some well known pedestrian scrambles of its own. Maybe the most famous and often-photographed one is the Shibuya Scramble, a crossing directly in front of the Shibuya subway station and in the center of a major shopping district. In the immediate area is also a train terminal and bus terminal.

Here is an image I posted on Flickr awhile back which I took while standing on the edge of this intersection. The large white building connected to the station is the Tokyu Department Store. 

I found an interesting blog called the Japan Bucket List written by a New Zealander. Item #34 on her list is the Shibuya Scramble.  She has some amusing words to describe what it is like.  I agree with her that it is one of the many things you just have to experience when you go to Japan!  Here is the  link.

At least one more scramble I am aware of is the Sukiyabashi Crossing in Yurakucho. That crosswalk is shown here. 

One of my favorite urban hotspots in Tokyo is the Ginza Scramble in front of the Sony Building.  Located in the heart of the Ginza district, the energy at that intersection is just amazing. How can you get an adrenaline rush and a feeling of human connectedness just by crossing the street? Go over to Ginza and navigate across this pedestrian crossing by day or by night - then you'll know!

Japan News and Trends - May 2013

I thought readers might like to find out about interesting news and trends making headlines and capturing attention in Japan right now.  This information is gathered from various online news and internet sources. 

THAT’S THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

-- A Nagoya movie theater is planning to offer a 4-D experience to moviegoers. While watching the film they will be able to feel wind, sprays of water, fog, even bubbles, and smell scents around them.

-- Two female graduates of the National Defense Academy of Japan have become the first women to serve as commanders aboard Maritime Self-Defense Force ships.

THE POWER OF EVERYONE PITCHING IN

-- Government officials will likely impose no power-saving targets this summer thanks to continuing efforts to save electricity across Japan and progress in building new thermal power plants.

KEY MILESTONES

-- Officials released a report that 44.76 million people have visited the Tokyo Sky Tree since its grand opening last May.  That is far higher than the projected 27.5 million. 

-- A blind Japanese acupuncturist who lives in San Diego is attempting to become the first sightless man to sail across the Pacific Ocean.

THOSE AMBITIOUS SCIENTISTS!

-- Japanese researchers have succeeded in using gene therapy to restore the memory of mice suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

-- Scientists led by a professor at Toyama College have found that the internal organs of firefly squids “contain a substance that helps reduce liver fat.”

-- Japanese scientists have discovered that drinking four or more cups of green tea a day reduces the risk of strokes by 20 percent. Also, they that found that drinking two or more cups of coffee a day has the same effect.

-- It was reported that Japanese scientists have, for the second year in a row, succeeded in producing artificial rain by spraying liquid carbonic acid onto clouds. 

FIRST TIME MT. FUJI FEE

Mt. Fuji

-- Authorities in Shizuoka and Yamanashi have announced that they will start charging fees to climbers on Mt. Fuji starting this summer.

WORKING FOR NO SALARY NO PROBLEM?

-- A help wanted ad was just posted in Akita. They are looking for someone to “assume control” of a hot spring hotel complex in the resort town of Yuzawa—for free. On the positive side, there is a perk: all the onsen time you desire at no charge.

LONG LIVE ANIME

-- As part of its “anime hero and heroine” series, the Japan Post is going to  issue  Doraemon-themed postage stamps.

DISASTER PLANNING AND PETS

-- Officials in the Environment Ministry are creating guidelines for bringing pets to shelters and temporary housing facilities in the event of a disaster.

UH OH ….

-- Someone stole the bronze medal won by bantamweight Satoshi Shimizu at last year’s London Olympics. What a shame. It was the first medal won by a Japanese boxer in 44 years.

Satoshi Shimizu

-- Of the 127,515,000 people now living in Japan, a record-high 24.1 percent are age 65 or older and a record-low 13 percent are under the age of 14.

-- A Japanese man who traveled to Malaysia to marry a woman he met over the internet was rescued by police after being kidnapped when he arrived at the airport.

-- Anxious officials south of Tokyo are concerned that the 55m-tall Yokohama Bay Bridge, built in 1989 to accommodate the largest ships in the world at the time, may be too low to handle newly built cruise liners and cargo ships.

-- Yahoo Japan, the country's largest web portal, said up to 22 million user IDs may have been leaked during a hack discovered last week. The website posted warnings of the possible breach on its login pages.

ATTENTION ALL ENGLISH INSTRUCTORS

-- Officials at Kyoto University say they plan to conduct half of their liberal arts courses for underclassmen in English by 2018.

-- Listening to the advice of an advisory panel on education reform, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on Japanese schools to make their English instruction “more suited for practical use.”

IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD

-- Executives at Honda say the latest model of their Odyssey minivan is the first vehicle of its kind to offer a built-in… vacuum cleaner.  (Ever seen a minivan after kids have been transported in it all day?)  

-- A Japanese man who founded a medical equipment maker in Ohio was named to the US’s prestigious Manufacturing Council, a 26-member body that advises the commerce secretary on local industry.  His name is Hiroyuki Fujita. He is President and CEO of Quality Electrodynamics, LLC.

PHONES & PHONE COMPANIES IN THE NEWS

-- Officials at NTT DoCoMo announced they are setting up 104 emergency base stations around the country that can run on generator power for several days in the event of a major disaster.

-- New phone lineups for 2013 are being presented and marketed to the public. “Senior friendly” phones by Softbank include new features like one touch easy access buttons and built in magnifiers. Many models have larger phone screens. Some have the ability to views videos in HD.

 -- NTT DoCoMo’s latest smartphone has a hover function that lets you scroll without actually touching your phone! All you need to do is hover your finger over the screen to scroll up or down. That should reduce  those smudges that cloud up your phone's screen.

-- Disney themed phones light up to signal an incoming call. 

-- Smartphones can be synched up with bracelets that monitor health indicators.  For a monthly fee the service provider will send messages with selected vital statistics. 

GET YOUR BURGER HERE!

-- American style burgers are the latest trend enjoying widespread popularity. Same goes for vintage American style diners.

Recommendation:  You've got to try an American-inspired gourmet burger in Japan! If you’re in Tokyo, find the AS Classics Diner, near Komazawa Olympic Park in Meguro. Besides the’60s-era America retro interior, this place is reported to offer 19 varieties of burgers, like the Loco burger (topped with avocado, fried egg and secret sauce) and the Hot Rod burger (cheese, fried egg, avocado, home-cured bacon and chili). All burgers come with fries. Patties are made with Australian beef.  The outdoor seating area is popular with dog owners, and a delivery service is available 10am-6pm.  

The list of popular burger restaurants in Tokyo and throughout Japan is growing all the time.  Some of the restaurants making headlines include Arms, Authentic, Beacon, Beat Diner, Burger 5, Gramercy Kitchen, Homework’s, MLB Café Tokyo, Roti, and Tap Borrow.  (The only burger restaurant I have been to on this list is Homework’s in Roppongi.  I had a fantastic burger with onion rings and a salad there!) 

Japan for Budget Travelers, Finally!

One of the "LCC", Peach Aviation

A bad or recovering economy doesn't mean travel to or within Japan can't be done. If anything, it's just the opposite.  This is when some of the best discounts and travel options can be found  The Japanese domestic service industry strives to be competitive to meet customers' needs.  As a result, there are more choices than ever for budget travelers, and include mid to long distance transportation for foreign tourists.

Ten Things I Will Do On My Next Trip to Tokyo

1.) Buy Drinks from Vending Machines:  I am amazed by Japan’s vending machines 自動販売機 (ji-dou-hanbai-ki), which you’ll find everywhere you go, in the city, suburbs, and small villages. They sell such an incredible variety of items, from drinks to books to electronics.  I like the selection of drinks the best. They can be hot, cold, non-alcoholic, alcoholic, typical -- Coke, coffee, tea, Fanta Orange, energy drinks, and unusual -- aloe water, multi-vitamin infused, cucumber soda, Pepsi Pink, which is a strawberry milk product...  I will stick to buying my favorites:  iced coffee and milk tea. Vending machine items are available 24/7 by inserting spare change or, for residents, by swiping with a smartphone.


Some machines also sell food, even fresh Dole bananas.

Others are going high tech and feature a super large touch screen. I want to see one of these!

2.) Go to Koreatown  The area around Shin-Okubo Station is home to many Korean businesses and restaurants. This area is known as Koreatown:  'コリアンタウン'. Shin-Okuko is north of Shinjuku (next stop on the Yamanote line). It's close to Waseda University and Takadanobaba. In this vicinity there are plenty of Korean bistros, cafes, and groceries. The area is often called the Little Korea of Tokyo. Since I like K-pop and Korean skincare products, Shin Okubo is a must for me to visit. Korean cosmetics stores, here I come!

3.) Rent a Bicycle  These services have become popular during the past several years. When I lived here I bought a bicycle. Once I lost it by parking illegally, which was very upsetting.  Bike sharing and bike rentals have become a great way to get around by bicycle, for both visitors and residents.  See the blog post appearing this month for more information.

4.) Sing at Karaoke   I’m not a person with a talent to sing 歌う(utau), but the karaoke bars in Japan are so interesting to experience. To go to karaoke カラオケ is a very popular pastime and I like to take part when with a group of friends are going. I often went to karaoke with coworkers when I lived and worked in Osaka and Tokyo. I can remember a time when the selection was only Japanese songs but now there is a much larger selection of English language songs, too.

5.) Walk Around Harajuku and Omotesando-doori   I think Japan fashion is on a level of its own.  People seem to know how to dress, and many pay much attention to their appearance.  In Tokyo, they dress to stand out, to fit in, and to make a statement; they wear what makes them feel good.  I like to read Japanese fashion blogs ブログ (burogu) and fashion magazines 雑誌 (zasshi) to see what Japanese fashionistas like for the current season. Tokyo has the reputation for being one of the main fashion capitals of the world. Walk down beautiful boulevard Omotesando-doori and then turn onto Aoyama-doori and you’ll see why.  I also recommend looking around on the shopping street called Takeshita-doori 竹下通り to see what fashion trends the young people like. It is a beehive of teen and 20-somethings packing streets lined with boutiques and shops.

6.) Visit the Tokyo Sky Tree  This is definitely on my list since I have only seen it in photos. See a post we added last year about this impressive structure.

7.) Dine Out  Especially at Izakaya!  Every time I’m in Japan I love eating the food. All authentic and delicious.  There are high end restaurants of course, but I always end up eating okonomiyaki お好み焼きand yakitori 焼き鳥, croquettes and other simple foods at a neighborhood izakaya, a bar and restaurant with a special relaxed ambiance. 
 
8.) Visit a Cat-cafe: This establishment 猫カフェー is a cafe where you can watch 見る(miru) and play 遊ぶ (asobu) with cats 猫 (neko). It’s the perfect opportunity for people who love cats but who are not allowed to have them in their apartments.  As I love cats and have one named Geneva Suki, I really want to go. I have never even been to a theme café before.  (Maid cafés, robot cafés, and anime-based cafes are other specialty establishments where customers are welcome).

9.) Enjoy Coffee Shops   Coffee in Japan is the best. For a front row seat to the Shibuya scramble crossing I like to get a window table at the Starbucks スターバックス in the Tsutaya building right across the Shibuya station 渋谷駅.  There is place I haven't been to yet and want to try: the Nezucafe ネヅカフェーin Minami-Aoyama 南青山. It is said to have a fantastic view of a beautiful wooded garden.

10.) Visit Akihabara (秋葉原). This vicinity in central Tokyo is known as “Akiba” for short. Some call it Electric City too. This is said to be the largest district for electronics, computers, video games and anime in the world.  For many, many blocks in all directions, you can window shop or browse in stores that carry computer equipment, video games, kitchen electronics, smartphones and endless electronics supplies.  Some shops are duty free.  My favorite is the newest and largest department store just a block away from Akihabara Station on the Yamanote Line and Hibiya Line. It is called Yodobashi Akiba.  This immense store has nine stories full of high tech equipment and gadgets. I have seen computers and phones there with such features I didn’t know were possible!  The newest inventions seem to go on display at this store first, for all to see and play with.