It’s hard to explain, but Japanese summers can be brutal. It’s a combination of high temperatures, high humidity, and in the case of cities, the Urban Heat Island effect that makes people even from typically hot countries overheat. That’s part of the reason why Japan has so many amazing products perfect for surviving summer without getting heatstroke.
So today, we’re sharing the nine amazing items that we ourselves use to keep us feeling fresh, cool and clean throughout the hot Japanese summer months. Let’s check it out!
And while we have plenty of product recommendations here, we can't list all of our favorite products, especially as a Japanese online shop with over 30K products. So if you want to browse and buy Japanese products, check out MiauMall!
1) Japanese Sunscreens & UV Care Products
Solid UV protection is important anywhere and anytime of year, but it becomes especially important in the summer when clear skies means the sun beating down on your skin. Of course, as we know, UV damage can lead to things as small as wrinkles or something as major as skin cancer. That’s why many Japanese folks take care to block harmful UV rays with a variety of products, including sunscreens, umbrellas, breathable coverings and more.
We’ve made it known before, but Japanese sunscreens are amazing options for UV protection. The highest rating for Japanese sunscreens is SPF50+・PA++++, which is what you want to aim for. Also, be aware that there is a difference between “everyday” sunscreens and “sports” sunscreens, with sports sunscreens being best for outdoor activities, including going to the beach or playing sports outside.
Trust me. I've had friends who needed to borrow sunscreen while visiting Japan and they fall in love them. Image via Unsplash
Some great, popular, affordable sunscreen options include the OMI Brothers Sun Bears Active Sunscreen and the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence. A popular, high-quality, mid-cost sunscreen is Shiseido’s Anessa Perfect UV Skincare Milk. And for a slightly more luxury yet highly-effective sunscreen, try Shiseido’s Perfect Sun Protector.
For a detailed guide and more sunscreen recommendations, check out our Japanese Sunscreen Guide. And to get your hands on even more J-sunscreens, take a look at our Japanese Sunscreen Selection!
UV Lips
Even Cle de Peau Beaute's lip cream is a luxurious experience, and it's well worth the price tag. Image via Instagram
Also, don’t forget UV protection for your lips. A lip balm, lip cream or lip tint with SPF is a great option to keep your lips moisturized and protected. I’m personally a huge fan of Rohto, and their Mentholatum Melty Cream Lip Balm and Mentholatum Water Lip Lip Balm are two great options. The Nivea Deep Moisture Lip Cream is also a great affordable option. The Orbis Lip Balm UV is great for a bit of a natural pink tint while the Cle de Peau Beaute Protective Lip Treatment offers high protection and rich care.
UV Umbrellas
UV umbrellas are everywhere in Japan during the summer. Just look for the umbrellas with the black lining inside! Image via Unsplash
One of the not-so-secret secret hacks to Japanese summer survival is the UV umbrella. It’s not just a great way to block UV rays from making direct content to the skin that it covers; it also acts as a portable piece of shade. This one item can help to make the hot weather more endurable, especially when waiting outside in a line.
To browse or get one for yourself, check out our UV Umbrella selection.
2) Mini Towel
A mini towel is a lifesaver that I very quickly began to embrace after moving to Japan during the peak of summer. Image via Freepik
Mini towels and sweat towels are literally perfect for summer. While sweat is completely natural and helps to cool the body, it can also make a hot day feel even more uncomfortable. Something about the heat and humidity even makes it feel like you’re boiling alive. That’s why the swallowing of my pride and the embracing of the sweat towel was 100% the right move for me.
Every time I have a friend visit Japan in summer, I tell them to get one, and every friend who has tells me how much of a game-changer it is. It’s super common in Japan, so getting a cute one or one that matches your style is recommended.
Browse our Mini Towel collection for tons of options with unique designs, perfect for showing your style or some of your favorite characters.
3) Electrolyte Replenishment
Electrolyte and sodium candies are very popular during summer. You can even find electrolyte drink mixes so you can make a sports drink anywhere. Image via Instagram
Hydration in super important in the summer, especially for those travelling in Japan, out in the hot sun and walking around the cities. All that sweating throughout the day can mean an increased chance of low electrolytes which won’t leave you feeling great. While standard Japanese sports drinks like Aquarius and Pocari Sweat are great for that, you can also try other options.
For example, Pocari Sweat’s Electrolyte Jelly drink has jelly bits inside of it that gives it a bit of weight. You can also try electrolyte candies like the Kabaya Sodium Charge candies, available in both Plum flavor and Sports Drink flavor.
4) Cold Tea & Ice Coffees
We want to take this chance to give our obligatory warning to drink plenty of water. However, a glass of cold matcha, coffee or other drinks is acceptable throughout the day. Image via Unsplash
A cold drink in summer is like a kiss from an angel. And while we mentioned sports drinks earlier, if your goal is more to cool down and relax, a nice cold Japanese tea or coffee really hits the spot. When it comes to the tea, just make sure you use a little less water when making the tea so that when the ice melts, it doesn’t water down too much.
Some great options for a nice iced matcha are the Tsujiri Sweetened Uji Matcha Mix, the Tsuboichi Strawberry Matcha and their Yuzu matcha. For other tea options, try the Ito En Oi Ocha Instant Hojicha, the Kuki Sangyo Black Sesame Latte or the Tea Boutique Yuzu Green Tea. And for a nice and easy iced coffee or iced latte, try the Blendy Concentrated Coffee Potions, which you can just pour into either ice water or ice milk.
5) Cooling Pads
The secret is to put cold pads under your clothes where people won't see them, especially under yukatas. Image via Unsplash
While cooling pads in Japan are generally used for relieving fevers or providing a bit of relief to pain and swelling, the secret is that plenty of Japanese folks are using these pads to help themselves stay cool in the summer.
The KAO Megrhythm Carbonated Gel Head & Neck Pack is a popular option for people. Just stick these strips on the neck under your top's neckline or on other areas on the body for added coolness. Meanwhile, the Megrhythm Carbonated Gel Leg & Foot Pack Masks can be placed either on the calves or on the top of your foot to provide that cool relief to hot legs or feet.
6) Cool Treats
While many people love a cone of matcha or matcha-vanilla swirl ice cream, Japan actually has a ton of really great cold treats. Image via Freepik
It’s no secret that a cool treat is a great way to cool off during the hot summer months. And while we love things like ice cream, frozen fruits and smoothies (especially the 7-11 ones), Japan does have some really fun treats that we’d love to share with you here.
Konjac Jellies are a great, healthy, low- (or zero-) calorie treat that is often flavored with things like fruit juice to make a refreshing snack. I love to buy a pack and pop them into a refrigerator so that I can have a low-calorie, refreshing snack on hot days. And the fact that they come in drink form makes it even better for summer.
Even not refrigerated, many konjac jellies are refreshing thanks to the real fruit juice used to flavor these. Image via Instagram
Some of our favorites here include the Orihiro Fruit Konjac Jelly 3-flavor pack, the Orihiro Purunto Peach Konjac Jelly, the Tarami Fruit-Flavored Konjac Jelly and the Orihiro Purunto Premium Cafe au Lait Frozen Dessert. That last one is meant to be put into your freezer where it sets into a rich, smooth, creamy konjac ice cream!
We also have to shoutout kanten jelly. While jello can contain gelatin, kanten jellies are made using Japanese kanten, or agar-agar, which is derived from seaweed. Don’t worry–it doesn’t taste like seaweed. It just allows these jellies to be enjoyed by folks on plant-based diets. Tarami’s Apple Chai Kanten Jelly and Mango Lassi Kanten Jelly are both really good, flavorful options that are perfect for the warmer months.
7) Cooling Sheets, Mists & Body Sheets
The -3℃ is meant to represent the real feel temperature after this product touches your skin. Image via Instagram
This is one of those items that we only in the past year realized could be lifesavers (specifically during our day out at Tenjin Matsuri here in Osaka). Honestly, part of why we were able to make it through that scorcher of a day was the use of cooling sheets and cooling sprays.
Cooling sheets and sprays are not everyone’s favorites, but we really like them. They usually use a form of menthol that, although not cooling the skin itself, make it so any breeze feels like nice and cool. The only downside is that the menthol feels terrible after a shave. I actually struggled with this during our video about Surviving Japanese Summer!
That being said, we still stand by products like the Biore Zero Silky Powder Cool Sheet, the Biore Cooling Mist and the Biore Peach Soap Cooling Sheet.
We also have to mention body sheets in general as they’re a great way to stay fresh in the summer when you don’t have time to go and take a shower. Just a quick wipe with the AG Deo 24 Clear Shower Sheet, the Uyeki Body Shower Towel Body Wipes or the Men’s Biore Body Sheet can help to get rid of sweat and any potential funk in the middle of the day.
Honestly, the cooling products are great and go up to god-tier when combined with a hand fan right on where you just sprayed or wiped. Speaking of…
8) Hand Fans
Why wait for a breeze when you can take a breeze with you? Image via Instagram
A good hand fan is a blessing in the middle of summer. There’s a reason so many people use them these days, with the biggest being that a hand fan provides relief even when there’s no breeze. Hand fans are perfect for almost any situation, including when you’re stuck in a hot train station or when the weather is particularly gross with heat. If you’re looking for a cuter fan, try the Sanrio 2-way Fan with the cute characters. However, for a more neutral fan, give the Peltier Cooling Handheld Fan a shot. A nicer hand fan is an investment but it’s an investment that is totally worth it in the long run.
Honorable Mention: Bath Tablets & Powders
It can't be understated how good a bath feels at the end of a summer day. Image via Freepik
We just have to talk a little bit about Japanese bath culture and the amazing bath tablets and powders that allow people to experience it at home. The traditional way to enjoy a bath in Japan is to first have a nice shower to cleanse the body and then to hop into a nice warm bath right after.
And while it may seem counterintuitive to do so in summer, the relaxing clean feeling you enjoy after a bath after a day out and about in the heat is amazing. Follow that up with a nice, cold or iced beverage, and you’ll be refreshed before bed without being overly hot.
Bath bombs really help with this clean feeling while also leaving you with a nice, refreshing scent that you won’t get from a normal soak. So, check out our Japanese Bath Selection for tons of bathtime options that you can use for a full-body refresh!
Also, we have to mention the value of light makeup and a good setting spray to help your makeup last throughout the day! Image via Freepik
Honestly, summer is a great time to visit Japan, but it is also the most miserable in terms of the heat. Whether you’re used to a hot weather climate or not, Japan can be a challenge, so we hope our list will help you to get all you need to tackle a summer in Japan or wherever you are!
And if you're looking for more amazing Japanese products for both the summer and year-round, browse and shop with MiauMall, one of the largest online shops for buying Japanese products from anywhere in the world!
