Festivals in Japan: ☀️Summer Edit

While summer festivals are good fun, the summer heat in Japan is NEXT LEVEL. SO, while enjoying festivals or any other outdoor summer activity, it’s super important to stay safe, monitor your health and do your best to avoid heat stroke. Here are some tips from Chuyo RA, Ivania Gonzalez:

Think about what you’ll wear ー it’s always a good idea to wear breathable, sweat absorbent clothing when you’re out and about in the summer, especially during festivals. There will be a LOT of bodies! The last thing you want is to feel EXTRA stuffy in a crowd full of people in 40°C weather. Uniqlo’s Airism line has some great options! 

For yukata wearers: In case of spills, discomfort, or overheating, wear shorts or a tank top underneath so you can easily take off your yukata.

Don’t forget to consider your shoes! Be prepared for sand, loose dirt, and a lot of walking. Athletic sandals are a great option. Check out ABC Mart for a wide range of choices. 

 Wear sunscreen ー protect your skin and invest in sunscreen! Check out these guides (here and here) for a list of some of the best sunscreen products available in Japan. You can find most of these products at your local drugstore (レデイ, Mac, ひまわりetc.), supermarket or even konbini. They’re also available on Amazon. ANESSA is a highly recommended brand!

 Transportation ー load your Iyotetsu/IC card beforehand or buy your return ticket in advance to save time! There will be a lot of people at these festivals and once the fireworks are over, everyone will want to go home and rush to the trains at the same time, so, be prepared! Also, be sure to check the tram and train schedules and know when your last train back home is. They might have different schedules and run for a longer time during festival nights. Some festivals will also have special buses, but not always.

 What to bring with you ー MONEY! There are so many festival stalls. It would be a shame if you couldn’t enjoy the festival to the fullest because you don’t have enough money with you. Food can range from about 300-1500 yen. There are also stalls with festival games and sometimes vendors selling goodies like handmade items, masks, light-up necklaces, play swords, and more! You never know what you’ll be tempted by when you go! You might be able to take out money at a nearby konbini or ATM but don’t bank on it~ you wouldn’t want to take time away from your festival fun either! Another tip is to try to bring small bills (1,000 yen) and coins! Vendors may not always have enough change to break a 10,000 yen bill.

⭐ Water! The insane humidity prevents you from cooling down through sweat. You. will. melt. (NOT even exaggerating ). Vending machines and drink vendors will be crowded at festivals, so having something prepared is important!

⭐ A UV umbrella/ 2-in-1 umbrellaー trust, it will help with the heat during the day time. 

⭐ Hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes, and/or wet wipes

⭐ Other items that might help you keep cool/prevent heat stroke: cool ring, cool towel, cooling wipes, neck fan, portable fan (handheld), electrolyte/salt tablets

Drink responsibly ー Drinking in public is allowed in Japan and you can buy alcohol at the festivals, too. Have fun but please be responsible. Remember that we’re educators and “public servants”, representing our home countries as well as our schools. You might also see your students and their parents at these events so be mindful of that!