Japan's summers are humid and its spring afternoons can turn warm fast. This is the kit for keeping your core temperature in check.
Wet it, wring it, drape it on your neck. Evaporative towels are the cheapest, lightest piece of a heat plan, and they refresh in any shrine's water tap or station restroom.
Keep in mind: Evaporative cooling works best in dry air. In Japan's humid midsummer it helps less, so pair it with shade, a fan and rest. It dries stiff; re-wet it to soften.
In Japan you'll see handheld fans everywhere in summer, for good reason. Moving air over a damp cooling towel is noticeably better than either alone.
Keep in mind: It's another battery to charge each night. Keep it in your day bag, not your checked luggage.
Shade you carry with you. A wide brim and a neck flap do more for heat than any gadget, and many temple grounds have long stretches with no cover.
Keep in mind: Remove hats inside temple and shrine halls. A chin cord helps on windy ridges.
Single-serve packets you can tip into a bottle from any vending machine. Japanese convenience stores also sell electrolyte drinks, so treat these as a backup for trail days.
Keep in mind: These contain sodium and sugar. If you have blood pressure, kidney or fluid limits, ask your doctor what's right for you before relying on any electrolyte mix.
Cold water stays cold through a hot afternoon, and a 21 oz bottle fits a daypack side pocket. Fill it from your inn's kettle or a station water fountain.
Keep in mind: Public trash cans are rare in Japan; a refillable bottle also saves you carrying empties all day.
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