Journal · All of Japan
Heat and balance in Japan: a stroke survivor's cooling kit
Since my stroke, my body doesn't handle heat the way it used to, and my balance isn't what it was. Here's the small kit and the simple rules I'd use to keep a hot day in Japan from going wrong.
Since my stroke, heat is one of the things I plan around most. My body doesn't regulate temperature the way it used to, and my balance is already off, so a hot afternoon on stone steps is a combination I take seriously. Japan in late spring can already be warm, and summer is famously hot and humid. That doesn't mean you can't go. It means you go with a plan.
Know the forecast Japan uses
Japan's Ministry of the Environment publishes a heat index called WBGT, which factors in humidity and sun, plus regional heatstroke alerts. You'll also see the word for heatstroke, netchūshō, on station signs and TV. Check it the night before, the same way you'd check for rain, and plan the hardest walking for the cool early hours.
The kit
None of this is fancy. The point is layers: shade, airflow, water and a way to cool your neck.
Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat (UPF 50+)
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.
Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Cooling Towel
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.
JISULIFE Handheld Turbo Fan (4000mAh)
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.
- Shade first. A wide-brim hat with a neck flap. Many temple grounds have long stretches of open gravel.
- Evaporative towel plus a fan. A damp towel on the neck works better with moving air over it. In very humid weather, evaporation slows, so don't rely on the towel alone.
- Cold water. An insulated bottle you refill. Vending machines are everywhere in cities, less so on trails.
- Electrolytes. Japanese convenience stores sell electrolyte drinks; packets are a light backup for trail days. Ask your doctor first if you have sodium or fluid limits.
Hydro Flask 21 oz Standard Mouth
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.
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier packets
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.
Rules I follow
- Stop before you need to. If I notice I'm concentrating on my feet, I find shade and sit for ten minutes.
- Use the cool places Japan gives you. Convenience stores, station waiting rooms and department store basements are air-conditioned and everywhere.
- Pick routes with exits. At Fushimi Inari or on the Kumano Kodo, know where you can turn back or catch a bus.
- Carry a note. A card in Japanese saying you've had a stroke and may need to rest, sit or get help can save a lot of explaining.
The kit for this guide
Also in this guide
Opening hours, routes and rules change; check before you go.