Updated November 5, 2024
Summer in Japan is very hot and humid.
In the days when there was no air conditioning, Japanese people had to get creative with various things in their everyday life including housing, clothing, and food to escape the intense heat.
Enjoying the breeze is also one of the obvious ways to let us cool off for a moment, but based on our ancestors' wisdom, there are many more ways to feel “cool” through our eyes and ears while having a bit of a time of relaxation.
Let's learn about the roots of this wisdom and make the most of it to make summer more comfortable for us.
Sudare, Yoshizu / thinly split bamboo or reed screen
Traditional Japanese houses have deep eaves to prevent sunlight from penetrating too deep into the house, but you can add more, such as Sudare and Yoshizu.
Sudare
A bamboo blind, or Sudare, is hung from the eaves of the roof. The material used for the bamboo blind is thinly split bamboo. Nowadays, these blinds are sold in various sizes and can be selected according to the place where they will be hung.
On the other hand, Yoshizu is similar but mainly made of reed stems and used by propping them up against the eaves. They are commonly used at beach houses, open-air hot springs, and food stalls.
Yoshizu
These screens can keep the house nice and airy while keeping the blazing sunlight out of the house.
Uchimizu / sprinkling water (to keep down dust and to cool pavements, etc.)
Uchimizu was originally done to cleanse the paths for the gods to pass through, but since the Edo period, it has been sprinkled on streets and in gardens to keep the air in the vicinity cool and to prevent dirt and dust from being blown up.
Uchimizu at entrances or any other places where people entered and exited had a Shinto meaning of purifying the place and was also a way of showing consideration for visitors.
Since sprinkling water has the effect of reducing geothermal heat, it seems that people actively sprinkled water to cool off in times when air conditioning facilities were not available.
if you are using sudare, sprinkling water on it is also effective.
Nagashi Somen
Somen are very thin noodles made by kneading wheat flour with water and salt, coating with vegetable oil, stretching them thin, and drying them in the sun. It is said that the climate with little snow and rain, and the winter season with many sunny days are suitable for making Soumen.
The Nagashi Somen is made of bamboos split in half lengthwise, and water and Somen are poured together and eaten while scooping the flowing Somen with chopsticks. It’s a fun and interactive way to enjoy this refreshing meal.
Visit a haunted house maze
After all, in many western counties including in the United States, haunted houses are usually associated with the fall and with Halloween. But in Japan, haunted houses are usually only open in the summer.
There was a thought process that during the hot nights in Japan, entering a haunted house would be chilling enough to cool you down.
Yukata, the staple of summer fashion
Yukata is a traditional Japanese summer kimono. It is a type of traditional kimono, but more casual than conventional kimono. Yukata is popular among young women for dressing up to go out to special summer events such as firework displays or bon-odori dance festivals.
Uchiwa
Carry around a handheld fan
You'll notice in Japan that many people during the summer walk around with handheld fans. This is another way to stay cool, and as it is common in Japan, you won't have to worry about feeling out of place holding a fan. There are all sorts of cute designs that you can get, and you can find them around many stores in Japan. They also make cute souvenirs!