Whether you enjoy wet weather or not, there are always ways to make the rainy season in Japan more comfortable, and better smelling! The last thing anyone needs to be doing is walking around in wet socks while outside and having to get home after that and deal with mold, bad smells and creepy crawlies in their apartment.
“Do as the Romans do”….. in Japan
The humidity and relentless rain can be quite tiresome to be honest, but as they say ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’ if you want to get by.
The locals obviously know what they’re doing!
The rainy season in Japan typically starts in June and ends somewhere in the middle of July, and you might get lucky and get a few days of sunny laundry weather, but I want to share a few tips and ideas, many picked up from the locals, on how to survive this wet season, and make this rainy season just that tad bit more comfortable!
Staying comfortable Indoors
Whether you live in a house, concrete apartment (aka manshon) or apartment with wooden frames (aka apaato), these items can be used to help make your life easier and smell better! I wish I had learned about some of these a bit earlier; but better late than never, right?
Humidity packs for drawers and Moisture absorber tubs for wardrobe spaces and cabinets.
Dehumidifiers. Perfect for the rainy season~!
Most city apartments are not especially spacious, so there might not be space for a dryer in the apartment. In that case a dehumidifier is a good alternative. Tip: There are also some hybrid versions that combine a dehumidifier and an air purifier so do look out for those as well if you need that function.
But how about if you start noticing unwelcome guests…the kind that have 6 legs and wings?
There are insecticides, traps and sprays for most of the common household pests.
And the ‘not so fresh-smelling’ trash bins? Well, the increased heat and humidity in June and July can result in some really funky smells…so….
Tadaaa……. Bin fragrances!
They’re basically like perfume for your rubbish bin. But while they can make your trash smell more citrusy, they don’t actually eliminate the odors.
Smoke canisters that coat your bathroom and help prevent mold from growing
There are even canisters of AG smoke that you can use to coat the inside of your bathroom to reduce the likelihood of mildew and mold growing. You can ask the shop clerk where to find Boukabi Kunenzai (防カビ燻煙剤).
Staying comfortable and dry Outdoors
Umbrellas and Raincoats are a given, so let’s look at keeping our feet dry.
Many women and children in the cities wear Rain boots/shoes, while the men tend to wear the usual dress shoes and sneakers. If you are considering getting a pair, it’s probably best to actually try them on, rather than buy them online as some can be a little heavy.
Stay dry everyone!