Bedrooms = Japan's biggest summer heat problem

With another hot summer upon us, a new survey has shown that many households are already bracing for uncomfortable nights and rising energy costs.

The study was conducted by Ichijo Komuten with 2,873 respondents across the country, and it found that the bedroom is the part of the home people are most likely to find hot and humid during summer. Around 77% said they at least sometimes struggle to sleep because their bedrooms become too warm.

Air conditioning remains the most common solution, with nearly 80% using it to stay comfy while sleeping. More than half of respondents said they leave their air conditioner running almost every night, although many worry about the resulting electricity bills, as well as issues like dry throats and feeling too cold. In fact, around 60% admitted they sometimes avoid using air conditioning because of concerns about power costs, which is definitely the top worry in my mind when we use ours!

The survey also highlighted the health risks of extreme heat. More than one in five respondents said they, a family member, or even a pet experienced heatstroke at home last summer, which is an increase compared with the previous year's findings.

Humidity is also another major concern, with over 70% worried about moisture inside their homes. Mold and dust mites topped the list of problems, and nearly 40% said they'd previously thrown away clothing or bedding because of humidity-related damage.

Which room of your home feels like the biggest problem during summer here?