Some unwelcome news for allergy sufferers

There's some unwelcome news if you're an allergy sufferer or know someone who is. According to the latest forecasts, the cedar pollen season is set to kick off in early February, and this year it's coming in stronger than usual. 

Spring in Japan brings beauty...and allergies...

Nationwide, pollen levels are expected to be nearly 30% higher than the long-term average, and even higher than last year. What's surprising is that areas which dodged the worst of it before (like Nagano, Hokuriku, Tohoku, and even Hokkaido) are predicted to see big jumps. Akita in particular could see pollen levels up to six times higher than last spring.

Cedar pollen allergies are incredibly common here, even among people who've never had hay fever before. My advice is to stock up early on masks, air purifiers, and allergy meds, and don't underestimate how intense this season can be.