Heat increasing summer spending in Tokyo

Tokyo's record-breaking heat in 2025 hasn't just made daily life uncomfortable, but it has also pushed up household expenses. A survey by Teikoku Databank that was released yesterday showed that families in the city are spending about 3,500 yen more each month because of the heat.

Even with the shade of summer's greenery, households in Tokyo are feeling the financial heat.

The biggest increases are in cold drinks, ice cream, eating out, and air conditioning. Travel-related costs such as accommodation and package tours have also risen, as people look for escapes from the city's heat. On the other hand, spending has dropped on seafood, fresh vegetables, clothing, and gas bills, partly due to reduced cooking and fewer outdoor activities.

For us as expats, it's a good reminder about having to budget more carefully during any kind of temperature extreme. Utility bills can climb quickly (I definitely notice ours spiking in summer and in winter), and even small daily purchases add up. Even though the Tokyo government has introduced measures such as waiving basic water charges, higher food prices and rising living costs make the impact clear.

Full study results: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001140.000043465.html