What foreign residents really think of summers in Japan

What does the international community think of the summer months here? A new survey by Global Daily of 200 foreign residents from China, Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea shed some light on what makes summers here so memorable and how they cope with the intense heat.

I thought that since City-Cost is a community made up of foreigners living in Japan, these findings might resonate with some of our own experiences. The top highlight across all countries was fireworks festivals, with the majority of respondents listing them as their favorite part of Japanese summer.

Summer festivals (complete with food stalls and Bon Odori dances!) were also high on the list. Many of the respondents had recommended these experiences to their own friends and family specifically because they capture traditional Japanese culture.

It's not all fun and games, though, with close to 70% of both Thai and Korean respondents saying the summers here left them feeling unwell. Because of this, cooling products like mist sprays, ice cream from konbini, and UV protection have become essentials for many. A number of respondents reported they've changed their habits to deal with the heat, and are now carrying parasols or cooling sheets daily.

Interestingly, what drives purchasing decisions varied a bit between nationalities. In-store displays and packaging were key for Chinese and Korean respondents, while Thai respondents were heavily influenced by social media. If you're an expat who loves discovering new products on Instagram or gets drawn in by displays at your local drug store, it's a nice reminder that you're not alone!

What are your highlights and lowlights of the summer months here?