As record-setting heat continues across Japan, a wave of new services and technologies for escaping the summer swelter is emerging in urban areas. In Osaka’s Minami district, a high-performance mist system that barely dampens clothing has begun trial operations, while department stores are now selling parasols made with radiative cooling materials. Companies are seizing heat mitigation as a business opportunity, while local governments are accelerating efforts to leverage private facilities as temporary refuge spots—expanding initiatives on both the public and private fronts.
Osaka City recorded its highest temperature of the year at 38.6 degrees Celsius on August 3. According to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency, emergency transports for heatstroke across Osaka Prefecture from August 3–9 totaled 648 people, up roughly 12% year-over-year and the highest figure nationwide. With life-threatening heat demanding urgent action, multiple options for “buying,” “borrowing,” and “resting” are being built out across city streets.
“Non-Wetting Mist” Arrives in Dotonbori, Bringing Expo Technology to the Streets
In front of Kani Doraku’s Dotonbori Main Store, Science Co. (Osaka City), a specialist in fine-bubble technology, is conducting trial operations of a “non-wetting mist” system. The device sprays ultra-fine droplets measuring just a few micrometers in diameter, which vaporize almost immediately and draw heat away from the surrounding air.
According to the company, the key advantage is that it leaves virtually no moisture on the skin, clothing, or merchandise of passersby. This marks the first deployment of technology showcased at last year’s Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai into everyday public spaces, with future expansion planned for train stations and commercial facilities. Conventional misting systems provide cooling relief but have the drawback of wetting clothing, which has limited their adoption in tourist areas and commercial venues. This new technology addresses that weakness and could broaden the range of heat-mitigation options available in urban environments.
“Releasing Heat into Space” Parasols Cool Head-Top Temperatures by ~6°C
At Takashimaya Osaka, located just a short distance from Kani Doraku, parasols touted as “releasing heat into space” are now on sale. These parasols use radiative cooling material developed by SPACECOOL (Tokyo), which suppresses heat absorption from sunlight while radiating heat into space as infrared radiation.
In the company’s outdoor testing, head-top temperatures were approximately 6 degrees Celsius lower when using the parasol compared to going without. The same material was used in the exterior membrane of the Gas Pavilion at last year’s Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, where it was confirmed to potentially reduce air-conditioning energy consumption by up to roughly 40% compared to conventional membrane materials. Advanced materials proven at the Expo are now beginning to enter the consumer market as everyday products.
Umbrella-Sharing Service Partners with Eight Rail Operators, Deploys 99.99% UV-Blocking Umbrellas at Stations
A system for conveniently borrowing parasols has also launched. Nature Innovation Group (Tokyo), operator of the umbrella-sharing service “iKasa,” kicked off the heatstroke-prevention project “COOL MOVE OSAKA” in July in partnership with eight railway companies in the Kansai region. The initiative has deployed 1,130 all-weather umbrellas with UV-blocking rates of 99.99% or higher across approximately 300 stations in the Kansai area, with accessible pricing starting at 140 yen (approximately $0.88) for under one hour.
The goal is to encourage borrowing umbrellas at stations as a hub, then connecting to shopping and dining along the rail lines. For people who don’t normally carry parasols, the ability to borrow one only when needed while out and about is drawing attention as a practical response to sudden heat.
Municipal “Cooling Shelters” Expand to 1,259 Municipalities Nationwide
Local government initiatives are also advancing. “Cooling shelters”—designated refuge locations such as community centers, libraries, and commercial facilities that municipalities designate during dangerous heat conditions—had expanded to 1,259 cities, wards, towns, and villages nationwide as of August 5.
Osaka Prefecture has independently rolled out its “Cool Oasis” program, allowing people to cool off in stores and other venues, with 2,590 private facilities participating as of the same date. Participating facilities display stickers indicating their cooperation, and anyone can use them as temporary refuge spots for roughly 15 minutes during extreme heat.
Heat countermeasures were once largely left to individual efforts such as hats, parasols, and hydration. But as record-breaking heat becomes the norm, the approach is shifting toward combining products, services, and public and private facilities to protect people. For businesses, this represents an opportunity to capture new demand; for municipalities, it is a policy imperative to safeguard residents. As both sides collaborate, infrastructure is taking shape that allows entire cities to weather the heat together.
AloJapan.com