Rainy Season is Here Again

Rainy season is here once more. I don't mind it much, except for two things: 1) it makes commuting by bicycle trickier, though a massive poncho solves most of my commute problems (if the rain and wind is typhoon-grade, we take a taxi), and 2) more than anything, I hate the mosquitos. 

With temperatures climbing and the sun getting stronger by day, you - by which I mean, me - seek refuge in shady, cool places and avoid outdoor activities when it is really sunny and hot. Unfortunately, so do mosquitos. Even though they are warm weather bugs, mosquitos avoid the sun. So if your kids want to go to the park, you can either bake in the sun or get eaten alive by mosquitos in the shade. It sounds dramatic, but it is true. 

Last night, a mosquito somehow got into my daughter's bedroom. She awoke in the morning with FOURTEEN mosquito bites. Lucky for us, we have muhi patches. Muhi patches are small, round adhesives placed on bug bites to reduce itching and inflammation. For young kids, this is doubly convenient because it prevents them from scratching their skin into oblivion and risking infection. They are also peachy-tan in color, which makes them subtle and nice to use for adults as well. 

As for commuting, commuter bicycles in Japan are well-equipped to handle the rain. Mine, like most, is waterproof and comes with a rain cover for the rear child seat. Since M rarely rides it, unlike E, who rides it everyday, we didn't get a cover for the front child seat where she sits. If we had wanted, though, it would have been easy to cover the front as well. 

It may sound extreme to cycle in the rain with kids, but even in the rain, it is the most effective mode of transportation. On most rainy days, it is easier to cycle than to hail a taxi or take public transport. It can be difficult to find an unoccupied taxi when it is raining during the morning rush hour. Our bicycle ride to school takes 7-8 minutes, so in the time it takes to flag a taxi, we would nearly be there. From our home, the metro is a 7 minute walk. On the other end, it's another 5 minute walk from the nearest station to school. The bus is 5 minutes and 4 minutes, respectively. Likewise, it would be faster to cycle than to use the metro or bus. And so we cycle. 

In a couple more weeks, we will need not only bug repellent but also a hat, sun cream, and a handy water bottle. At least the temperatures are still relatively low right now. We have had the occasional hot day, but for the most part, it has been in the 60s and 70s.  The cloud coverage allows you to go outside without slathering on sun cream. These are the best things about rainy season, and I am going to enjoy them while they last. 

Rainy Season

Rainy season has arrived in Tokyo. Rainy season means heavy and frequent rain, unpredictable rain, extreme humidity, and lots of mosquitos. On the bright side, temperatures are bearable for now (70s and 80s F). 

Between our insufficient rain gear and all the snazzy gear sold here, I ended up buying a few things. I had completely underestimated how different the Tokyo weather would be from Chicago's. I didn't even know how to prepare until the season began. The three major prongs to tackle are the rain, the humidity, and the mosquitos. 

Rain

I grew up in New Orleans, where summer rains were torrential downpours. They were sudden and intense, though often brief. In the summers, it would sometimes downpour every day for half an hour, and then the sun would come out again. Chicago's rains were mild and predictable in comparison. Tokyo's rains remind me of those of my childhood. 

Dealing with rain in Tokyo is unique in many ways. In Chicago, I didn't need to walk much unless I wanted to go on a walk. I usually took the train or a car. My gear needed only to sufficiently protect me during an eight minute walk from my home to the train station. An umbrella and rain boots were enough. Now, I ride my bike everywhere. Rarely do I take the metro or a taxi. A vacant taxi is hard to find when it is raining anyways. I have to drop off and pick up my daughter from school via bicycle. Luckily, my bike's child seat has a full rain cover. 

Since my old raincoat was merely "water repellent" and not "waterproof," I needed to find a truly waterproof raincoat with enough coverage to keep me dry on my ride. And a visor to keep the rain out of my eyes. After trying on a ton of raincoats and ponchos, I found that ponchos provided more versatile coverage and chose this one. The hood is just deep enough that, if I wear it underneath my helmet, it shields my eyes from the rain. 

For kids, full body rain suits are common. It is hard to see in the photo, but there are stirrups for the feet so the pants stay in place. This way, they can still play outdoors when it is raining. Otherwise, they might be stuck indoors everyday for days on end. 

My old Hunter wellingtons were so worn that there were holes in the soles, so I left them behind. After trying on a bunch of rain boots, I think the Hunter boots were the best that I've owned. I was ready to buy new ones. Then, the other day, I came across these Onitsuka Tiger boots. 

I liked them because they are more comfortable than rubber boots and more versatile as walking shoes. One drawback, though, are the laces. I am lazy about tying my laces and usually slip into sneakers without untying and retying. I can't do that with the shape of these. 

As of two weeks ago, I owned only one decent umbrella. It was foldable, light, and sturdy. My husband uses that one to commute to work via metro, so I went in search of my own. Umbrella technology is amazing in Japan. I was inundated with a huge selection of umbrellas that met all my criteria and more. There were ones that were as light as pencils. The one I chose provides both rain and UV protection. It is compact and feels nearly weightless. It also opens up to a decent size. 

Humidity

The humidity becomes intense during rainy season. It makes life complicated because most people line-try their clothes. Both the heat and humidity are more tangible because air conditioning is neither as ubiquitous nor as utilized. Homes and buildings do not have central air conditioning. Our home has air conditioning units in all the bedrooms, the living room, and the kitchen, but not the bathrooms. In stores and other public places, air conditioning is turned on only to the extent that you no longer feel hot (the way it should be). Here are some ways Japanese people deal with the humidity.

These are moisture-absorbing devices that you can place all over your home. Some emit a nice fragrance, others are fragrance free. The black one below is made of natural charcoal, which makes it eco-friendly and long lasting (up to a year). I bought a couple of closet ones that you can simply hang among your clothes to keep them fresh and mold-free. Instead of emitting a fragrance to conceal less pleasant ones, many of these absorb odors to keep your space odor-free. 

Mosquitos

Mosquitos are probably the worst of the trifecta. My kids have both had bad reactions to mosquito bites here. The bite site swells into a golf ball size, and it remains red and swollen for a few days. There are mosquito-repellent sprays, balms, and wipes. There are also stickers that last for up to 6 hours. I bought ones with natural citronella and eucalyptus derivatives. I has worked pretty well so far. Next time, I think I will get the cute character stickers. 

For soothing bites, I use a simple gel that cools and soothes the skin. There are also soothing stickers
meant to place over bites to prevent babies and kids from scratching the bite. I have not yet had to use those but might try it for baby M.

With our new acquisitions, we are equipped. It is a good thing that we are, because rain is in the forecast for the foreseeable future.