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You step off the plane into the bright halls of Narita Airport, excited to get started on your Tokyo travels and your trip through Japan right as cherry blossom season begins, and — ACHOO! That spring pollen hits you like a ton of bricks, and the symptoms aren’t the most convenient when traveling. What do you do now, to stay comfortable without sacrificing a moment of sightseeing fun? Wear a mask? Take some allergy medicine? Stay in your hotel forever and ever? (Hopefully not!) Here are the top tips from Japan.
Hay Fever / Seasonal Allergies / Kafunsho (花粉症) in Japan
Kafunsho, the Japanese word for pollen allergies, is an inevitable topic of conversation every spring in Japan. Coming from other countries, a few members of the JAPANKURU team had never even experienced the symptoms of these seasonal allergies until arriving in Japan. Once we got here, though… Due to some well-intentioned but accidentally misery-inducing post-WWII reforestation policies, Japan planted huge numbers of Japanese cypress and Japanese cedar trees all over the country, and after a few decades of growth, those trees started pushing waves of pollen into the air we all have to breathe every day in Japan. And every spring, once temperatures start regularly reaching 10°C (50°F), we are reminded just how much pollen we're breathing in, by the really unfortunate results…
The Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies
Combatting Kafunsho
The most effective way to avoid the effects of allergies is to never go outside. But that's not much fun, is it? You've probably got an itinerary packed with temples and and parks and lovely walks through Tokyo, Kyoto, and beyond! Of course the citizens of Japan have things to do every day, too, so these are some of the most commonly recommended options available for relieving the symptoms:
Masks
While masks haven't really caught on in the West, they're a pretty standard everyday-wear item in Japan, especially throughout cold and flu season, and then whenever the trees release pollen and kafunsho takes over. Cute character masks for kids, masks marketed towards young women claiming to improve skin quality, scented masks and more… they're everywhere, and the varieties never end in Japan.
At the moment, standard masks are sold out throughout the country, because while coronavirus is not an airborne disease, people are still buying them in bulk as an attempt to avoid catching COVID-19.
Eye Drops
Medicine (Antihistamines)
Other Ways to Quell the Kafunsho
Image Source: PR Times
Interestingly, one of the top tips you'll hear from people in Japan is "just wear your glasses, everybody"! Forget contacts, putting on a pair of glasses (or sunglasses) creates a physical barrier, and it certainly does a much better job of keeping the pollen out of your eyes than wearing no eye protection at all! You might even find special goggles at local department stores (or even 100 yen stores) made specifically for this purpose.
Another issue is just how much pollen sticks with you throughout the day, so our final tip – wear smooth clothing! As ridiculous as it might sound, all that irritating pollen really grabs ahold of that fuzzy sweater you love so much, and then can go on to get right into your eyes and nose later on. Wearing a rain jacket or a trench coat – really any outerwear with a smooth surface – might just keep you sneeze-free and happy as you tour Japan this kafunsho season!
Let us know about your time in Japan and all your experiences with Japanese kafunsho (and spring travel!) on twitter, instagram, and facebook!
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NAME:Allergies in Japan
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Half a lifetime ago I came to Japan for a semester abroad... and I never left. I guess I really like the place! I'd love to hear all your favorite things and recommendations in Tokyo via the @Japankuru instagram or twitter (X).
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