Summer in Japan is like a never-ending battle against exhaustion and sweat, but these 5 combini refreshers are sure to get you through!
1. Coolish
Just as the name implies, Coolish is a brand of ice cream that is intended to keep you cool.
You’ll find Coolish varieties across all combinis in Japan, with flavors including vanilla, chocolate, melon, calpis, and more!
The great thing about Coolish is how convenient they are to carry around and sip on.
In a country where eating and drinking while walking on the street is frowned upon, Coolish makes it easy to get away with it and avoid being judged.
This is because it’s a clean way of eating ice cream as all you do is suck it out through the tube rather than licking an ice cream cone in a messy manner.
2. Green Tea
The key to surviving the Japanese summer is to maintain your energy levels, and the best way to do that is to optimize caffeine and minimize sugar.
Green tea is the best healthy alternative that provides a small caffeine hit and zero sugar, allowing you to feel energized without a sugar crash.
Furthermore, these drinks are zero calories and packed with antioxidants, meaning you can shred off some unwanted weight and keep cool at the same time.
You’ll find green tea varieties at any combini store in Japan as well as in the many vending machines across the country!
3. Sports Drink
Sports drinks in Japan hit differently from your standard Gatorade or Powerade drinks.
Options like Aquarius or Pocari Sweat are Japan’s major sport drink suppliers, offering a lighter alternative with a smaller quantity of sugar.
As someone who tries to cut back on sugar nowadays, these sports drinks allow me to perform at my best whether I’m lifting weights at the gym or trekking up Mt. Komonji.
Again, you’ll find these drinks at any convenience store and (almost) any vending machine in Japan!
4. Coffee Jelly
It’s not all about drinks and ice cream, because Japan is also a nation of jelly enthusiasts!
While there is a wide selection of jellies, yogurts, and puddings to choose from at your local combini, my go-to for the Japanese summer is the deliciously energizing coffee jelly.
It may sound strange, but coffee jelly doesn’t taste as weird as you think.
It’s like a hit of cold brew coffee with a cool creamy texture that also provides some solids for your stomach.
In a way, eating coffee jelly is like having a cup of coffee and a light snack in one go, keeping energy levels high and sugar levels low.
5. Soda
It may not seem like anything special to mention soda as a drink to survive the summer, as you’d typically resort to this wherever you are in the world.
However, Japan does offer a range of unique sodas that you can’t get anywhere else, including melon soda, calpis soda, and yuzu soda.
In addition, they have a larger selection of colas, many of which are little to no calories and are sugarless.
While I don’t recommend high-sugar drinks, Japan does offer them in smaller sizes, such as the Pepsi Refresh Shot which comes in a 200 mL can.
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!
