STORY: Tourists in Japan’s ancient city of Kyoto battled sweltering temperatures on Sunday (August 3) as a heat wave continues to grip the region.

Umbrellas, handheld electric fans, and ice cream were amongst the cooling tools seen in the hands of tourists who chose to brave the hot streets of Japan’s former imperial capital, with temperatures hitting a high of just over 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) on Sunday, according to Japan’s meteorological agency.

Despite the almost ubiquitous presence of fans emitting cooling mists and vending machines selling cold drinks, Anna Krzeminska-Kaczyńska, who hails from Kraków, said it’s been a “really, really challenging” experience.

“I expected that it's going to be hot. I've been to India, so, and other places in Asia, so I have an understanding of this heat, but this experience is really, really amazing in a sense that I am sweating from top down every single day. I need to drink a lot of water, not to dehydrate,” she told Reuters.

Japan's meteorological agency issued a heat advisory for Kyoto via its official website on Sunday, reminding city-goers to take "appropriate action" and stay hydrated to avoid heatstroke.

Kyoto itself hit a staggering 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday (July 30), while the country's hottest temperature on record, 41.2 degrees Celsius (106.2 Fahrenheit), was observed in Tamba city of western Hyogo Prefecture on the same day, meteorological authorities reported.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: KYOTO, JAPAN (AUGUST 3, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. TOURISTS WALKING THROUGH TRADITIONAL ALLEYWAY, SHIELDING UNDER UMBRELLAS AND SCARVES

2. TOURISTS IN PROTECTIVE FACE COVERS AND USING ELECTRIC FANS

3. TOURISTS SHELTERING IN SHADE ALONG BUILDING

4. TOURISTS WALKING THROUGH TRADITIONAL ALLEYWAY AND CARRYING UMBRELLAS AND ELECTRIC FANS

5. SUN AS SEEN THROUGH TREES

6. PEOPLE CROSSING ROAD

7. PUBLIC BUSES STOPPING AT BUS STOP, COOLING MIST BEING SPRAYED FROM BUS STOP

8. 44-YEAR-OLD BUSINESS OWNER AND TOURIST FROM POLAND, ANNA KRZEMINSKA-KACZYŃSKA, TAKING PHOTO OF HER DAUGHTER

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 44-YEAR-OLD BUSINESS OWNER AND TOURIST FROM POLAND, ANNA KRZEMINSKA-KACZYŃSKA, SAYING:

“I expected that it's going to be hot. I've been to India, so, and other places in Asia, so I have an understanding of this heat, but this experience is really, really amazing in a sense that I am sweating from top down every single day. I need to drink a lot of water, not to dehydrate. I put a lot of, you know, sunscreen as well, okay. Even though it's not bad, even with my white skin, but it's really, really challenging.”

10. TOURIST SPLASHING SOME PURIFICATION WATER FROM SHRINE FOUNTAIN ONTO HER NECK

11. PEOPLE WALKING DOWN ALLEYWAY

12. WOMAN EATING ICE CREAM

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 44-YEAR-OLD BUSINESS OWNER AND TOURIST FROM POLAND, ANNA KRZEMINSKA-KACZYŃSKA, SAYING:

“The heat in, for example, in Tokyo, an urban city, the heat that is coming from concrete, that blows on you. You know, you have to cover the experience to understand. So this is different, this is definitely different. So we need nature, we need nature, so luckily here, you know, in Kyoto, we are by the river. So that saves us.”

14. TOURISTS WALKING ACROSS ROAD

15. VARIOUS OF FAN BLOWING COOLING MIST OUTSIDE SHOP

16. ELECTRIC FANS FOR SALE AT SHOP

17. AIR CONDITIONS FOR SALE AT SHOP

18. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE COOLING OFF UNDER COOLING MIST AND FANS OUTSIDE TRAIN STATION

19. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 36-YEAR-OLD TEACHER AND TOURIST FROM CHICAGO, GARETT SMITH, SAYING:

“So I guess I didn't realise how hot it was going to be or realise, like, yeah, just how hot it was going to be. I thought it was going to be more similar to Chicago heat and humidity and (it’s) totally different. Totally different.”

20. PEOPLE WALKING DOWN STAIRS OF TRADITIONAL ALLEYWAY

21. PEOPLE WALKING BY SHOP ADVERTISING TRADITIONAL JAPANESE DESSERTS MADE WITH SHAVED ICE

22. TOURISTS BUYING DRINK FROM VENDING MACHINE

23. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 41-YEAR-OLD INVESTOR AND TOURIST FROM TURKEY, OGUZHAN OSMAN ERIM, SAYING:

“I try to drink a lot. You know, it's a it's nice thing that they have these kinds of machines that you can get drinks. I do take some breaks, but for me it's okay, I mean I think it is still bearable.”

24. PEOPLE SHELTERING IN SHADE OF BUILDING

25. PEOPLE WAITING AT BUS STOP UNDER FANS DISPERSING COOLING MIST