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As Japan Temps Rise, Are The Trains Too Damn Hot?
Why Japan’s train companies keep some of their cars hotter than others.
By Marin Akasaka
In Japan, summers seem to get hotter every year. One step out of the door, and you’re immediately wrapped with moist, hot air. The lingering heat of late summer seems likely to continue this year as well.
As the hot days stretch on, one thing that becomes more noticeable is the air conditioning on trains. Sometimes it offers a moment of relief away from the heat outside, while other times it feels excessively cold. Lately, during the intense heat waves, “mildly air-conditioned cars” on trains have been a topic of criticism on social media. It raises the question: given climate change, are some of Japan’s trains just too damn warm?
A slightly higher temperature for the sensitive
Railway companies are making various efforts to provide a comfortable temperature for passengers. Still, they continue to receive feedback from passengers saying it’s both “too cold” and “too hot.”
