I talk about this in my Preparing for your Trip to Japan post and my Packing with Kids post but I get lots of questions and I thought I would just address them here.
What season is “mosquito season” in Japan ?
I would say that mosquito repellent/ bug spray is a must-pack between May – September. But I would still advise packing it for all times of the year.
Why do I still advise to bring bug spray outside of these months?
For starters, does it ever hurt to be all geeky and organized?
Also, Japan has lush gardens and bamboo forests – basically a mosquito’s dream hangout.
Japanese mosquitos aren’t dangerous but many newbies to Japan are allergic to the bites
Two people in my family are. This is my daughter after Japanese mosquito bites. Ouch.
What over the counter cream do I use on these kinds of bites?
This one is our favourite. (From the drugstores, not the convenience stores.)
Why don’ t I just recommend buying some Japanese bug spray /cream when you arrive?
This is my personal opinion but I don’t find the Japanese brands to be strong enough. So, personally, I prefer my own stash from the UK and Australia.
For other things I stock up on when I’m outside of Japan, see my post here.
Another reason? Isn’t it better to use a product you’ve used before as you know how your body reacts to that product? So its just for general peace of mind.
What should I do if someone in my family has an allergic reaction to a bite?
For ambulance , ER info (it’s different in Japan so please, please read before just heading to a hospital) or just doctor info see my post here.
