Overwhelmed by the Heat? Sapporo’s Cooling Shelter Program

"Cooling Shelters" (指定暑熱避難施設): 

A key public health measure, Sapporo has designated "Cooling Shelters" as free, publicly accessible places with air conditioning for citizens to escape the summer heat. 

The program started in 2024 when a national law was passed to encourage municipalities to set up Cooling Shelters around Japan. At the same time, the Aeon supermarket chain began it's Cool Spot program. 

Number of Facilities: As of July 1, 2025, Sapporo has a total of 138 designated cooling shelters (106 private and 32 municipal facilities).  37 facilities were added for the summer of 2025, bringing the total to 138, with ongoing recruitment for more. 

See the City of Sapporo's Japanese language homepage for more information and a breakdown of Cooling Shelter facilities in each city ward.  https://www.city.sapporo.jp/kankyo/ondanka/hyperthermia/shelter.html

Types of Facilities: These include ward community centers, local libraries, the Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chikaho), shopping centers (e.g., Aeon, MaxValu, The Big, Co-op Sapporo), and pharmacies (e.g., Tsuruha Drug, Hello Pharmacy). 

City libraries, ward community centers, museums and other government facilities offer their usual services - requesting users to read or study quietly - but also invite citizens to use their seating to rest and escape the heat as they are doing so. Depending on the venue, maximum seating capacity for these Cooling Shelters ranges fro under twenty to more than 250.

Aeon shopping malls (e.g in Soen, Motomachi or Naebo) have the largest capacity - between 300 and 500. They invite citizens to use their food courts, eat-in spaces or benches throughout the mall to rest and cool off. 

Some supermarkets and drug stores have also made their rest areas and eat-in spaces available for the Cooling Shelters. The Big, Co-op Sapporo, Tsuruha Drug and  Hello Pharmacy can accommodate between 10 and 40 users. 

Many of the supermarkets listed, however, have a maximum capacity of under five users. Some of them list a maximum capacity of one. One supermarket offered one seat, on the waiting bench next to the rest rooms - not so appealing because of the location and also because many citizens suffering from the heat might not be able to make it to the Cooling Shelter on their own. 

Availability: Shelters are available from July 1 to September 30. While they are obligated to open during "Heatstroke Special Warning Alerts" based on the revised Climate Change Adaptation Act (effective April 1, 2024), Sapporo's designated shelters cooperate to remain open throughout the specified period regardless of alert status. 

Usage Guidelines: Use is free, no reservations or applications are required, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, with limited capacity. 

The city does not provide water or salt candies at these shelters but does not prohibit facilities from doing so.

Evaluation: How did citizens receive the availability of Cooling Shelters in 2024? No studies have been published.