Cooling Shelters and Cool Share Spots Added to Tokyo WBGT Map

As the risk of heatstroke rises, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has added “designated cooling shelters” and Tokyo cool share spots to the “Tokyo WBGT Map,” which displays a heat stress index (WBGT). This allows users to view both heat risks and heat-relief spots for each area in a single map.

The Tokyo WBGT Map is a digital service that supports heat countermeasures by visualizing the WBGT (Web Bulb Globe Temperature) and heatstroke risks for each area. It displays heat stress index on the human body on a 15-color scale for each 1-kilometer grid, forecasts hourly heatstroke risk up to 48 hours in advance, and indicates the day’s highest heat stress index for the coming week.

Cooling shelters are public and private facilities designated by municipalities, such as wards and cities, to provide relief from the heat when the Ministry of the Environment issues a “special heatstroke alert.” Additionally, Tokyo cool share spots are public and private facilities where people can cool themselves.

With this information now available on the “Tokyo WBGT Map,” a system has been established to help users assess heat risks and adjust their plans.

The website for viewing this information is as follows:
Tokyo WBGT Map (link to external site) 

WBGT: An indicator that focuses on the heat exchange (heat balance) between the human body and the surrounding air. It incorporates elements of the surrounding thermal environment—such as temperature, humidity, and radiant heat from surfaces such as roads—that significantly affect the human body’s heat balance.