As extreme summer temperatures become an increasingly serious public health concern, Japanese manufacturers have introduced a portable cooling booth designed to help people recover quickly from dangerous heat exposure.
Developed through a collaboration between the industrial supplier Trusco Nakayama and the refrigeration company Sanden Retail Systems, the “Do Hiemon Box” is a compact personal cooling unit designed for workers and members of the public who spend long periods outdoors in high temperatures.
The booth resembles a small enclosed cabin with a built-in seat. Once inside, users are cooled by streams of chilled air directed toward the head, neck and upper body — areas where rapid heat removal is considered most effective.
The system maintains an interior environment of around 15 degrees Celsius while delivering air cooled to approximately 5C through strategically positioned vents.
According to the manufacturers, users can reduce their body temperature in about 10 minutes, providing fast relief from symptoms associated with heat exhaustion.
Unlike conventional air conditioners or portable fans, the enclosed design allows cold air to circulate around the user more efficiently, resulting in faster cooling.
Because sudden exposure to very low temperatures can place stress on the body, the booth includes several safety features. Users can choose from three cooling modes, while an automatic timer switches the unit off after 20 minutes to reduce the risk of excessive cooling or hypothermia.
Standing about two metres tall, the stainless-steel booth is insulated with polystyrene panels to improve energy efficiency. It carries an IPX3 rating, allowing it to withstand light rain, making it suitable for outdoor workplaces.
The unit is mounted on lockable caster wheels for easy transport and operates from a standard 100-volt electrical outlet, eliminating the need for permanent installation.
The manufacturers say it consumes roughly half the electricity required by a conventional industrial spot cooler, with operating costs estimated at about 15 to 16 yen per hour.
The cooling booth arrives at a time when Japan is experiencing increasingly severe summers. Between May 1 and Sept 30 last year, more than 100,000 people required hospital treatment for heatstroke, prompting local authorities and businesses to look for additional ways to protect outdoor workers, elderly residents and others at risk.
One of the first units was donated to the Maebashi City Hall, where it has been made available free of charge during office hours for residents seeking relief from the heat.
The standard model is currently priced at ¥1.5 million (305,000 baht) before tax.
