Haunted houses a refreshing respite from scorching summer heat in Japan

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Visiting haunted houses is a long-standing summer tradition in Japan, but not just for the scary thrills. Many patrons are drawn to the refreshing chills that offer a respite from the scorching heat and humidity, thanks to modern air conditioning. Japanese summers have become harder to bear, partly because of climate change. In central Tokyo, 123 people died of heatstroke in July 2024. Over the first seven months of the year, the number of ambulance dispatches in the capital also broke records.