Photo= Kyoto City recorded this season's highest temperature of 33.1 degrees Celsius. A department store has begun mist spraying so shoppers can cool off (May 23, in front of Takashimaya Kyoto Store, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto)

As the high atmospheric pressure brought clear skies on May 23, temperatures rose in many parts of Kyoto Prefecture. The highest in Kyoto City was comparable to late-July, or 33.1 degrees Celsius, recording this year's highest temperature. It was a third successive day of real summer heat. Takashimaya Kyoto Store, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, turned on the misting system at its two entrances to bring a little coolness.

According to the Kyoto Local Meteorological Office's observations, the temperatures reached 32.1 degrees Celsius in Kyotanabe City, 32 degrees in Fukuchiyama City, and 31.8 degrees in Sonobe-cho, Nantan City. The expected temperature for Kyoto City on May 24 was 30 degrees Celsius. However, the forecast for cloudy days after 25th should cause the temperature to drop to the uppers 20s.

The misting system of Takashimaya Kyoto Store operates automatically according to climate conditions including temperature, etc. Although its use was scheduled to start on June 1, operation has been moved forward due to the intensive summer heat of the past few days.

Shoppers looked relieved as they stepped into the cooling mist sprayed from the eaves. A woman from Shimogyo Ward said, "It's only May but it's already as hot as summer. It's nice and cool under the mist."