Japan Builds a “Human Refrigerator” to Fight Extreme Heat

Japan has introduced an unusual cooling booth designed to help people recover quickly from extreme heat.

The product is called the Do Hiemon Box. It looks like a large refrigerator or vending machine, but it is designed to cool one person at a time rather than store food or drinks.

Inspired by Vending Machines

The Do Hiemon Box was developed by Japanese refrigeration and vending machine manufacturer SDRS and is sold by industrial equipment supplier Trusco Nakayama.

The design was inspired by Japan’s refrigerated vending machines, which are already common across the country. The booth is similar in shape and size to a vending machine.

How It Works

The booth keeps its interior temperature at around 15°C.

Once a user sits on the built-in chair, cold air at around 5°C is directed toward the head, neck, shoulders, and back. The company says users can feel noticeably cooler within about five minutes, while spending around 10 minutes inside may help ease heat exhaustion symptoms by lowering body temperature.

Built for Workplaces

The Do Hiemon Box is aimed mainly at workplaces and public facilities.

It is designed for construction sites, factories, warehouses, outdoor event venues, and other places where people face high temperatures for long periods.

The booth offers three airflow and cooling settings. It also shuts off automatically after 20 minutes to reduce the risk of overcooling.

It does not require installation work, can be used indoors or outdoors, and sits on wheels so it can be moved between locations. The device also uses about half the electricity of a typical spot air conditioner.

Japan Faces Hotter Summers

The launch comes as Japan faces increasingly severe summer temperatures.

Japan has recently introduced new terminology for days when temperatures exceed 40°C. Reports also noted that 48 people were taken to hospital for heatstroke in Tokyo on July 15, showing the growing pressure on workers, businesses, and local governments to manage extreme heat.

Price and Availability

The Do Hiemon Box went on sale in Japan in April.

It is available through industrial equipment distributors and costs about $9,326 before tax. This makes it a business-focused product rather than a normal home appliance.

One unit was also donated to Maebashi City Hall in Gunma Prefecture, where visitors can use it for free during opening hours.

If temperatures continue to rise, devices like the Do Hiemon Box could become more common in workplaces and public spaces across Japan.