(BBC) Japan is sweltering under the hottest day yet of its worst heatwave for almost 150 years.
The blistering heat has drawn official warnings of a looming power shortage, and led to calls for people to conserve energy where possible.
But the government is still advising people to use use air conditioning to avoid heatstroke as cases of hospitalisation rise with the heat.
June is usually considered the rainy season for Japan, but the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) declared an end to the season for Tokyo and its surrounding areas on Monday.
The announcement which came 22 days earlier than normal, marks the earliest end to the rainy season since 1951.
Cases of heatstroke have also spiked amidst the sweltering heat.