With the UK now enduring its fifth heatwave of the year and much of the wider world experiencing similarly unprecedented temperatures, one thing is certain – the planet is getting hotter.

Here in Britain, the record-breaking hot spells have fuelled debate over whether air conditioning units should be installed in more homes, workplaces and schools.

But in Japan, they’ve come up with another solution. The Do Hiemon, which roughly translates to ‘cooling box’, is being sold to businesses and even installed in public spaces.

Developed by Japanese industrial supplier TRUSCO Nakayama and refrigeration specialist Sanden Retail Systems, the Do Hiemon is designed to quickly cool down the body during extreme heat.

The one-person booth is two metres tall and looks a bit like a stainless steel telephone box. It has a glass panel door, polystyrene insulation boards and a bench inside for users to sit on.

The inside of the box maintains a temperature of 15°C and blasts 5°C air through built-in vents.

It has three cooling modes to help the body acclimatise to the chill safely and an automatic shut-off timer which activates after 20 minutes to prevent users from becoming too cold.

The Do Hiemon was initially designed for use by people working in dangerous heat, such as construction workers. 

However, it could also be used in emergencies, such as after earthquakes – when people may not have access to airconned indoor spaces.

It is also being sold to businesses for 1,500,000¥ apiece (£6,973).

Heatwaves and warnings

Japan, like much of the rest of the world, is experiencing hotter summers that put its population at risk.

More than 53,000 people in the country have been treated for heatstroke in the past two months and 79 deaths have been reported as a result.

Here in the UK, it’s a similar story. Brits have endured weeks of hot, dry weather with little respite this year, and temperatures on Thursday are expected to skyrocket to 38°C in parts of the country.

Over the course of the summer, the extreme temperatures have forced schools to close, brought infrastructure to a grinding halt, and caused a staggering 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales in May and June alone.

The Met Office has issued rare amber heat warnings, which are active from 9am on Thursday until midnight.

London, the southeast, east of England and the East Midlands are set to bear the brunt, with temperatures remaining high for the rest of the week even after the warning subsides.

MORE: When is it going to rain again and could UK be hit by flash floods?

MORE: I’m a nutritionist — these are the worst foods to eat during a heatwave

MORE: Noticed fruit and veg in the shop looking a bit different to usual? This is why