Northern Japan saw record temperatures today as a heat wave continues to blanket the country.

Japan’s northernmost island Hokkaido recorded the hottest day in June ever as temperatures topped 35 degrees Celsius.

Over 1,600 people were taken by ambulance to hospitals due to heatstroke over the last week in Japan.

That’s more than seven times last year’s figure for the same period.

Four heatstroke victims died.

Japan's Prime Minister and his cabinet dressed down for the heat.

To promote the "Super Cool Biz" energy-saving casual wear campaign, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his cabinet wore kariyushi shirts, a kind of Japanese aloha shirt.