Tokai the worst place to live with hay fever?

Japanese friends and students of mine keep mentioning that the Tokai region has a lot of sugi (Japanes cedar) and hinoki (cypress) trees and that it is the worst region in Japan to live in if you have hay fever or allergies in general?

Is this true? It makes sense because there are a ton of trees and flowers in this region (I'm in Shizuoka).

Although, this is a beautiful and relaxing area to live in, I'm tempted to maybe relocate to either Okinawa or this one place in Hokkaido that doesn't have many sugi/hinoki trees (forgot the name of the place).

I went to an allergy clinic and got prescription medication because none of the OTC allergy medications do anything for my severe symptoms.

I have been in Japan for a little more than 3 years and although it takes a few years for the body to start to feel the effects from sugi, hinoki, hanoki, kousa, etc I have been been a getting runny/stuffy nose, sneezing and itchy throat every spring since I have moved here. The severely itchy eyes is a new symptom that started up mid February this year.

The prescription medication helps relieve the severity of my symptoms, but it doesn't completely relieve them.

Are there any other places in Japan that are good or better to live in for people that have hay fever/allegies?

What actually sets off your hayfever? The cyress and cedar? Something else?

It is most definitely both Japanese cedar and cypress that set it off.

I used to live in China, so I know all about kousa. I am not allergic to kousa. It could also be from other pollen, but I my symptoms always start up just as the Japanese cedar and cypress seasons start up.

I will see my allergy doctor this weekend and see if I can get an allergy test, but he also believes that I'm most likely being set off by the Japanese cedar. Cypress season is right around the corner as well and I am even more allergic to that.

First of all, I often hear that the distance from sugi trees has little to do with the increase of sugi pollen allergy patients. For example, I remember seeing on TV that the allergy happens more often in Greater Tokyo where pollen tends to merge with power dust from trucks as opposed to the countryside where there are more trees but less truck dust.

Secondly, I did hear from someone living in Hokkaido that there is less sugi pollen allergy there but that Hokkaido has shirakaba pollen allergy instead. The ministry seems to back it up.
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/new-info/kobetu/kenkou/ryumachi/kafun/dl/ippan-q...

But if you're pretty sure your problem is just sugi, you might want to consider the relocation. Try traveling there and see. Except that I believe allergy has a lot to do with stress, so when you're sightseeing stress-free you might suffer less allergy than when you're working.

Take care regardless.

Yes, I have read those studies as well.

I will definitely make sure I look more into this before I just suddenly uproot my life here in Shizuoka.

I'm considering immunotherapy as well.

I also thought I would mention on here for others with severe hay fever to read that there is some hope.

After about a month exactly, my eyes would be really itchy from the pollen but just a week ago, my symptoms lessened significantly. My nose is fine no more runny nose and congestion and my eyes only get slightly itchy.

Just a week ago, my eyes would get so itchy I would feel like scratchy them out, but I would take medicine as soon as my symptoms would act up.

The weather here in Shizuoka has not only been rainy, so it isn't the weather. Yesterday was perfectly clear and sunny and today is a little cloudy but windy.

The news report stated that the pollen count was really high yesterday and same with today and yet I'm hardly effected. I even tested this out by riding my bicycle to run errands for about an hour with no mask or goggles.

I don't think I'm building an natural immunity to all the different types of pollen after being in Japan for only 3 years.

So maybe the pollen just isn't as intense now as it is the first month, which is strange because online information states that the peak time for Sugi pollen is right about now.

Anyway, although hay fever varies from person to person those worried about severe symptoms might only need to suffer for a month and then things get much more tolerable.

I came to Japan in 2003 and I started experiencing pollen grain(suginomi) during 2006. I had went to physician whose prescription helped me little bit. I went to ENT specialist, I felt relief but drowsiness. So I stop that medicine. I took consultation from Indian traditional doctor(Ayurveda). I started my Indian traditional remedies and life style. Now I dont have any symptoms at all. Yes this is my experience. Actually we should not blame nature. The problem is in our irregular lifestyle and bad food habits. Weak digestion and low immune system is main reason for allergies as per Indian Ayurveda. Let me share my experience with you. The following activities are recommended as per Indian traditional science and I followed it.
1) I was working till late everyday and I was taking food at 23pm and sleep immediately. That was major reason in my case as per our Indian science. I stop late night food. Our digestion is very poor at night. The undigested food at night creates problem in the body. Next day, people experience runny nose, itching in the eyes, ears, throat. The food at night should be easy to digest and less quantity. Vegetarian food at night is recommended. I finish my dinner before 20pm.
2) The spicy food, sauce, salad dressing, sour fruits, sour curd, fermented food creates itching in the eyes. So I avoided it.
3) Alcohol, coffee, tea etc shall be avoided because it increase fire element in the body and increase itching in eyes.
4) White sugar shall be avoided. Any packed(canned) food which contains preservatives shall be avoided.
5) Try to increase digestive power by proper life style and having ginger water etc.
There is much more. it will be too long if I keep writing.

I am also living in Tokai region only since 15 years. We have to shake the hands with nature and not to escape from it.

Well, I wouldn't say I'm running away from nature but I think there is some truth to what you say about diet.

I read an article recently about a Japanese person with severe kafunsho that started on a diet of yogurt, tomatoes and green vegetables as well I think and 3 years later most of her symptoms completely went away.

I have been eating a really healthy diet everyday so I will give it more time and see how I feel later.