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🇯🇵 East Asia

What to wear in Japan

By PackTheLook · Updated 28 October 2026

Japan rewards neat, understated clothes and very comfortable shoes — you will walk 15,000+ steps a day and take your shoes off more often than you expect. Locals dress a notch smarter than most visitors, favour covered shoulders and muted colours, and layer for heavily air-conditioned trains. The right outfit depends almost entirely on the month: snowy Hokkaido in January and a sticky Kyoto July need completely different suitcases.

Pick your month

Average daytime high shown. Tap a month for weather, events and a packing list.

Jan 10° Cold, dry Feb 11° Cold, dry Mar 14° Mild, blossoms Apr 19° Mild, blossoms May 24° Mild, blossoms Jun 26° Hot, humid Jul 30° Hot, humid Aug 31° Hot, humid Sep 28° Warm to crisp Oct 22° Warm to crisp Nov 17° Warm to crisp Dec 12° Cold, dry

Dress code

  • Cover shoulders and knees at temples and shrines; a light cardigan solves it in summer.
  • Shoes come off in temples, ryokan, some restaurants and fitting rooms — slip-ons and clean, hole-free socks save time.
  • Very revealing or low-cut tops stand out more than short hemlines; locals dress modestly up top.
  • Swimsuits are not worn in onsen (hot springs) — you bathe nude, and many onsen still refuse visible tattoos.
  • Smart-casual is the default in cities; athleisure is fine for sightseeing but feels out of place at nicer restaurants.

Plugs: Type A / B (two flat pins), 100V — same as the US.

What to wear for…

Temples and shrines

Covered shoulders, knees mostly covered, and slip-on shoes — you will take them off repeatedly at temples like Kiyomizu-dera and in ryokan. Bring clean socks without holes.

Onsen and ryokan

You bathe nude in onsen and wear the yukata the ryokan provides around the inn and to dinner. Pack a small towel bag and simple sleepwear; many onsen restrict visible tattoos, so check first or cover small ones with a patch.

Hiking (Fushimi Inari, Nakasendo, Mt Fuji)

Breathable layers and real walking shoes. The Fushimi Inari loop is two to three hours of steps; Mt Fuji's summit is near freezing even in August.

Nice dinners and bars

Smart-casual: a shirt or blouse, dark trousers or a midi skirt, clean shoes. Some high-end restaurants and cocktail bars in Ginza turn away shorts and sandals.

Winter (Dec–Feb) Jan, Feb, Dec

Crisp, sunny and dry in Tokyo and Kyoto (0–12°C), snowy in Hokkaido and the Alps. Dress in layers you can open up — trains and shops are heated, the streets are not.

Also pack

Showing more covered picks for travellers from India.

Spring (Mar–May) Mar, Apr, May

Cherry-blossom season: cool mornings, mild afternoons (10–23°C) and the odd shower. A trench or light jacket over a knit is the classic look, and you will want photos in it.

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Summer (Jun–Aug) Jun, Jul, Aug

June is the rainy season (tsuyu); July and August are hot and very humid (25–33°C, feels like 38°C). Choose breathable linen and cotton, loose fits and covered shoulders that don't trap heat.

Also pack

Showing more covered picks for travellers from India.

Autumn (Sep–Nov) Sep, Oct, Nov

September is still warm and typhoon-prone; October and November are Japan at its best — dry, 10–22°C and red maple leaves. Layer a light jacket over long sleeves and swap to a warmer coat by late November.

Also pack

Showing more covered picks for travellers from India.

For men

Men in Japanese cities dress neat and slightly formal: dark chinos or slim jeans, a plain shirt or knit, and clean leather sneakers. Shorts are common for sightseeing in summer, but locals rarely wear them in the evening or at nicer restaurants, and sleeveless tops look out of place in temples. A packable overshirt or light jacket covers you for air-conditioned trains and evening temperature drops.

Common packing mistakes

  • Packing lace-up boots — you'll untie them a dozen times a day at temples and restaurants.
  • Assuming summer means shorts and tank tops are fine everywhere; temples and nice restaurants expect more coverage.
  • Under-packing for winter nights: Tokyo is mild by day but drops near freezing after dark.
  • Planning to buy clothes in Japan if you're above a medium — sizes run small, especially shoes.

What's on through the year

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