What to Wear in Tokyo?

Tokyo Tower, Mount Fuji, cherry blossoms... these symbols are closely associated with Tokyo. Even if you have never been to Japan, you are sure to have more or less fantasized about the experience of traveling under Mount Fuji and taking photos under the cherry blossom trees!

In fact, Tokyo's tourist attractions are not only numerous, but also rich in variety. Whether you are keen on admiring historical buildings, shopping in commercial districts, or wandering in natural landscapes, Tokyo will bring you unexpected surprises. In addition, the clothing style of young Japanese women is also known for its vitality and cuteness. If you have the opportunity to travel to Japan, you can also try the plaid skirts and traditional kimonos of Japanese girls! To know more tips on what to wear in Tokyo, keep reading!

Climate Features in Tokyo

Although Tokyo has a subtropical monsoon climate, it is also strongly influenced by the ocean. Overall, the biggest feature of Tokyo's climate is that it has four distinct seasons and abundant rainfall. However, Tokyo's rainfall is not concentrated only in summer. In spring, there are more sunny days than rainy days, and in summer, due to the influence of the southeast monsoon, there is more rainfall and even a plum rain period. In autumn, because of the influence of typhoons, it is also easy to rain. Tokyo's winter is clearer and drier.

In terms of temperature, Tokyo's winter is milder, and even on its coldest days, the temperature rarely drops below zero degrees Celsius. In summer, the temperature often reaches over 30 degrees Celsius, and due to the heavy rain, you will feel quite hot and stuffy. In some years with extreme climate, the highest temperature in summer can even exceed 35 degrees Celsius.

When planning your trip, you need to pay special attention to the following issues due to Tokyo's climate characteristics:

🍣Because the summer is too humid and hot, it is very easy to get heatstroke. Be careful to prevent heatstroke when traveling there in summer.

🍣Typhoons are frequent from July to October every year, which may cause heavy rain, water logging, and traffic disruptions. Therefore, it is best to avoid visiting Tokyo during the typhoon season.

🍣The city center is densely populated, and the summer temperature is 2-5℃ higher than that in the suburbs, which is the so-called heat island effect. If you are afraid of heat, it is best to choose a hotel in the suburbs when looking for accommodation.

To sum up, the sunny and rainless spring, from March to May, is the peak travel season in Tokyo. During this time of year, not only is the weather very suitable for outdoor travel, but the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, attracting tourists from all over the world to visit. Although the weather is hot in summer, Tokyo is not short of beautiful mountains. If you come to Tokyo in summer, you can choose to go hiking to escape the heat. To avoid typhoons, it is best to avoid traveling to Tokyo in autumn. However, Tokyo in winter becomes a good place to travel again, especially around Christmas or New Year, when there will be more fresh and interesting activities.

Dressing Codes in Tokyo

Although unique dressing is allowed on the streets of Tokyo, there is a strong awareness of “keeping in harmony with the people around you” in the workplace and public places. Especially on more formal occasions, it is a taboo to dress too unconventionally. On formal occasions or in traditional industries, women are usually required to wear suits in dark colors such as black or grey, and solid-colored shirts. Skirt length should preferably be around the knee, while too short and tight skirts should be avoided.

In addition, when visiting some special occasions, you may also be subject to stricter dress codes. Religious occasions are exactly this case. No matter where you are, religious occasions generally have stricter dress codes. In Tokyo, the dress codes for visiting religious sites such as temples is similar to the general codes for the religious sits in other areas. First, don't wear clothes that are too short. Women's skirts need to be below the knee, and the clothes need to have sleeves. On the other hand, excessively bright colors should be avoided. Slippers and bare feet are not allowed. Even if you wear sandals, you need to wear socks. When watching Kabuki performances, Japanese people usually dress very formally, such as traditional kimonos or modern suits. If you, as a tourist, do not want to try kimonos or think that suits are too formal, you should at least dress more appropriately, such as wearing long skirts, long pants, or shirts. Too casual T-shirts, jeans, sportswear, etc. need to be avoided. In addition, see-through clothes and clothes that are too short are not allowed.

In terms of colors, it is better for guests to avoid wearing white as it is considered to be the exclusive color of the bride. If you need to attend a funeral, it is suggested to wear black or other dark clothing. Red is a taboo color at funerals and should absolutely be avoided.

What to Wear in Tokyo in Spring and Summer as a Tourist?

Spring is a great time to enjoy cherry blossoms. Therefore, in order to match the surrounding environment, we recommend that you choose some clothes with tender temperament and in light colors.

Outfit1: A light pink knit sweater + a white mini skirt + a pair of knee-length boots

The combination of light pink and white is very refreshing and soft, and it’s exactly the color of cherry blossoms! You can match it with a red or purple headband to look as energetic and cute as a college girl. Or you can also change the pair of boots to a pair of leather shoes, and the white mini skirt to a plaid pleated skirt to create an outfit in the Japanese campus style.

Outfit2: A printed hoodie + a pair of sweatpants + a pair of sneakers

This loose-fitting, sporty outfit is perfect for climbing Mount Fuji. Or it is also suitable for long outdoor excursions. If you want to add a little extra fun to this look, you can also wear a baseball cap. At the same time, this baseball cap can also protect you from the sun at noon.

Summer is not only suitable for going to the mountain areas to escape the heat, but also for going to the beach to enjoy the sunbathing, surfing, swimming, beach volleyball and other activities. The keywords of summer are passion and high profile. You can choose some clothes in high saturation colors and with some exaggerated patterns. It doesn't matter, you can show your fashion taste to the fullest.

Outfit3: A yellow tank top + a pair of linen beach shorts + a pair of sandals

A bright yellow tank top can fully show your enthusiasm and vitality, while a pair of linen beach shorts can enhance your wearing experience to a greater extent. A pair of sandals is very convenient for walking on the beach. Whether you would like to quietly enjoy the sunbathing at the beach or participate in the beach volleyball, this outfit will not cause any obstacles for you.

What to wear in Tokyo in Autumn and Winter as a Tourist?

Although typhoons occur occasionally in autumn, it is still nice to take a short trip during a period when there are no typhoons in the weather forecast. In places with four distinct seasons, autumn is often characterized by clear skies and cool weather, with a large temperature gap between morning and evening. Therefore, when dressing, you need to pay attention to keeping both warm and fashion.

Outfit 4: A chiffon shirt + a cardigan + a long corduroy skirt + a pair of Mary Jane shoes

This outfit is artistic and also has a retro style. It is more suitable for wearing when visiting art galleries and museums, or taking photos in autumn parks. The chiffon shirt reflects an elegant style, while the corduroy long skirt not only keeps you warm, but also adds a touch of retro artist temperament to you

Although the temperature does not drop below zero degrees Celsius most of the time in winter, you still need to keep warm because sometimes it snows. Many Japanese women also wear short skirts with bare legs in winter, but as a tourist, you can't adapt to this way of dressing to a large extent, so it's best not to blindly follow suit.

Outfit 5: A knit top + a sweater vest + a plaid pleated mini skirt + a pair of flesh-colored leggings

Beauty and warmth should not conflict at all! If you want to achieve the effect of “bare legs” in winter, a pair of flesh-colored leggings can come in handy! In this way, you can wear a short skirt even in the cold season! As for the upper body clothing, you can layer a sweater vest over a knitted top to create a stronger sense of layering.