trying to pack light for Japan - what do we REALLY need?

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone.

So at night in Tokyo - will my husband and teenager be ok in khaki shorts and a polo? Or will they need to wear proper pants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you everyone.

So at night in Tokyo - will my husband and teenager be ok in khaki shorts and a polo? Or will they need to wear proper pants?

They will be completely fine in shorts and a polo. Unless you’re going to a waaaaaaaay upscale restaurant; I’ve never been to one of those so can’t say. But walking around/normal nice restaurant? They’ll be totally fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't think of why you'd need jeans in the summer in Japan. But are you someone who'd rather have the extra thing just in case, or are you someone who'd rather just deal with it if it turns out you wish you'd brought something you didn't think you'd want?

You can also run into a Uniqlo or Muji (or another store) and pick up whatever you wish you had with you.

That said I think I would commit hari kari if I was in sweaty Japan for 10 days and had all of two shirts to swap between. It is HUMID (if I am remembering right) and it's nice to change your shirt at least once a day so you don't stink and so you feel better.

Why do you get 4 pairs of shoes, but your son only gets two shirts?

If you're checking a bag with liquids, can't you fit some extra clothes in there so you guys aren't walking around these cities in dirty clothes?

Depends on your size. Japanese XL shoes are approximately size 8 US womens. Japanese XL clothes are somewhere around 6 or 8 in tops; Uniqlo only goes up to 4/6 in bottoms and trousers. So don’t bet on being able to buy clothes easily unless you’re small.

+1 if you are a U.S. womens size 10 or larger don’t count on being able to buy any clothes in Japan

[Anonymous]

Shorts aren't that common in Japan. How about light, breathable pants instead?

As for the heat, yes it's hot, but it's similar to DC. The different is A/C indoors is set at like 76-78F as a power conversation effort after Fukushima.

[Anonymous]

My son is there now. Its raining constantly - you need a comfortable and light weight rain coat.

[Anonymous]

We just came back from Japan and the place is full of tourists mostly East Asians and some Westerners. They pretty much dress the way we do here. So no worries. Wear comfortable clothes that will keep you cool. Dressy casual and shorts are fine. If you look decent here, it'll be the same there. We took light rain jackets but did not wear them, it was just too hot. We wished we packed our umbrellas instead. The jumidity is bad, just like here. I wore my hair up the whole time.

[Anonymous]

Bring an umbrella you can use for rain or as a parasol; use it to protect you from the blazing sun. Also, when you are there, they sell little hand towels that are thin and can be kept in your purse. Buy those to wipe sweat off your face and/or to dry your hands after washing them. (They often don’t have paper towels or dryers in the public bathrooms.

[Anonymous]

We are in Japan now. People wear shorts here, so that’s fine. Bring socks for all the times you will need to remove your shoes. Bring umbrellas, not raincoats, but most nice hotels will let you borrow umbrellas so no need to bring them if you have that option. Most hotels also give you water bottles everyday so you don’t need to bring your own. It’s easy to do laundry, so I’d bring just enough for a week and then do laundry. My family of 4 each has a backpack and we have one 22 inch suitcase and we can fit everything easily. If you are moving around Japan a lot like we are, the smaller and lighter your bags, the better. You can send things ahead, but same day delivery service isn’t everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would stick to one, max two pairs of shoes per person; they take up so much space and weight. Choose something you can walk in comfortably. You will not want jeans. I would just pack knee length shorts or very light weight trousers or skirts. Lots of bug spray, though; the mosquitoes are intense. For tops, again, aim for lightweight. Many Japanese women still wear long sleeves in the summer for UV protection but always super thin fabric because it will be very hot and very very humid. Japan tends to not air condition as strongly as the US in order to save energy so you’ll only want one warm outfit for the plane. There’s not really a “should” for tourists in Japan; the Japanese tend not to apply their social norms to outsiders.[/quote]

That's really interesting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is there now. Its raining constantly - you need a comfortable and light weight rain coat.

The rainy season will be over by the time OP is travelling. There still might be the odd thunderstorm (like here) but not the constant rain the country gets through June.

You can buy an umbrella at any convenience store and leave it behind at your last hotel. Probably much easier than trying to pack one. Clear ones are most popular, but I like getting opaque ones so they can double as sun protection.

[Anonymous]

You really don’t need 4 pairs of shoes. One pair of sneakers/walking shoes and one pair of comfortable sandals.

[Anonymous]

I would skip all the athletic shorts. Totally in appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would skip all the athletic shorts. Totally in appropriate.

Inappropriate for a 13 year old boy to walk around in with a t-shirt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't think of why you'd need jeans in the summer in Japan. But are you someone who'd rather have the extra thing just in case, or are you someone who'd rather just deal with it if it turns out you wish you'd brought something you didn't think you'd want?

You can also run into a Uniqlo or Muji (or another store) and pick up whatever you wish you had with you.

That said I think I would commit hari kari if I was in sweaty Japan for 10 days and had all of two shirts to swap between. It is HUMID (if I am remembering right) and it's nice to change your shirt at least once a day so you don't stink and so you feel better.

Why do you get 4 pairs of shoes, but your son only gets two shirts?

If you're checking a bag with liquids, can't you fit some extra clothes in there so you guys aren't walking around these cities in dirty clothes?

Depends on your size. Japanese XL shoes are approximately size 8 US womens. Japanese XL clothes are somewhere around 6 or 8 in tops; Uniqlo only goes up to 4/6 in bottoms and trousers. So don’t bet on being able to buy clothes easily unless you’re small.

+1 if you are a U.S. womens size 10 or larger don’t count on being able to buy any clothes in Japan

Yeah, fair! I am five feet tall so my expectations and experience are probably unusual.

[Anonymous]

We went to Japan for spring break and each person brought a carry on. My 12 and 14yo boys were able to make 6 pairs of long pants. I don’t know why you are trying to pack so light. I would not take jeans or khaki pants.