What to Pack for Japan in February (Snowy Weather)
Approximately a 8minute read
Snow!! I have lived the majority of my life in Southern California, where my relationship to snow is a 1- or 2-day getaway to a cabin with a possibility of skiing. This is much different than a locked-in winter with weeks and months of snow. Of course I was at a loss as to what to pack for Japan in February, but I did a ton of research and now I can share the wealth with you. My travel partner and I packed for Japan in one large hard-sided suitcase, one small hard-sided suitcase, and two backpacks, altogether.
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I actually wrote a whole post about wrapping my mind around what to bring on a winter trip. The SoCal Girl’s Guide to Packing for Cold Weather. Today’s post will be Japan-specific based on my trip earlier this year.
Huge snowflakes were falling as we went to our hotel in Sapporo
Please check the weather report before you depart, you may need to add or remove a few more layers depeding on the region you are visiting!
First context: We spent the first week of our trip in snowy Hokkaido, including a ski day. We also visited Nagano, which was still cold, then wrapped up the trip in Tokyo, where the weather was much nicer and we barely needed coats… it was almost March at that point. I recommend checking the forecast 48 hours before your departure to make last-minute packing changes if needed.
I lean towards minimalistic outfits while traveling to save luggage space. Planning for winter was a blessing and a curse because wearing a heavy coat made packing easy, but it resulted in less variety in photos. Our itinerary was just shy of two weeks, and we did laundry at one of our hotels about halfway through the trip.
I made an initial stack of my favorite clothes I knew I had to bring and set it aside so I wouldn’t have to wash them before my trip. Then, a few days out, I checked the 10-day forecast to make sure the weather didn’t veer warmer or cooler than expected.
Clothing
The key to traveling in the winter is layering. Out in the elements, coats, scarves, and hats are necessary; inside, it can be quite warm with the heaters going. I also recommend a backpack to hold hats, scarves, and gloves when you’re not wearing them.
Base Layer
One word: HEATTECH.
Here are a bunch more words. Uniqlo has a fabulous product line called Heat Tech that encompasses base layers, socks, and more. These items have three levels of warmth, with recommendations in Fahrenheit (thank God) and Celsius on the package. I bought Ultra Warm and wore them every day in Hokkaido, some days in Nagano, and did not wear them in Tokyo. I brought one pair of thermal leggings and two thermal tops, one white and one black. Note that these are synthetic materials so they’re not as breathable as wool thermals. If you’re from a cold climate and you’re used to normal thermal underwear you probably don’t need my advice.
Tops
I should have noted down what I brought when I packed, but it’s been too long. I brought three knit sweaters, a couple of lightweight long-sleeve shirts, and some tees. Layering Heattech under the sweaters was plenty warm for the coldest days (of course plus a coat outside). I was glad to have lightweight long-sleeve shirts and tees to wear under my fleece with no coat in Tokyo.
Pants
We are so lucky that baggier jeans are back in style, because they make it easier to layer Heattech underneath. I brought 2 wide-leg jeans and one pair of skinny jeans, which I wore when it was warmer and did not layer. I was planning on bringing lined pants like this (Kuhl Frost Softshell), but they did not arrive in time for this trip; I think they would have been a great option to wear without the Heattech underneath.
That’s a big snowdrift
Outer Layer
The outer layer is very important when visiting a specifically snowy climate. Doug wore an REI snowboarding jacket that was waterproof (similar). I wore a puffer down-alternative that importantly went well past my waist (similar). We each had a fleece (Patagonia better sweater), which was perfect with Heattech in Tokyo when I could finally ditch the puffer coat. If you don’t have a fleece, a hoodie would work as well. I brought a rain shell (similar) because I wore it a lot on my first Japan trip, although I did not need it this time.
Warm weather accessories are not something that comes naturally to me (see my intro paragraph) but this trip was a fun opportunity to bust out some snow gear that I have tucked away. I brought a fur-lined hat, which was needed on a couple of very cold days but was mostly overkill. Oh well, it was cute. My knitted wool beanie let a little heat out and was good on moderately cold days.
One key to rewearing outfits a few times and making them seem different is accessories. I brought a heavy and a light winter scarf and two different hats for variety. If you’re more into accessorizing, you could also switch up handbags or hairstyles.
Hiking boots and traction was needed to visit Jigokudani Monkey Park
Shoes
My feet are the type that crave a little variety or else my body gets achy. I brought waterproof snow boots (Columbia, similar) and waterproof-ish sneakers (Sorel, mine are discontinued, but I’m highly interested in these). My travel partner is an avid hiker and already owned waterproof Keen boots (similar). He also brought a pair of pull-on boots (similar) for less-snowy days. Due to the weather, I did not log 20,000-step days the same way I did when I visited in cherry blossom season (here’s a packing guide for that).
Prevent slip-and-falls with Yaktrax or some other kind of spiky attachments to apply to your boots. My husband brought some along, this type, which worked really well for him. I do not recommend this type, mine kept flinging off no matter how many different ways I tried to attach them. You can get inexpensive grips at DonQuixote, which is what I recommend if you don’t already own some.
The first time I visited Japan, I forgot pajamas. Most hotels provide pajamas of some sort for non-plus-sized guests. I am a U.S. 14 (women’s), and the hotel pajama bottoms do not accommodate me comfortably. U.S. men who wear L and above should also bring their own pajamas. Importantly, you may not be able to stop into the store and pick up a pair of pajama pants because Japanese sizes skew small.
This is a no-brainer, but don’t forget socks and underwear. Bring as much as you deem appropriate, and then add some, because if you do strenuous activity while bundled up, you will get sweaty. Remember that wool socks are not as prone to causing blisters as synthetic materials.
A cold but sunny day at Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park
Other Gear
If you’re planning on winter sports like skiing or snowboarding, that may alter the types of coats and gloves you bring. Note, many items are rentable on the ski hill, so check what’s available if you’re trying to travel light. YouTube has lots of excellent videos on what to bring snowboarding in Japan.
Japan is known for having very little crime. However, when traveling, I always wear a crossbody bag just in case. Backpacks are also a great choice, but remember it’s polite to wear it on your front on a crowded subway, plus it’s more secure that way, too. You could also stash a foldable tote bag to carry things you pick up along the way.
Speaking of picking things up along the way, I have a duffel bag that packs down flat, and I brought it in my suitcase. As I accumulated souvenirs and gifts, I filled the duffel with used clothes and stored souvenirs in my main bag. If you do this, make sure you’re not maxing out your bag allowance on your return flight.
Also, consider your camera and camera gear. Are you simply planning on using a smartphone, or do you have an elaborate setup with extra lenses or a gimbal? This will affect what kind of bag you will carry around all day.
TL;DR Version
If you skimmed all of that above, here’s the summary. Here is a packing list for two weeks; adjust to your preferences. Plan to do laundry once or twice.
Thermal underwear or Heattech for a base layer
1-2 long-sleeved shirts (or turtleneck)
2-3 Heavy shirts (sweaters or fleece)
2-3 T-shirts
3 Jeans or similar casual pants
1 Fleece or Hoodie
Warm hat, scarf, and gloves
1 Snow jacket (check forecast)
Rain shell (if your coat is not waterproof)
1 Umbrella
Accessories, socks, underwear, etc as appropriate
Final Thoughts
Wearing the same coat through the whole trip is just reality unless you want to bring a lot of luggage. Bringing snow accessories (hat, scarves, gloves) adds bulk but is crucial. I recommend bringing an empty, collapsed bag to bring home souvenirs, gifts, and snacks. Of course, one could buy a duffel or tote while in Japan for this purpose!
This guide only covers what to pack for Japan in the snowy season. Here’s what I packed for cherry blossom season. How about a different time of year? What are some of your travel essentials? Anything I missed? Please let me know in the comments!
Photos by Doug and Staci Jackson for The Voyageer.
