When I read articles about weather and seasons in Japan, most of them give information about the temperature in every season. Although it is great information, the problem is, I come from a tropical country where the seasons are the rainy season, hot summer and even hotter summer! The lowest temperature I have experienced when I live in a corner of one of South East Asia’s countries is around 16°C. I pretty much have no idea how cold 0°C is.
Coming from this cluelessness, one time I ended up shivering miserably in one of the happiest places on earth, Disneyland, because I didn’t wear proper clothing. I hope this post can give better ideas on how Tokyo’s winter feels like, what to expect, and most importantly what to pack and shop. So here we go!
Overall winter situation
Winter in Tokyo is considered moderate and happens from December to February. The temperature falls between 10°C to a low -2°C in the coldest month, which is January. The northern part of Japan is typically colder and has lots of snow and getting warmer towards the south. Tokyo itself is approximately in the center of the Japan archipelago. In Tokyo, snow is pretty rare, which only happens for a few days in the entire winter season. So if you are able to witness Tokyo covered in snow, you are considered lucky!
It is often rainy and windy in winter which makes it feel even colder than the temperature reading. In the weather around this temperature, what I feel is some tingling sensation on my exposed skin, like my face. In Sapporo where it’s around -4°C when I visited, I felt this tingling is stronger. If I stay outside for too long, my mouth and fingers become a little numb and hard to move and I start to shiver. Usually, I use this as a sign to find a warm place or food. I also noticed that I have cracked skin and itchiness because of the dry air. Please note that people have different tolerance to cold weather. Some people might feel a stronger sensation than mine, some might not.
Clothes layering 101
The key to staying warm outside in winter is to put on the right layers of clothing with the right fabric. Once my local friend told me, it’s important not to put on too many layers of clothing since it will make us sweat easily and end up feeling chilly and damp. Also, in winter most shops and restaurants have heaters, often making a contrast temperature between indoors and outdoors. We want to avoid getting sweaty when going indoors and then go straight to the cold air outside.
The basic guide for clothes layering is:
Base layer
Simply put, it’s the first layer next to the skin that needs to keep us as warm and dry as possible. Instead of the usual cotton t-shirt or leggings, getting the thermal ones in will make a difference because they come in different materials. Uniqlo (a famous Japanese clothing brand) has a great selection of thermal clothing under the line Heattech at a reasonable price. They usually come in lots of colors and styles. A good strategy is, to bring some thermal clothes enough for a few days, then shop in Japan because it’s cheaper and they often have discounts.
What works: thermal leggings, long sleeve tops, tank tops.
Recommended fabric: polyester, nylon,cotton-acrylic, merino wool.
Middle layer
Placed next to the base layer, used to add more warmth and lock in heat from our bodies. When it’s not too cold, flannel shirts are great too. The middle and outer layers are the fun part where I mix and match according to mood and style.
What works: sweater, cardigans, fleece jacket, down vest, light down jacket.
Recommended fabric: wool, fleece, down.
Outer layer
This one is used to protect us from wind and rain. Down jacket is my favorite choice, especially for traveling because it’s lightweight yet warm. For winter under 10°C, best to choose the thicker ones, with windproof and waterproof quality.
What works: insulated down jacket, puffer coat, overcoat, synthetic insulated jacket.
Recommended fabric: wool, quilted fabric, fleece.
Layering for kids
Now that we are ready to go out and about, we might wonder, will this layering work on kids too? The answer is yes with a little adjustment. It’s no secret that kids move a lot more than adults. My kids run, jump, and play no matter how cold it is outside. For this reason, paying attention to the choice of fabric is also important. For the base layer, avoid cotton. Cotton absorbs sweat and holds in moisture, making it damp when they are sweating.
My kids also don’t like it if their clothing is too bulky. Sometimes they want me to take it off because they said it’s too hot, but after a while, they don’t stop complaining because it’s too cold. After many battles about this, I figured that it’s better to pick light to medium-thickness clothing for the middle layer.
The outer layer is non-negotiable, although my littlest one really likes to take things to the next level by refusing to wear it every time we go out. Because of this, I have additional tips. If your kid is “fashion conscience” like mine, it’s a good idea to shop for the jacket together and let them pick the ones in their favorite color or character. When going outside, mostly only the jacket is visible so she always says “Why do I have to wear the same jacket every day?”. But when it’s her favorite, she happily wears them and saves us time and frustration.
Remember that putting on these layers of clothes and winter accessories on kids takes more time. Trust me, adding an extra time allowance to get ready before going out will make a big difference in everyone’s mood.
I also have a list of winter essentials that will help:
Insulated pants
Keeping warm should not be limited to our upper body because the lower part is just as important. In my experience, jeans and cotton leggings are not enough to keep us warm in winter. Try to pick a pair of pants that has fleece on the inside lining. Slim-fit pants tend to be warmer because the cold air can’t get to our skin from the bottom side. If you can’t find these, layering the outer pants with leggings will work too. When layering, always check the best fit and thickness on you to not restrict movement since we will most likely walk a lot when exploring. I like the combination of thin Uniqlo’s Heattech polyester leggings and my favorite tapered pants. When in the mood for cute style, skirts and thermal leggings guarantee a great combination.
Scarfs and hats
Great additional warmth to the neck and ears. Elevating style too!
Gloves
Using thermal gloves can be helpful for those who are more sensitive to cold weather. Bonus if the gloves are smartphone-friendly, which means we don’t have to take out our gloves every time we need to use our phones.
Thick socks
Don’t forget to keep your toes warm with socks. Wool is still the best fabric because it has the quality for insulating even when it’s wet. This will be helpful when we are caught in the rain.
Moisturizer
Dry air can be harsh for our skin. It can make our skin feel itchy, cracked, and flaky. I didn’t even realize this kind of problem until our first winter when my family kept scratching themselves all day long. I did not get itchy as much, though my face felt dry and stiff. Our skin also started to have a white flaky layer on it, which didn’t look and feel good. Moisturizers and lip balm really help to keep us away from these skin problems.
Sunscreen
Even though it’s cold, on sunny days UV level is still high, so don’t leave out sunscreen.
Additional: kairo, face mask
Kairo (カイロ) is a Japanese pocket heating pad. It’s basically a small and lightweight pouch containing powder or liquid that generates warmth for a few hours. There are a few types, that can be used to warm hands and feet, also the ones that we can stick on the clothes. Easy to find in drugstores and stores like Don Quijote (Donki) and Daiso in winter. Be sure to know which types you are using, as the stickable ones can cause allergic reactions when applied to the skin. Be careful when giving kairo to kids, because some types might be too hot for them.
Face masks are not only helpful for keeping away viruses. In winter it works as a ‘blanket’ for the face when it’s windy.
Conclusion
For some people who have never experienced winter, imagining winter feels mysterious and magical. But in reality, being unprepared in cold weather left me feeling miserable. The solution is simply to pick the right clothing and wear it according to the layering principle: base, middle, and outer layer. Don’t forget to wear winter accessories that will keep us nice and warm while exploring and experiencing the magic of the winter season.