What to Wear in Tokyo: A Guide for April

Before we went to Tokyo I agonised over what to pack! I knew I wanted to pack light (because we were also visiting Osaka and Kyoto and had to take the bullet train) but still look stylish, because Japanese women are so famously fashion-conscious.

We’re going back to Tokyo again this April, and I’ve already started trawling the blogosphere for outfit ideas and inspiration, which is what inspired me to write this post.

I don’t claim to be some epic fashionista, but I do like to look good when we travel. And I’m also a big fan of being respectful and blending in with the locals too.

So if you’re wondering what to wear in Tokyo in April then here are all the outfits I wore during our visit and some hints and tips to pack your own capsule wardrobe for Tokyo that will make you look and feel good!

Top Tips For What To Wear In Tokyo

So what should you pack if you’re going to Tokyo? And perhaps more importantly, what shouldn’t you pack? Here are my top tips for what to wear in Tokyo:

• Packing a capsule wardrobe means choosing pieces that all go together. I went with black jeans and blue jeans, black and white t-shirts and sweatshirts, and my favourite black blazer because these pieces matched with everything. The only exceptions to this were the more vibrant t-shirts I packed for Disneyland and Sanrio Puroland.
  
• I then packed a statement leopard print skirt and my favourite khaki trench coat to add a little fashion. All these pieces could be layered (because the weather in Tokyo in April can be unpredictable) and they all matched to minimise what I packed.

• Dress modestly. You won’t see cleavage on display in Japan, and I chose to respect the cultural norms by dressing modestly throughout our stay. No flesh on display! Even on our warmest day in Tokyo Disneyland where I wanted to wear my denim shorts, I put cooling tights underneath to cover my skin.
  
• Wear comfortable shoes – you will do SO MUCH walking! We averaged over 20,000 steps a day. I took my most comfortable trainers and my favourite flat black leather boots. Taking 2 pairs of shoes meant I could alternate them, and this really helped ensure my feet were comfortable. I took boots (instead of 2 pairs of trainers) so I would have something slightly smarter to wear in the evening without having to pack a third pair of shoes.

• Pack plenty of layers! Spring in Tokyo is very similar to Spring in London. We started the day in our jumpers and jackets and by the afternoon these were in our backpacks as we wandered around in T shirts (bring a backpack or tote bag to carry around these extra layers).
  
• Remember your socks! We buy new socks especially for our travelers to Japan. Shoes aren’t worn indoors in Japan (including in dressing rooms in department stores) and I promise you won’t want to embarrassment of having a hole in your toe when you take your shoes off.

• Pack plenty of accessories. Not normal advice for packing a capsule wardrobe, but I got bored wearing the same two colours for two weeks. So I packed plenty of small accessories: jewellery, sunglasses, brightly coloured lipsticks. This meant I could make identical outfits look different every time.
  
• If you want to pack light then there are some things you don’t need to pack at all. Most hotels in Tokyo will provide pyjamas to wear and they also provide basic toiletries, saving you plenty of space in your suitcase if you have limited luggage allowance.

• Leave the perfume at home! Did you know that people in Japan rarely wear perfume? It’s considered impolite to wear a scent others might not like when you’re in such close quarters. Some high end restaurants will even refuse entry if you’re wearing an overpowering scent.
  
• Do pack deodorant. You can’t buy aerosol deodorant in Japan, so make sure that you pack one if you’re used to using it. Without perfume and deodorant, I would smell very unpleasant indeed, so this is ‘must pack’ for me!

Do you have any additional hints and tips to share? What are your ‘must pack’ for travelling to Japan? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!

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