荷造り · Packing for Tokyo

What to Pack for Tokyo by Season: A Complete Packing Guide

Real weather, real walking, real laundry — what to bring (and not bring) for a Tokyo trip in any season

PackingSeasonsFirst-TimersPractical

Tokyo's seasons are sharper than most international travelers expect — humid, hot summers; mild but rainy autumns; cold dry winters; warm wet springs. Pack for the wrong season and you spend the trip uncomfortable. Pack right and Tokyo's walking-heavy days feel effortless.

This guide covers what to actually pack — by season — based on Tokyo's real weather patterns and the rhythm of a typical foreign-tourist trip. Plus the essentials that travel light but are hard to find at the destination.

The Universal Must-Brings (Any Season)

Regardless of season, every Tokyo trip needs these:

• Comfortable walking shoes (broken in!). 10–15 km of walking per day is normal. New shoes = blisters by day 3.
• Umbrella or compact rain jacket. Rain is possible in any season.
• Power bank. Phones drain fast on foreign networks + maps + photos.
• International power adapter. Japan uses Type A plugs (same as US, two flat pins). 100V (most US/Canada appliances work; UK/EU need converters).
• Cash card with no foreign-transaction fee. Plus a backup card.
• Small daypack/backpack. For daily use; keep main suitcase at hotel.
• Reusable water bottle. Tap water is safe; vending machines are everywhere.
• Handkerchief/small towel. Many public toilets lack paper towels or hand dryers.
• Small plastic bag for trash. Public bins are rare.
• Passport + photocopy. Required for tax-free shopping and hotel check-in.

The shoes rule: if you remember one thing from this guide, it is shoes. Tokyo is a walking city. Comfortable, broken-in shoes are non-negotiable. Replace your travel shoes 2 weeks before the trip if they are worn out.

Spring (March–May)

Weather

• March: 8–14°C, can be cold. Last winter chills.
• April (cherry blossom season): 11–19°C, mild. Occasional rain.
• May: 16–23°C, perfect weather, often sunny.

What to pack

• Layers. Mornings cold, afternoons warm. T-shirt + long-sleeve + light sweater + light jacket.
• Light rain jacket / compact umbrella. April-May has occasional showers.
• Comfortable shoes — closed-toe still recommended (mornings cold).
• Sunglasses for late April-May.
• Light scarf — useful in the evening.
• Allergy medication if you have hay fever — Japan's sugi (cedar) pollen season is March-April and can be brutal.

What NOT to bring

• Heavy winter coat (March only — even then a wool sweater + jacket is enough).
• Shorts (May is when shorts start to make sense).

Summer (June–August)

Weather

• June (rainy season): 21–27°C, humid, often raining.
• July: 24–31°C, hot and humid.
• August: 26–33°C, peak heat. Brutal humidity.

What to pack

• Lightweight, breathable clothing. Cotton or moisture-wicking fabrics. NOT polyester.
• Shorts and t-shirts — informal Tokyo accepts these.
• Sandals + sneakers. Sandals for hot days, sneakers for walking.
• Hand fan (sensu) — locals carry them; you will too.
• Cooling wipes / sweat wipes (汗ふきシート) — at any konbini, ¥300. Essential.
• Compact umbrella — for both rain (June) and sun (July-August).
• Sunscreen — spf 50+ widely available locally.
• Light long-sleeve top — for over-air-conditioned restaurants and trains.
• Insect repellent if doing outdoor activities (parks, day trips).

What NOT to bring

• Heavy denim or thick fabrics — will be miserable.
• Black clothing for outdoor walks (heat absorption).
• Extra heavy luggage — laundry is easy.

The summer reality: July-August Tokyo humidity is something many international travelers find shocking. Multiple shirt changes per day are normal. Pack 1.5x more shirts than you would for similar temperatures elsewhere.

Autumn (September–November)

Weather

• September: 21–27°C. Typhoon season; some heavy rain days.
• October: 16–22°C. The best weather of the year — clear, dry, comfortable.
• November (foliage peak): 9–17°C. Cool to cold by evening.

What to pack

• Layers. Long sleeves + light sweater + jacket combination.
• Light scarf for evening.
• Comfortable shoes. No special considerations — autumn is the easiest weather.
• Light rain jacket for September.
• Compact umbrella.
• Sweater for late November. Mornings can drop to single digits.

What NOT to bring

• Shorts (early September only — by mid-September it cools).
• Heavy winter coat (overkill for November).

Winter (December–February)

Weather

• December: 6–12°C. Cold but dry. Famously clear skies.
• January: 2–10°C. Coldest month. Occasional snow (rare to settle).
• February: 3–10°C. Cold but starting to warm.

What to pack

• Warm coat. Down or wool. Tokyo's cold is dry, so a single warm layer + base layer is usually enough.
• Thermal underwear (heat-tech). Uniqlo HEATTECH is widely sold locally — you can buy on arrival.
• Hat, gloves, scarf.
• Sweaters / fleeces — mid-layers.
• Comfortable warm shoes. Closed-toe, weatherproof if possible.
• Lip balm and moisturizer — Tokyo winter is very dry.
• Sunglasses for clear winter days.
• Compact umbrella — winter rain is rare but happens.

What NOT to bring

• Snow boots — only useful for ski trips, not central Tokyo.
• Heavy parka (Tokyo is not Hokkaido — too warm for arctic gear).

Heating quirk: Japanese hotels and apartments use room-by-room heaters, not central heating. Hallways and bathrooms are cold even when bedrooms are warm. Pack indoor slippers if your feet get cold.

Tech Essentials

• Phone with eSIM-capable hardware (iPhone XS+, most Android flagships 2018+).
• Pre-purchased eSIM from Airalo or Klook (see our Tokyo eSIM & SIM Guide).
• Power bank, 10,000 mAh+.
• Charging cables for all your devices.
• Universal travel adapter if your devices don't have Type A pins.
• Voltage converter if your hairdryer/electric razor is 220V (Japan is 100V).
• Camera with extra battery if not using phone.
• Headphones / AirPods for the long flights and trains.

Documents

• Passport — required at all hotels.
• Visa (or visa-waiver confirmation) if applicable.
• Travel insurance — Japan medical care is excellent but expensive without insurance.
• Vaccination records if your home country recommends them.
• Allergy card in Japanese if you have severe allergies. Print one online before flying.
• Hotel booking confirmations (printed or screenshots).
• Photocopy of passport ID page — leave one in hotel safe, carry one with you.
• JR Pass exchange voucher if you bought one online.

Money

• Two debit/credit cards from different banks. One in wallet, one in hotel safe.
• Some local cash on arrival (¥10,000–¥30,000 to start).
• Cards without foreign-transaction fees are essential. Wise, Revolut, Schwab Bank Visa are popular options.
• Notify your bank of your travel dates to avoid card freezes.
• Don't bring travelers checks — almost no one accepts them anymore.

Things You DON'T Need to Bring

Save space. These are easier (and often cheaper) to buy in Tokyo:

• Toiletries — every konbini and drugstore (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sundrug) has toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, shampoo, soap.
• HEATTECH thermal layers — Uniqlo flagship in Ginza or Shinjuku, ¥990 a piece.
• Umbrella — ¥600 at any konbini if it rains. Many travelers buy in Tokyo and leave behind.
• Phone chargers — Daiso (¥110) and konbini (¥800) sell USB cables.
• Trash bags / ziplocks — Daiso has them.
• Razor, shaving cream — drugstores.
• Hair products — Tokyo has its own brands; experiment.
• Books in English — Kinokuniya and Tsutaya stock English titles.

Items Many Travelers Forget

• Compact lock for hotel room safe (some safes are flimsy).
• Earplugs for the long flights.
• Eye mask for the same.
• Probiotics / digestive aids — diet change can affect stomachs.
• Cold/flu medication in Japanese pharmacies requires basic Japanese; bring familiar pills.
• Small first-aid kit — band-aids, painkillers, antacids.
• Backup pair of contact lenses / glasses.
• Quick-dry towel for ryokan stays or onsen day trips.
• Plastic bags / packing cubes for organizing.

Luggage Strategy

• One medium suitcase (60–70L) plus a daypack is ideal for most trips.
• Carry-on only works for trips under 5 days; Japan does not require checked bags for most travelers.
• Don't pack to capacity. Leave 30–40% empty space for souvenirs and Tokyo shopping.
• Hard-shell suitcases roll better on Tokyo's varied surfaces (subway transitions, station stairs).
• Wheels matter: 4-wheel spinners are easier in train stations than 2-wheel rollers.

Luggage forwarding (takkyubin)

Japan has the world's best luggage delivery service — Yamato Takkyubin. Send your suitcase from the airport directly to your hotel for ¥1,800–¥2,500, arriving the same day or next morning. Available at every airport and convenience store. Essential for travelers planning multi-city trips or arriving with heavy bags.

Laundry

• Coin laundry (コインランドリー) in residential areas — wash + dry ¥800–¥1,200.
• Hotel laundry service — convenient but expensive (¥500–¥1,000 per shirt).
• In-room washing — pack a small bottle of laundry detergent for hand-washing in hotel sinks.
• Apartment hotels (MIMARU, Citadines) usually have in-room washers.

For trips longer than 7 days, plan one laundry day. You'll pack 30% lighter.

Cultural Considerations

• Modest dress at temples and shrines. No specific code, but tank tops and very short shorts are eye-catching at religious sites.
• Tattoos and onsen. Many traditional onsen still ban visible tattoos. Pack tattoo-cover patches if relevant.
• Slip-on shoes for ryokan and traditional restaurants where you remove shoes at the entrance.
• Smart casual for nicer restaurants — Tokyo dress codes are less formal than Paris but more than Bangkok.

Sample Packing List by Trip Length

5-day spring trip (carry-on only)

• 4 t-shirts, 2 long-sleeves, 1 light sweater, 1 light jacket
• 2 pairs of pants, 1 pair of shorts (May only)
• 5 pairs underwear + socks
• 1 pair walking shoes + flip-flops for hotel
• Compact umbrella, sunglasses, daypack
• Toiletries (small sizes), tech kit, documents

10-day winter trip (medium suitcase)

• 1 down jacket, 2 sweaters, 4 long-sleeve tops, 6 t-shirts
• 3 pairs of pants, thermal base layers
• 10 underwear + socks
• Hat, gloves, scarf
• 1 pair warm walking shoes + indoor slippers
• Lip balm, moisturizer, hand cream
• Toiletries, tech kit, documents
• Reserve 30% suitcase space for souvenirs

Practical Tips

• Roll, don't fold. Saves space, fewer wrinkles.
• Packing cubes are worth the small investment.
• Layer light over thick. 2 thin shirts beat 1 thick sweater for adapting to indoor heating/cooling.
• Buy the rest in Tokyo. Don Quijote, konbini, and Daiso solve almost any forgotten essential.
• Photograph your packed suitcase before leaving. Useful for insurance claims if lost.

Now Plan What to Do

Once your bag is packed, see our 3-Day Itinerary or Best Time to Visit Tokyo for the rest of trip planning.