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What to wear in Japan in Summer

What to wear in Japan in Summer

Do you want to know what to wear in Japan in Summer? Summer in Japan, no matter whether you are on Honshu or in Hokkaido is classified as June, July, and August. However it can be a challenge to pack for with the hot but rainy summer weather. But with our handy Japan summer packing list we aim to make packing easier.

In this guide you will learn:

  • what to expect from the Summer weather in Japan by region and month,
  • What to wear in Japan in Summer for weather, dress codes and more and
  • any special events that may affect your Japan Summer packing list.

Weather in Japan in Summer


Japan in summer is renowned for its hot and humid weather especially on Honshu while on the Northern Island of Hokkaido you will find the summer weather slightly cooler.

How hot is Japan in Summer?

View of Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji in Summer
what to pack for Japan in Summer (June, July and August)

The temperatures in Japan vary greatly by region. July and August are typically the hottest months and you can expect temperatures to range from: 70 to 90 °F / 21 to 32 °C.

We recommend having lots of light layers in natural fabrics such as cottons and linens to help reduce sweating especially for days when you are spending lots of time outside such as at Fuji, Fushimi inari and other outdoor attractions.

Note: as Hokkaido tends to have different weather to the rest of Japan we have written up a specific Hokkaido Summer packing list here.

And if you are traveling to Japan in another season be sure to check out our other guides:

How rainy is Japan in Summer?

June and July tends to be rainy monsoon season in Japan known as tsuyu locally. The rainy season can put some people traveling at this time, however we traveled to Japan in Summer and loved it, even if we did encounter a hurricane.

But just because you are travelling in rainy season don’t expect to see rain every day. Some days have downpours while others will be bright a sunny.

For this reason we recommend packing a compact travel umbrella and some lightweight waterproofs should you encounter rain but aren’t too onerous to travel around with if you get a dry day.

Note: we always recommend checking the forecast at your destination(s) 7 days out from travel to make sure there are no expected weather fronts i.e. heatwaves or cold snaps.

What to Wear in Japan in Summer

Woman wearing strappy top in Japan with Tokyo tower in background
What to wear in Japan in Summer (June, July or August)

What to Wear in Japan for Women

Rain Jacket

The summer temperatures mean you don’t need a thick rain coat with you. However, a packaway rain jacket is a must.

Lots of Japan attractions are outdoors such as the bamboo forest or the temples in Kyoto for instance. Therefore we recommend having a pack away rain jacket. This is esential if you get caught in the rain but is easy to store when not needed.

Click here to shop jackets for Japan.

Pants / Shorts

When looking at the best pants for Japan in Summer we recommend steering clear of jeans. They are uncomfortable in the rain and too hot for most weather.

Instead we recommend linen pants and smart tailored shorts.

Skirts and Dresses

On top of trousers I will usually add a couple of dresses or skirts to the packing list

Personally I prefer to wear skirts and dresses in a maxi or midi length and during a rainy period I tend to stick to midi dresses so the ends of my dress don’t get wet in puddles.

T Shirts

T Shirts are a great base for Japan whatever Summer month you are visiting. At this time of year I recommend packing short sleeve tees in natural fabrics and plain colors to make them work in a capsule wardrobe more easily.

Click here to shop t shirts.

Blouse


On top of t shirts I also recommend packing some nice blouses that can be used in restaurants and smarter places. I try to stick to blouses made of natural fabrics such as linen and cottons.


Layers


Even in Summer a couple of lightweight layers are a good idae. I usually pack a hoodie for casual daytime sightseeing and some waterfall light cardigans tooo.

Shop layers for Japan here.

PJs

As the weather is hot we recommend packing lightweight nightwear.

Swimwear (optional)

No matter the season of travel I would always add some swimwear to your packing list. There are lots of spas and onsens to visit.

Underwear and Socks

Goes without saying. We recommend packing sneaker socks.

What to pack for Japan in Summer for Men

The packing list for men is quite similar as the ladies packing list for Japan in Summer and we recommend packing:

Rain coat

A packaway is best.

T Shirts and Shirts

We recommend natural fabric short sleeve t shirts and some shirts.

Pants / Shorts

We recommend steering clear of jeans and wearing natural fabric pants and some smarter tailored shorts.

Shop men’s travel chinos here.

Layers

Light layers are best.

Underwear, Socks and Pjs

Best Shoes for Japan in Summer

Waterproof Shoes

For Japan in Spring I recommend having at least one pair of waterproof shoes with you. I personally like the Ecco Soft Seven waterproof sneakers.

Sandals

As the temperatures soar you will want a pair of breathable shoes. We recommend sandals. As there is a lot of walking over uneven surfaces in the historic centers of Kyoto and Toyko and at temples and mountains. For this reason we recommend something like a Teva which is great for walking in.

What to pack for Japan in Summer (June, July and August -Non Clothing

Woman walking through Tokyo in summer holding a coffee
What to wear in Japan in Summer (June, July or August)


  • Crossbody Bag  – I always travel with this type of bag as it is a great pickpocket deterrent anywhere in the world. I didn’t find Japan a particularly unsafe place but this is a staple on all of my travel packing lists.
  • Backpack – for storing items on your day trips. If there is going to be very haevy rain during your travel you may also want a waterproof cover.
  • Universal Travel adaptor – Japan uses two types of plug a and b. Therefore you will absolutely need a universal travel adaptor whether you are coming from UK, USA or Australia.
  • Power Pack / battery packs
  • Camera
  • Travel First Aid Kit
  • Blister plasters
  • Sunscreen
  • Toiletries – for our essential toiletries packing list click here. These could be purchased in the big cities easily, however it can be easier when not familiar with language to have them packed with you

FAQs About this Japan in Spring Packing List

Image of woman walking street in Kyoto with a cherry blossom


So now you know what to pack for Japan in Summer we will answer your most frequently asked questions,

Is it OK to wear shorts in Japan?

Yes it is ok to wear shorts in Japan. In fact we recommend packing shorts for the summer weather.

Can you wear jeans in Japan in Summer?

There are no dress code reasons to say you can’t wear jeans however we avoid them. Summers in Japan are hot and humid. So I find you either feel too hot in Jeans or they get wet and they become uncomfortable.

Instead we recommend natural fabrics like linen and cottons and shorts.

Have you been to Japan in Spring? What did you wear? We would love you to tell us in the comments below!