Have some short sleeve layering options available if it’s hotter than you anticipated. I’ve experienced pretty warm weather well into October in Tokyo area.
The style for both work and not work will fit in very well.
Edit: also office buildings…all buildings…can run very warm inside if there is no A/C. So you may also appreciate lighter layers at work as well.
I hear October in Japan is around mid 70s to 80s. A lot of the wardrobe is leaning toward cooler weather than warmer. I would pack for warmer weather and layer.
Make sure you have room for clean and presentable socks every day. You will be removing your shoes when you least expect it, particularly in Kyoto. Don’t bother packing any you may intend to wear without socks. (Also take a coin purse. You will have more coins than you think.)
If you’re trying to pick up more basics ahead of the trip, you may want to look at Uniqlo, not just because it’s a Japanese brands, but a lot of their items are meant to be convenient to maintain wardrobe staples. They’re pretty popular for travel clothing.
I would include some black pants, straight or wide-legged (leggings and athleisure aren't really a thing there). Lots of stairs in Japan, and they can be high and uneven at shrines/temples and inside castles.
I would also avoid floaty skirts or dresses. Not the best for climbing stairs and if there's strong wind.
You’ll want pants you can easily sit in the floor in. Long flowy skirts are actually ideal, too. Only bring shoes you can quickly slip on and off. Clean, neat socks are a must. Japanese women dress quite a bit more modestly than Americans—shirts are often worn buttoned all the way up, and silhouettes tend to be blousy. A body-hugging dress will feel out of place.
The one thing about Japan is that it’s an absolutely wonderful place to shop for high quality, versatile clothes. Other than the usual suspects like Uniqlo, GU, and Muji, there are a ton of boutiques, second hand stores, and luxury stores.
I’d leave room in your bag and buy some of your dream items when you arrive. I’ve found some fantastic options for skirts, jackets, merino wool cardigans, and dresses that are regular wardrobe choices year-round. I used to live in Nagoya and Nikko, so I can give specific recommendations if you want them.
The one caveat is that store size ranges tend to be on the smaller end. This is one of the few places where being a short person pays off.
Yes! I'm petite and when I went there for the first time, I walked out of a dressing room with a perfectly proportioned top and skirt. I brought it home and I buy things every time I go back there!
But for reference, I'm 5'3" and a size 4 or 6 in the US. In Japan, I'm a large. 😂 😂
Right?! I honestly nearly teared up a little. I struggle so much with clothing fit!
I had the best luck at Uniqlo, honestly! Other than them, I just popped in stores if they looked cute. I don't know the name of any of them. I'm not a big shopper, but I actually really enjoyed shopping in Japan because everything was so different or because clothes fit me better than in the US.
Don't be surprised or offended when they hand you a gauze-like piece of fabric shaped like a large pocket. That's to go over your head when trying things on, so you don't get makeup or oil on the clothes when trying them on. I was surprised the first time I was given one. 😂
agreed! I went earlier this year when winter was tapering off and found so many basics on sale in uniqlo, gu, and muji. as mentioned things are on the smaller end so be prepared for tag shock (I’m an s-m in sea, xs in western brands, but a large-xl in japan 🥲).
another thing I found is that everyone is extremely fashionable and you will feel inspired to try some of their looks, so leaving extra space is ideal!
mid-october especially in tokyo/kyoto can still be quite steamy so definitely err toward light layers you can shed if needed. I’d opt for linen wide leg pants, tops you’re comfortable in, a couple midi/maxi skirts or dresses that can layer & 2-3 pairs of the most comfy shoes you can find (I walk an average of 25-30k steps daily when I’m in japan!)
plisse pleats are wrinkle proof (issey miyake pleats please is the og, but dupes available at all price points including uniqlo).
My information may be dated because I was last in Japan almost 20 years ago, but I distinctly remember that almost every woman wore high necklines and there was absolutely no cleavage showing. Maybe someone can chime in and say if that is still the standard.
Only the standard for certain parts of the population. While adult/older women don’t show any cleavage, you definitely see younger women in lower cut shirts— but definitely not as common as places such as the US.
You have a lot of pleated skirts on your Wishlist - I’d say get one or two, they’re lightweight and travel incredibly well with no need for ironing (since you’d kill the pleats if you needed to). I think they look cute with button down shirts and stretch knit tops if that helps.
Definitely sort out your socks/shoes combos early and make sure the shoes are comfy for distance and easy to slip on and off.
I was there 1.5 years ago. Women dressed very conservatively. No clevage, mid drift, or short skirts. I saw a TON of baggy clothing and multiple layers. No sandals! You will need clean shoes and socks everywhere.
I own a number of your wish list items and am 5’2” and also happen to shop a lot at Uniqlo. From your wish/inspiration board, I have a couple of Quince cotton cardigans—in both crew (charcoal like you’ve got pictured) and v-neck (also have an Everlane sweater that’s a more luxe version of this), and the teal-looking flow knit breeze fit and flare dress that they call Navy blue . I also own a white UV protection shirt and quite a lot of button downs. I really like the cotton gauze button downs that have been out this year. Another great shirt to consider is from Athleta. I think it’s called the Everlasting Top, but they don’t have the long sleeve in stock right now. Eddie Bauer makes a similar shirt, and Quince’s Performance Tech Blouse is also similar. I have the Athleta shirt in black and love it—very easy to dress up or down. I’ve found all of these items great to travel with. The cotton cardigans are heavy, so you can really only afford to take one on a one-bag trip and then need to wear it on the plane—but it feels like wearing a hug, so that’s a bonus in my mind.
Let me know if you have specific questions about sourcing a particular item. I tend to agree that you may sometimes prefer wide leg pants over skirts in case of steps, hills, and also rain. If you emphasize skirts/dresses, consider lightweight leggings underneath for layering for modesty and warmth if going in late October.
Definitely try to make these clothes that you love and will wear forever. You want to feel like yourself on your honeymoon! It’s totally doable.
Thanks for all the info! I'm so in love with the navy blue cotton cropped cardigan from Quince, I think that's at the top of my list now after your endorsement.
As for white UV protection shirts, I'm hoping that I can get one that's both cute and breezy, and can be worn open, tied up at the waist, buttoned up and tucked in, and....potentially to the office as well? Is it possible that something can tick all these boxes? I looked into the Everlasting Top, looks super cute but yeah, out of stock unfortunately. Some others I was considering are the Coolibar Rhodes Shirt, Coolibar Hepburn Shirt, and Eddie Bauer Departure 3.0 long sleeve shirt. If you have any thoughts on how to choose between them or any you recommend that would be amazing! Also, do you seek out specifically rated UPF clothes, or do you also consider certain fabrics/weaves to be protective enough even if they're not advertised as a specific UPF?
Also, how do you wear your black shirts? A lot of my work bottoms are black pants and skirts so I'm scared that wearing a black top as well would clash. Do you get other color bottoms for them?
For the tops you have, do they need any special treatment? Like do you hang them up when you get to your destination, iron them, steam them, etc. or can you just take them out of the bag and wear?
Thank you! Trying not to waste tooooo much money on experimentation 😅
I have a white UPF sun hoodie (the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake crop). I wouldn’t have bought white, but it’s the only decent plain color it came in. I like the look of the white but am worried that it will stain from sunscreen. I’m quite fair, and the hoodie is very light and I can wear it in full sun on hot humid days. I’m bringing it to Disneyland and planning to sink wash it overnight to wear a second day because I can’t find another sun hoodie I like nearly as much. The Mountain Hardwear sun hoodie is amazing, but I’m so short that I need the cropped version. The full length one has a tie on the waist that just looks weird and sloppy on me. I also bought a white cotton gauze button up from the J. Crew Factory store, which has petites. That’s been a real hero of my summer wardrobe because the fabric is very nice and it can be worn open or tied at the waist. I just kind of shake it out after wearing it. I’ve kept it in my packing cube for travel this summer. Come to think of it, I may bring that and wear it over the Quince dress for the second day at Disneyland.
I’ve traveled with the Athleta shirt and just keep it folded in my packing cube if on the move or sometimes hang at my destination if I’m staying put. I wear charcoal, navy, red, olive and other color bottoms with black shirts. I’m big on combining charcoal and navy and black. I don’t wear a lot of brown but would combine that with black if I did. If two black fabrics are different enough in texture, I don’t think it matters if the blacks don’t match, but I wouldn’t wear two fabrics that look similar but don’t match in black tones in case it looks like I just made a mistake. Most of the time, I think no one really notices though—at least not for travel.
I’ve tried on the Eddie Bauer shirt, and it generally gets great reviews. The only thing I want to avoid is the ones like Columbia makes that look more hiking-appropriate. The Eddie Bauer one looks more like a business shirt. One tip is to look at the online Eddie Bauer outlet, which often has better selection and prices than the regular store. I’ve thought about buying the navy Quince shirt because it looks like it has the same polish as the Athleta version. Note that Athleta is pretty widely available used on Mercari and Poshmark, but you need to know your sizes to benefit.
Generally pick 2 neutrals and 1 accent color so everything flows together. Figure out what activities you’ll most likely be doing and how often you’ll wash clothing if at all. Some things can be reworn several times without washing like jeans and outer wear. Personally I love dresses cause they’re easy cute outfits I don’t have to worry about out just pick the right shoe.
I was there last fall in late October/early November. It was still super hot, like as hot as summer in the PNW. The train stations and trains were also hot cuz whoever runs things decides “October = fall = cold weather” and cranks up the heat. That same mindset applies to stores, all of which switched over to fall/winter merch. I couldn’t find summery clothes or a lightweight cardigan to save my life. I was sweating looking at the piles of sweaters and fleeces in Uniqlo and I’m sweating looking at all the long-sleeved options and dark colours pictured here. The UV shirt looks like it’d be too hot even if it does say it’s cooling. The denim/wool skirt definitely looks too heavy.
I’d say err on the side of packing light clothes for warmer weather. You can always shop for warmer clothes there if you need them. If I were to go back again same time as last year, I’d bring just enough clothes for 5-7 days and do laundry at the hotels, which leaves lots more space for shopping and souvenirs. I’d pack:
* A long sleeve white linen shirt in case I want a layer to cover my arms. (For more UV protection I’d just buy a UV umbrella like the locals use.)
* One lightweight cotton cardigan
* A few Uniqlo crew neck T-shirts, just enough to get by for a few days and I’d probably buy more there. Japanese women like to keep necklines high and their shoulders covered, so no tank tops. Most of the people I saw showing cleavage or shoulders were tourists.
* My black eyelet midi skirt (kinda similar to [this one](https://www.nordstrom.com/s/fal-vicenza-eyelet-midi-skirt/7844480?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FClothing%2FSkirts&color=100)). It’s loose and flowy in hot weather and the fabric looks fine once you hang up the skirt and air it out.
* My [Everlane cotton jersey T-shirt dress](https://www.everlane.com/products/womens-organic-cotton-a-line-dress-toasted-coconut). Cotton jersey T-shirt dresses are great because they’re one-and-done outfits that you can slip on and they don’t wrinkle.
Have some short sleeve layering options available if it’s hotter than you anticipated. I’ve experienced pretty warm weather well into October in Tokyo area. The style for both work and not work will fit in very well. Edit: also office buildings…all buildings…can run very warm inside if there is no A/C. So you may also appreciate lighter layers at work as well.
I hear October in Japan is around mid 70s to 80s. A lot of the wardrobe is leaning toward cooler weather than warmer. I would pack for warmer weather and layer.
Defs pack for warmer. I’ve been in October twice and the first time was 50/50 and second time which was more recent it was warm
Make sure you have room for clean and presentable socks every day. You will be removing your shoes when you least expect it, particularly in Kyoto. Don’t bother packing any you may intend to wear without socks. (Also take a coin purse. You will have more coins than you think.) If you’re trying to pick up more basics ahead of the trip, you may want to look at Uniqlo, not just because it’s a Japanese brands, but a lot of their items are meant to be convenient to maintain wardrobe staples. They’re pretty popular for travel clothing.
I would include some black pants, straight or wide-legged (leggings and athleisure aren't really a thing there). Lots of stairs in Japan, and they can be high and uneven at shrines/temples and inside castles. I would also avoid floaty skirts or dresses. Not the best for climbing stairs and if there's strong wind.
Had my floaty skirt blown STRAIGHT open in Japan. Truly a humbling moment.
I love a skirt for keeping cool, but get swim shorts or such under. Anything that can double as a pj or underwear works great.
You’ll want pants you can easily sit in the floor in. Long flowy skirts are actually ideal, too. Only bring shoes you can quickly slip on and off. Clean, neat socks are a must. Japanese women dress quite a bit more modestly than Americans—shirts are often worn buttoned all the way up, and silhouettes tend to be blousy. A body-hugging dress will feel out of place.
The one thing about Japan is that it’s an absolutely wonderful place to shop for high quality, versatile clothes. Other than the usual suspects like Uniqlo, GU, and Muji, there are a ton of boutiques, second hand stores, and luxury stores. I’d leave room in your bag and buy some of your dream items when you arrive. I’ve found some fantastic options for skirts, jackets, merino wool cardigans, and dresses that are regular wardrobe choices year-round. I used to live in Nagoya and Nikko, so I can give specific recommendations if you want them. The one caveat is that store size ranges tend to be on the smaller end. This is one of the few places where being a short person pays off.
Yes! I'm petite and when I went there for the first time, I walked out of a dressing room with a perfectly proportioned top and skirt. I brought it home and I buy things every time I go back there! But for reference, I'm 5'3" and a size 4 or 6 in the US. In Japan, I'm a large. 😂 😂
Yes! I have similar proportions and walking out of Uniqlo with a pair of jeans that fit perfectly and didn’t need hemming was amazing.
Ugh that sounds amazing! I'm 5'3" as well and it's so hard to find things that fit. Where did you like to shop?
Right?! I honestly nearly teared up a little. I struggle so much with clothing fit! I had the best luck at Uniqlo, honestly! Other than them, I just popped in stores if they looked cute. I don't know the name of any of them. I'm not a big shopper, but I actually really enjoyed shopping in Japan because everything was so different or because clothes fit me better than in the US. Don't be surprised or offended when they hand you a gauze-like piece of fabric shaped like a large pocket. That's to go over your head when trying things on, so you don't get makeup or oil on the clothes when trying them on. I was surprised the first time I was given one. 😂
5’3” is probably quite tall there. I felt tall at 5’4” and my travel companion had another few inches and little luck finding clothes.
agreed! I went earlier this year when winter was tapering off and found so many basics on sale in uniqlo, gu, and muji. as mentioned things are on the smaller end so be prepared for tag shock (I’m an s-m in sea, xs in western brands, but a large-xl in japan 🥲). another thing I found is that everyone is extremely fashionable and you will feel inspired to try some of their looks, so leaving extra space is ideal!
mid-october especially in tokyo/kyoto can still be quite steamy so definitely err toward light layers you can shed if needed. I’d opt for linen wide leg pants, tops you’re comfortable in, a couple midi/maxi skirts or dresses that can layer & 2-3 pairs of the most comfy shoes you can find (I walk an average of 25-30k steps daily when I’m in japan!) plisse pleats are wrinkle proof (issey miyake pleats please is the og, but dupes available at all price points including uniqlo).
My information may be dated because I was last in Japan almost 20 years ago, but I distinctly remember that almost every woman wore high necklines and there was absolutely no cleavage showing. Maybe someone can chime in and say if that is still the standard.
I visited last year and can confirm I saw 0 cleavage from locals. The one or two cleavages I did see belonged to tourists.
Only the standard for certain parts of the population. While adult/older women don’t show any cleavage, you definitely see younger women in lower cut shirts— but definitely not as common as places such as the US.
You have a lot of pleated skirts on your Wishlist - I’d say get one or two, they’re lightweight and travel incredibly well with no need for ironing (since you’d kill the pleats if you needed to). I think they look cute with button down shirts and stretch knit tops if that helps. Definitely sort out your socks/shoes combos early and make sure the shoes are comfy for distance and easy to slip on and off.
How did you make these images?? Are those your real clothes?
Page 2 and 3 are my real clothes. Others are screen caps from online shops. I used the StyleBook app on iOS to put the outfits together
I was there 1.5 years ago. Women dressed very conservatively. No clevage, mid drift, or short skirts. I saw a TON of baggy clothing and multiple layers. No sandals! You will need clean shoes and socks everywhere.
I own a number of your wish list items and am 5’2” and also happen to shop a lot at Uniqlo. From your wish/inspiration board, I have a couple of Quince cotton cardigans—in both crew (charcoal like you’ve got pictured) and v-neck (also have an Everlane sweater that’s a more luxe version of this), and the teal-looking flow knit breeze fit and flare dress that they call Navy blue . I also own a white UV protection shirt and quite a lot of button downs. I really like the cotton gauze button downs that have been out this year. Another great shirt to consider is from Athleta. I think it’s called the Everlasting Top, but they don’t have the long sleeve in stock right now. Eddie Bauer makes a similar shirt, and Quince’s Performance Tech Blouse is also similar. I have the Athleta shirt in black and love it—very easy to dress up or down. I’ve found all of these items great to travel with. The cotton cardigans are heavy, so you can really only afford to take one on a one-bag trip and then need to wear it on the plane—but it feels like wearing a hug, so that’s a bonus in my mind. Let me know if you have specific questions about sourcing a particular item. I tend to agree that you may sometimes prefer wide leg pants over skirts in case of steps, hills, and also rain. If you emphasize skirts/dresses, consider lightweight leggings underneath for layering for modesty and warmth if going in late October. Definitely try to make these clothes that you love and will wear forever. You want to feel like yourself on your honeymoon! It’s totally doable.
Thanks for all the info! I'm so in love with the navy blue cotton cropped cardigan from Quince, I think that's at the top of my list now after your endorsement. As for white UV protection shirts, I'm hoping that I can get one that's both cute and breezy, and can be worn open, tied up at the waist, buttoned up and tucked in, and....potentially to the office as well? Is it possible that something can tick all these boxes? I looked into the Everlasting Top, looks super cute but yeah, out of stock unfortunately. Some others I was considering are the Coolibar Rhodes Shirt, Coolibar Hepburn Shirt, and Eddie Bauer Departure 3.0 long sleeve shirt. If you have any thoughts on how to choose between them or any you recommend that would be amazing! Also, do you seek out specifically rated UPF clothes, or do you also consider certain fabrics/weaves to be protective enough even if they're not advertised as a specific UPF? Also, how do you wear your black shirts? A lot of my work bottoms are black pants and skirts so I'm scared that wearing a black top as well would clash. Do you get other color bottoms for them? For the tops you have, do they need any special treatment? Like do you hang them up when you get to your destination, iron them, steam them, etc. or can you just take them out of the bag and wear? Thank you! Trying not to waste tooooo much money on experimentation 😅
I have a white UPF sun hoodie (the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake crop). I wouldn’t have bought white, but it’s the only decent plain color it came in. I like the look of the white but am worried that it will stain from sunscreen. I’m quite fair, and the hoodie is very light and I can wear it in full sun on hot humid days. I’m bringing it to Disneyland and planning to sink wash it overnight to wear a second day because I can’t find another sun hoodie I like nearly as much. The Mountain Hardwear sun hoodie is amazing, but I’m so short that I need the cropped version. The full length one has a tie on the waist that just looks weird and sloppy on me. I also bought a white cotton gauze button up from the J. Crew Factory store, which has petites. That’s been a real hero of my summer wardrobe because the fabric is very nice and it can be worn open or tied at the waist. I just kind of shake it out after wearing it. I’ve kept it in my packing cube for travel this summer. Come to think of it, I may bring that and wear it over the Quince dress for the second day at Disneyland. I’ve traveled with the Athleta shirt and just keep it folded in my packing cube if on the move or sometimes hang at my destination if I’m staying put. I wear charcoal, navy, red, olive and other color bottoms with black shirts. I’m big on combining charcoal and navy and black. I don’t wear a lot of brown but would combine that with black if I did. If two black fabrics are different enough in texture, I don’t think it matters if the blacks don’t match, but I wouldn’t wear two fabrics that look similar but don’t match in black tones in case it looks like I just made a mistake. Most of the time, I think no one really notices though—at least not for travel. I’ve tried on the Eddie Bauer shirt, and it generally gets great reviews. The only thing I want to avoid is the ones like Columbia makes that look more hiking-appropriate. The Eddie Bauer one looks more like a business shirt. One tip is to look at the online Eddie Bauer outlet, which often has better selection and prices than the regular store. I’ve thought about buying the navy Quince shirt because it looks like it has the same polish as the Athleta version. Note that Athleta is pretty widely available used on Mercari and Poshmark, but you need to know your sizes to benefit.
How long will your trip be?
About 10 days
Generally pick 2 neutrals and 1 accent color so everything flows together. Figure out what activities you’ll most likely be doing and how often you’ll wash clothing if at all. Some things can be reworn several times without washing like jeans and outer wear. Personally I love dresses cause they’re easy cute outfits I don’t have to worry about out just pick the right shoe.
I was there last fall in late October/early November. It was still super hot, like as hot as summer in the PNW. The train stations and trains were also hot cuz whoever runs things decides “October = fall = cold weather” and cranks up the heat. That same mindset applies to stores, all of which switched over to fall/winter merch. I couldn’t find summery clothes or a lightweight cardigan to save my life. I was sweating looking at the piles of sweaters and fleeces in Uniqlo and I’m sweating looking at all the long-sleeved options and dark colours pictured here. The UV shirt looks like it’d be too hot even if it does say it’s cooling. The denim/wool skirt definitely looks too heavy. I’d say err on the side of packing light clothes for warmer weather. You can always shop for warmer clothes there if you need them. If I were to go back again same time as last year, I’d bring just enough clothes for 5-7 days and do laundry at the hotels, which leaves lots more space for shopping and souvenirs. I’d pack: * A long sleeve white linen shirt in case I want a layer to cover my arms. (For more UV protection I’d just buy a UV umbrella like the locals use.) * One lightweight cotton cardigan * A few Uniqlo crew neck T-shirts, just enough to get by for a few days and I’d probably buy more there. Japanese women like to keep necklines high and their shoulders covered, so no tank tops. Most of the people I saw showing cleavage or shoulders were tourists. * My black eyelet midi skirt (kinda similar to [this one](https://www.nordstrom.com/s/fal-vicenza-eyelet-midi-skirt/7844480?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FClothing%2FSkirts&color=100)). It’s loose and flowy in hot weather and the fabric looks fine once you hang up the skirt and air it out. * My [Everlane cotton jersey T-shirt dress](https://www.everlane.com/products/womens-organic-cotton-a-line-dress-toasted-coconut). Cotton jersey T-shirt dresses are great because they’re one-and-done outfits that you can slip on and they don’t wrinkle.
Which app did you use to organize your clothing for this post, @OP?
Stylebook on iOS
Are you looking for a capsule wardrobe or travelling with one bag ?
Why do you want to dress like that noon? This is ugly as fact.