Being one of the most developed countries in the world, Japan offers a clean and comfortable place to travel. Springtime in Japan is especially amazing. With cherry blossoms, spring festivals, flowers blooming everywhere, and perfect weather, spring is a popular time to travel to Japan.
See the 2023 Cherry Blossom Forecast
However, it should be noted that the weather can vary greatly depending on where you are in the country and can be very hot if you’re going later in spring.
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Note About Clothes in Japan:
Despite what you hear about the crazy fashion in Tokyo, Japan is a modest nation. If you plan on visiting smaller towns or religious sites you need to cover up a bit. I rarely see exposed shoulders even in the hottest weather and often, women wear long sleeves or special
I often see women wearing nylons or even leggings with shorts, skirts, and dresses. They tend to wear looser, flowing tops and rarely show cleavage or tummy.
That being said, if you like wearing tank tops and shorts, you’ll be completely fine as long as you’re not at a religious site or somewhere very traditional which will have higher expectations of modesty. Most of the time it’s easy to spot the tourists and unlike some other “modest” cultures, the Japanese aren’t offended by tourists showing a little more skin. They just don’t want to themselves.
As I said, the Japanese consider pale skin beautiful and will wear long pants, sleeves, hats, and even gloves when it’s over 100F with 80% humidity. They even carry umbrellas.
Also, a note about Tattoos. There is still a stigma about tattoos in Japan, and are often associated with criminal activity, specifically the Yakuza. As a typical tourist, you shouldn’t have any problems day-to-day if you have visible tattoos, especially if you don’t look Japanese. But there are some old-fashioned people in old-fashioned restaurants or businesses who may turn you away, so doing a little research might help you decide if you should cover up for that day.
The only places that I’ve come across that are very strict about tattoo policies are bathing houses and onsens, beaches, gyms, and pools. Most of these locations will have signage that says what is or isn’t allowed. I’ve seen signs where if you have a small tattoo (that can be covered by a palm-sized sticky material), you will be allowed entry. Some say you can wear a t-shirt to cover your tattoos, and others say you will not be admitted under any circumstances. So just keep this in mind during your travels.
Clothing
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See Our Things to Do in Spring in Japan
Shoes
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Sandals- As I said, this is personal preference, and if I’m not walking miles every day I prefer to slip on some sandals, like my
Toiletries
Bar of Soap – Put it in a plastic container so you won’t have to worry about a mess.
Have a read of our Lush liquid alternative travel products reviews and our guide to the best toiletries for carry-on travel for some extra toiletry advice.
Deodorant – You don’t want to stink.
Razor – And shaving cream if you’re not comfortable using soap as a lather. I like Billie razors. If you do, too, try their travel case to keep your razor and your fingers protected.
Medicines – Take an emergency stash of things to treat
Tech Gear
See our Family Travel Camera Gear Guide.
If your phone is unlocked you can get SIM cards from SoftBank or Rakuten at the airport or in any shop (they’re located in most malls, shopping areas, and standalone locations especially in Toyko.
This
And this
You can also get a Pocket WIFI if your phone is not unlocked or you don’t’ want to deal with changing it out.
You can also talk to your cell phone provider to see if they have coverage in Japan. For a long time Sprint had coverage (through SoftBank) and you could add on a Japan plan for $5 per month to get all of the same benefits and coverage as when you’re in the U.S. T-Mobile no longer honors this plan but other providers may have similar offerings.
Chargers & Adapters – Make sure your valuable electronics always have juice. Japan uses the same outlets as North America but it uses a lower voltage. So if you’re coming from North America all of your electronics will work but you still might need a converter to make sure they’re charging/powering up properly. Most electronics have built-in converter (ex. the large square iPad chargers or Macbook chargers) that change the voltage automatically to protect your electronics so you may not need a separate one.
But for things like hair dryers, curling irons, or electronic shavers, you might have issues.
Here are plug
Kid’s Gear
Your kids will, of course, need all of the same clothes you will, PLUS some extras depending on how young your kids are and how prone to mess they may be. My kids are currently 2 and 4 and seem to attract messes. So for a long trip I bring 2 extra outfits each.
Plus you’ll need all of their snow and cold weather gear. Here’s a post dedicated to that.
You’ll also need:
Bottles or Sippy Cups
Baby Carrier– Try this
Small Bag of toys– Depending on the age of your kids they may like these
Stash of Snacks- Japan has some amazing food and plenty of snacks to choose from. But depending on how picky your kids are you might want to bring some of their favorites from home as the snacks here may not a little quirky or have odd flavors.
Other
Visa – If you go for 90 days or less as a tourist, you don’t need it. If you’re going for another purpose, get all the paperwork straightened out before you get on the plane.
Editor’s note: Citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most countries in Europe, plus several others do not need tourist visas for 90 days or less. Check with the embassy to verify if you need a visa.
Here are some of my favorite Japanese Stationery to get you inspired.
Allergy medicine- Pollen in spring can be really bad in Japan. If you’re prone to allergies definitely bring your favorite medicine to quell the hay fever symptoms. Even if you don’t usually get allergies bring something anyway. I have never experienced allergies until coming to Japan, and many people I’ve spoken to haven’t either. It’s better to bring a brand you’re familiar with to . But, you can easily tell the pharmacist you have “Kafunsho (花粉症)” or pollen allergy and they will get you antihistamines.
P.S. Check out the ultimate female packing list for Japan in winter.
Are you ready for Japan?
- Book Your Flights– To find the cheapest flights, flexibility is a must. Some great options are Google Flights for the calendars to find the cheapest options,
Skiplagged , andSkyscanner . For more options see our resources page. For Japan, check flights for both Tokyo Airports (Haneda and Narita), as well as Osaka (Kansai). - Find Transportation- Buy your
JR Pass for your bullet train and inter-city travel before you leave home. Research a Suica card, the public transportation card you can either buy before or as soon as you arrive. - Book Your Accommodation– Look at Booking.com,
Hotels.com , orExpedia for hotels in Japan. You can also look at AirBnB orVRBO as we’ve had great luck finding inexpensive, large, and clean homes to rent. - Book Tours and Experiences- Check
Klook orViator for some of the best tours and attractions for a great price for experiences likeTokyo Skytree ,TeamLab Borderless , andUniversal Osaka . For Tokyo Disney Resort, check my guide here. - Stay Connected– Order a
pocket WIFI for airport pickup if you’re with a family or group, or order aSIM card just for your phone. Check out our guide to staying connected here. - Buy Travel Insurance- I always recommend
World Nomads for insurance. It’s better to protect yourself in case of mishaps. Learn more about World Nomads in this FAQ post. - Pack Your Bags– Check out my packing lists, or my favorite travel gear to help you remember all of the essentials.
- Learn About Japan– Learn about Japan with guidebooks like
Lonely Planet , or, shameless plug, search around my site for more info.
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