What to Pack for Your Winter Adventure

A simple guide to help you stay warm and cozy for your snow holiday in Japan

Picture this–it’s your first winter vacation to Japan and it’s going to be your first time to see and experience snow. You’re excited, but also anxious. You’ve only been used to warm weather your whole life, and you don’t know how to prepare for the snow. If that sounds like you, we have you covered. 

TokudAw character cats at a store choosing winter wear for their upcoming Japan trip (Image credit: TokudAw Inc)

How to Dress for Winter and Snow

Layering is the best way to stay warm and dress in winter. You’ll need to dress in 3 layers–base layer, mid layer, outer layer. You’ll also need warm accessories, which we will cover in this guide for cold-weather dressing. Dressing in multiple layers not only helps to trap more heat than wearing just one thick layer, but it is also a very functional way to regulate your body temperature. As you move from the cold to a warmer place indoors, you’ll be glad to be able to remove some of those layers.

Base Layer

The layer in contact with your skin. We recommend a moisture-wicking material, such as merino wool. Merino is very fine–typically 21-22 microns, which means it is soft and non-itchy. Cost-conscious alternatives like Uniqlo’s HEATTECH synthetics are also a good option. Note that these come in a variety of thicknesses/weights. Get them for your torso and your legs for maximum warmth. We recommend avoiding cotton for your base layer. Cotton makes you feel cold when you get wet and does not dry quickly.

TokudAw cats all decked up in their inner layer. Remember to purchase both the inner layer for your top and bottom to stay warm. It wouldnt be nice to feel the cold breeze at your legs. (Image credit: TokudAw Inc)

Mid Layer

The mid layer helps to trap air and insulate your body against the cold. Sweaters and jumpers are a great option. If you prefer natural fabrics, you can try lambswool. Synthetics such as fleece are also a good alternative. Either of these materials will work because, unlike cotton, they stay warm even if you’re damp from perspiration. For pants, warm hiking pants or insulated sweatpants are great for comfort and mobility. These can be purchased from a retailer like Uniqlo or Muji at reasonable prices.

TokudAw cats all decked up to the mid layer. (Image credit: TokudAw Inc)

Outer Layer

This layer blocks out the elements–the wind and snow. If you’re expecting wet weather conditions, a hardshell jacket that is wind and waterproof is an excellent choice. If this isn’t insulated, you may need additional insulation underneath.

If you’re not expecting rain, you can get away with a down puffer jacket that does not have a hard shell. We are proponents of down jackets for winter travel. Down provides the maximum warmth for the lightest weight. However, down does have a weakness–if it gets wet, it loses its insulating properties. If you are concerned about that, consider getting synthetic down, which doesn’t lose its insulating properties even if it gets wet.

Hardshell jackets to keep out the wind, or down jackets keep the TokudAw cats warm. (Image credit: TokudAw Inc)

For outdoor activities, we recommend shorter jackets for greater mobility–we think having the jacket end around your hips is an optimal length. If you tend to feel cold, getting a jacket that covers your buttocks is also a reasonable tradeoff. Any longer, and your movement may be impeded. Finally, go with a hooded option if you can, as it offers much more protection against the elements. Even better if the hood comes with a fur-like trim to keep the snow from getting into your eyes.

Recommended Shopping Places for winter adventure in Japan

We recommend everyones favourite— Uniqlo to get your heat-tech, and if you are looking for something in the mid-range, we recommend you to visit Montbell whose concept is merging beauty and function. Workman, a new and upcoming Japanese functional fashion brand has lovely winter wear in vibrant colours and at a very reasonable price. If you are a snow adventure junkie, please do pop by Kanda-Ochanomizu district where there is a street dedicated to snow sport equipment and wear.

Accessories

For the rest of the body–you’ll need warm accessories: 

Thermal socks. These can be made of merino wool, although retailers like Uniqlo offer synthetic options with their HEATTECH technology. There’s nothing as cozy as putting on a thick, warm pair of socks in the dead of winter when everything outside is freezing. Again, you’ll want to avoid cotton socks as they will feel cold.

Scarves to wrap around your neck. Thick woolen scarves to cover your neck. If you want to splurge on cashmere, a cashmere scarf is probably where it would make sense, as it is extremely soft, silky, and will not feel scratchy at all–very desirable for a scarf that is going to be wrapped around your neck. In extreme cold, a woolen beanie, ear muff, or ear band to cover your ears is also a must-have. Again, you can get synthetic options from retailers like Uniqlo, although if you prefer natural fabrics, Muji might be the better option. There are cute hoodwarmer options with ears, where you can have a chance to be a cat, a bear or a dinosaur on the slopes. The hoodwarmers can act as both a hat as a scarf, keeping you warm and snuggly.

Gloves for your hands. Warm woolen gloves are a great option and are better than leather gloves for insulation. You can get cropped finger gloves so you can use your smartphone to get directions. Nowadays, many retailers also offer gloves with special tips that allow you to use your mobile phone touchscreen while still wearing gloves (although they’re sometimes not very precise). But be warned–using your mobile phone in extreme cold can drain the battery quickly. Keep that in mind when you decide to pull out your phone when it’s -10 degrees Celsius (14 F) outside!

Shoes and boots. We recommend getting waterproof mountain trekking boots as you’ll be stepping into the snow. Boots are a better option as the higher ankle offers more protection from snow accidentally getting into your footwear–not a very pleasant experience. They should offer plenty of grip to deal with the slippery conditions when snow melts and refreezes into ice. When trying them on, you should wear your thick thermal socks rather than your normal socks to make sure you have the best fit. The NorthFace snow boots that can be found at ABC-Mart, a sneaker store in Japan is very popular with our guests.

Sunglasses for snow. If you’re experiencing snow for the first time, you might be surprised and dazzled by how white it looks. And we’re not kidding–it’s possible to suffer from snow blindness–eye damage caused by the UV rays reflected off the ice and snow around you. That’s one of the reasons why skiers and snowboarders wear snow goggles on the mountain. Even if you’re not looking to do snow sports, it’s best to pack sunglasses, preferably polarized, if you expect to be in a snowy environment for a prolonged period. 

Portable Warming Patches. Called kairo in Japanese, these small packs give off heat for 14-20 hours via a chemical reaction when they’re used. They can be purchased inexpensively at any drug store in Japan. These come in two formats, adhesive and non-adhesive. Avoid sticking or placing them directly onto the skin because it can get quite hot and cause a burn. You can keep them inside your jacket or pocket to stay warm.

In full winter gear, the TokudAw cats are ready to enjoy Japow! (Image credit: TokudAw Inc)

Staying Hydrated, Humidified, and Protected

Remember to hydrate. Despite the cold weather, one can in fact lose a lot of water in winter. For one, cold air holds less water than warm air, which means the air is dryer. Plus, all that indoor heating (sometimes quite excessive) means you can perspire even if you remove all your outer layers. You can become dehydrated even if you have not been active. So, we advise you to stay hydrated even if it’s cold. 

Moisturize and humidify. The colder and drier air means you might also need to use moisturizer that’s richer than what you’re used to back home. You might find that your hands, lips, and body can become dry and flaky to the point that cracks develop. This can be avoided by generously using lip balm, body moisturizer, and hand cream. 

When sleeping at night, if you feel the air is too dry, you can request for a humidifier (if your hotel or ryokan can provide one). If not, we have a quick tip: you can hang wet towels in the room, or leave the hot bath water in the tub. This helps to keep the room humidified, which makes for a more comfortable sleeping experience and reduces the chance of waking up to a dry and scratchy throat. 

Alternatively, you can purchase humidifying masks from any drug store in Japan and use them at night when you sleep. These come with moist strips that you can insert into the mask, helping to humidify the air you breathe in (these are also excellent for flying, and we recommend stocking up if you have the chance).

Bring sunscreen. Finally, if you plan to be outdoors in the snow and/or do any skiing, don’t skip the sunscreen. Think you only need sunscreen in summer? Think again–UV can also be strong in winter, especially if it’s a clear day. And when you’re up in the mountains, there is less atmosphere to block out UV rays. On average, UV intensity can go up about 10-20% for every increase of 1000 meters in elevation. When surrounded by pure white snow reflecting all that UV, you’ll be glad you didn’t forget to pack sunscreen.

Pack appropriate medicine. No want wants to get sick during a holiday, but we should always prepare for it. The sudden change in temperature going from a warm country to a cold one can weaken your immune system, not to mention the constant and rapid swings in temperature from hot to cold and back to hot again as you move from indoors to outdoors and then indoors again. Plus, the dryer air in winter can also dry out your nose and throat and make it more prone for you to catch a cold. We recommend bringing some over-the-counter cold medication, medication to reduce fever and chills and maybe some muscle-ache cream? All of these can be purchased from the major drug stores in Japan like Matsumoto-kiyoshi or Cocokara-fine.

As a backup measure, don’t forget appropriate cold and fever medicine. If you’re up in the mountains, getting medicine when you wake up in the middle of the night with a burning fever and a 30-minute drive from the closest convenience store might be inconvenient. 

Enjoy a bespoke winter travel package and authentic snow experience in Japan

Packing for a winter vacation–especially if you’re not from a country that experiences snow and winter can feel like a daunting experience. We hope this guide has made that easier. 

It can get easier still with a private tour with TokudAw. No more trying to figure out transportation in the deep freezing winter, because we will drive you everywhere. That means staying warm when you move from place to place. 

It also means that you can focus on packing for your vacation, while we help you organize your travel itinerary–so all you have to do is show up at the airport and we’ll take the rest from there. 

If you don’t have the opportunity to purchase winter clothing in your country, don’t worry. Let us know in advance, and we can even drop you off at a convenient location for you to make your purchase. Ultimately, a private tour with us means we’re there to help you settle into winter, so you can focus on enjoying your first snow experience in Japan.