What to Wear in Japan: Outfits by Season, Temple Etiquette and Onsen Rules

What to wear in Japan comes down to the month you travel: Tokyo’s average daily high runs from 9.8°C in January to 31.3°C in August, the rainy season usually covers early June to mid-July, and whatever the season, pack shoes that come off easily, because you will remove them often (Japan Meteorological Agency, Tokyo normals 1991 to 2020, accessed 2026-09-17). JNTO’s visitor guidance sets no general dress code, but temples, shrines, onsen and ryokan each have customs that change what goes in your bag.

This guide is maintained by Zurich Kotak General Insurance, an IRDAI-registered general insurer in India and part of the Zurich Insurance Group. It covers Japan outfits by season and the etiquette that affects packing; for choosing your month, see the best time to visit Japan .

Last verified: 2026-09-17.

What to wear in Japan, month by month

Pack for the month, because Tokyo and Osaka swing from winter nights near freezing to summer days above 30°C. The table gives JMA’s 1991 to 2020 averages of the daily high and low; Kyoto is similar, with an August average high of 33.7°C and a January average low of 1.5°C (JMA, Osaka normals and Kyoto normals, accessed 2026-09-17).

Spring and autumn: dress in layers

In March, April, October and November, Tokyo’s afternoons run 7 to 10°C warmer than its nights, so a layered outfit works better than one warm piece.

·       March: a padded jacket or wool coat, a sweater and a scarf; Tokyo’s cherry blossom evenings in late March are still cold.

·       April and May: long sleeves, a light jacket and a warm layer for evenings.

·       October and November: a light jacket in October; a sweater and warmer jacket by late November, when the leaves usually turn in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

·       Autumn rain: Tokyo’s wettest months on JMA’s averages are September (224.9 mm) and October (234.8 mm), both wetter than June (167.8 mm), so keep an umbrella.

Summer and the rainy season

From June to September, pack your lightest breathable clothes, an umbrella and sun protection: August averages 31.3°C by day in Tokyo and 33.7°C in Osaka. JMA puts Tokyo’s average relative humidity at 75% in June, 76% in July and 74% in August. JNTO warns of “hot, sweltering humidity” and advises: “Pack plenty of light, breathable clothing” (JNTO, Summer in Japan, accessed 2026-09-17).

The rainy season, tsuyu, normally runs from about 7 June to about 19 July in the Kanto-Koshin region around Tokyo, and from about 6 June to about 19 July in Kinki, which includes Osaka and Kyoto (JMA, rainy season, accessed 2026-09-17). JNTO says “Don’t expect it to rain everyday, just more often than usual”, and calls Hokkaido “relatively unaffected by the rainy season” (JNTO, June in Japan, accessed 2026-09-17).

·       Fabrics: cotton, linen or quick-dry synthetics; a cotton kurta suits the humidity better than jeans.

·       Rain: a compact umbrella and quick-drying shoes.

·       Heat: a hat, sunscreen and a small towel. Japan’s Ministry of the Environment publishes heat stroke alerts in English at wbgt.env.go.jp (Ministry of the Environment, Heat Illness Prevention Information, accessed 2026-09-17).

Winter, and the snow regions

From December to February, pack a proper winter coat, and add snow boots for Hokkaido or the mountains: Tokyo averages 1.2°C on January nights, and Sapporo stays below freezing even by day. Sapporo’s January averages are minus 0.4°C by day and minus 6.4°C by night, and average annual snowfall is 479 cm there, against 8 cm in Tokyo and 1 cm in Osaka (JMA, Sapporo normals, accessed 2026-09-17). JNTO says “a warm winter jacket is a necessity regardless of where you’re traveling”, and names Hokkaido, Nagano and Yamagata among its snow destinations (JNTO, Winter in Japan, accessed 2026-09-17).

For Hokkaido, JNTO recommends fleece layers, a wind-resistant jacket and “scarves, gloves, and beanies”, and says: “Always wear a pair of sturdy padded boots since you’ll mostly be walking on snow.” Windchill can make it feel up to 10°C colder, and dry air calls for moisturiser and lip balm (JNTO, The climate in Hokkaido, accessed 2026-09-17). Interiors are heated, so wear layers you can peel off.

Temples and shrines: what to wear

JNTO publishes no formal dress code for temples and shrines, but it asks visitors to “avoid wearing overly revealing clothing”, to behave quietly and to follow posted signs (JNTO, FAQ, accessed 2026-09-17). Individual sites can post their own rules at the entrance, so read them as you arrive.

·       What suits any site: a top with sleeves, with trousers, a long skirt or a salwar suit.

·       Shoes: JNTO says “You may be required to take off your shoes when entering temple buildings”, and adds: “Don’t forget to wear a good pair of socks” (JNTO, Shrine and Temple Traditions, accessed 2026-09-17).

Travelling to Japan? Get covered before you fly. Travel insurance for Japan is not an entry requirement, but Japan’s Foreign Ministry highly recommends it, and its consulates in India warn that medical expenses in Japan can be very high.

Shoes you will take off many times a day

In Japan you take off your shoes at many temple buildings, ryokan, some restaurants and attractions, and sometimes a shop’s fitting room, so slip-on shoes save time every day. JNTO says you will be asked to take off your shoes at some attractions, restaurants and traditional hotels, and sometimes before a shop’s fitting room (JNTO, Japanese Customs and Etiquette, accessed 2026-09-17).

Its tip: “Having easy-to-slip-on shoes will make life easier if you are traveling around.” Where slippers are provided, change into them at the entrance, take them off on tatami, and use the separate pair many restrooms keep (JNTO, Understanding and Mastering Japanese Manners and Etiquette, accessed 2026-09-17). Pack socks without holes, since they will be on show.

Onsen, ryokan and tattoos: what it means for your bag

You do not need swimwear for an onsen: JNTO says onsen bathing is “typically enjoyed in the nude”, with clothing, including swimwear, left in the changing area (JNTO, How to Best Enjoy Japan’s Onsen, accessed 2026-09-17). The small towel stays out of the water, and long hair should be tied up. Some mixed-gender baths provide a bathing garment, which JNTO calls yuami-gi.

Tattoos need checking before you book. JNTO: “Tattoos generally do not cause problems in everyday life in Japan. However, some onsen (hot springs), public baths, and pools may restrict entry for guests with tattoos” (JNTO, FAQ, accessed 2026-09-17). The Japan Tourism Agency says policies “differ widely from ryokan to ryokan”: some have no restrictions, some decide case by case, and many offer private baths that guests with tattoos can use freely (Japan Tourism Agency, Ryokan Q&A, accessed 2026-09-17). JNTO adds that many onsen offer or sell small tattoo cover sheets, which are “generally only suitable for very small tattoos”.

Ryokan usually leave a yukata, a light cotton robe, in your room: fold the left side over the right before tying the belt, as the onsen guide of MLIT’s Hokkaido District Transport Bureau shows (Onsen guide, PDF, accessed 2026-09-17). Ask staff before wearing it outside: JNTO says the yukata “can sometimes be worn outside, sometimes not.”

Packing for families and older travellers

For children and older travellers, pack shoes that grip and slip off easily, a layer for heated or air-conditioned interiors, and take care in hot baths. The Japan Tourism Agency warns that some communal baths are very hot and that getting in too quickly “can cause a sharp rise in blood pressure”; it advises splashing water over yourself first, and avoiding the bath in the middle of the night or after heavy drinking (Japan Tourism Agency, Ryokan Q&A, accessed 2026-09-17).

·       Children: a spare set of clothes in the day bag, and shoes they can take off without help.

·       Older travellers: non-slip soles for wet or icy pavements, and layers rather than one heavy coat.

Before you pack

Indian passport holders need a Japanese visa before they fly: there is no visa on arrival, and applications from India go in through the Japan Visa Application Centre (VFS Global) for your state, with single-entry tourist visas issued electronically. See our guide to the Japan visa for Indians and check the Embassy of Japan in India’s website ( in.emb-japan.go.jp ) before you book. For flights, stays and daily spending, see Japan trip cost from India .

Where travel insurance fits

Travel insurance is not required to enter Japan, but Japan’s Foreign Ministry says: “It is highly recommended to purchase international travel medical insurance for your trip to Japan.” (MOFA, VISA, accessed 2026-09-17). Since 2026-04-01, an unpaid medical bill of JPY 10,000 or more (about INR 6,170 at 1 JPY = INR 0.617 on 2026-09-17) can be reported to Japan’s immigration agency and lead to strict screening on a later visit (MHLW notice, 2026-02-04, accessed 2026-09-17).

Zurich Kotak’s Smart Travel plans cover Japan under the Asia geography, on two tiers: Excel, with sum insured up to USD 100,000, and Prime, up to USD 500,000. Emergency medical treatment is the core, with baggage loss and delay, trip delay and trip cancellation covered up to plan limits. The Asia plans accept travellers up to age 70 and there is no Senior Citizen plan on this geography; travellers aged 71 or over can read about travel insurance for senior citizens , and families can compare family travel insurance . In Japan, plan on paying the hospital and claiming reimbursement, so keep every bill and receipt; claims are handled by Europ Assistance India and settled within 15 days of complete documents. See what travel insurance for Japan includes.

FAQs

Q: What should I wear in Japan? A: Clothes for the month you travel, in layers, with shoes that come off easily. Tokyo averages a daily high of 9.8°C in January and 31.3°C in August, spring and autumn afternoons run 7 to 10°C warmer than the nights, and the rainy season usually covers early June to mid-July. At temples and shrines, JNTO asks visitors to avoid overly revealing clothing.

Q: Is there a dress code for temples and shrines in Japan? A: JNTO publishes no formal dress code, but it asks visitors to avoid overly revealing clothing, behave quietly and follow posted signs, and you may have to take off your shoes to enter temple buildings, so wear clean socks. A top with sleeves, with trousers or a long skirt, suits any site.

Q: Can I go to an onsen in Japan if I have tattoos? A: Sometimes. JNTO says some onsen, public baths and pools restrict guests with tattoos, and the Japan Tourism Agency says ryokan policies differ widely: some have no restrictions, some decide case by case, and many offer private baths. Many onsen offer or sell cover sheets, but JNTO says they suit only very small tattoos, so check the policy before you book.

Q: Do I need swimwear for an onsen in Japan? A: No. JNTO says onsen bathing is typically enjoyed in the nude, with clothing, including swimwear, left in the changing area. Some mixed-gender baths provide a bathing garment. Pack swimwear only for pools or beaches.

Q: What should I pack for Japan in winter? A: A warm winter coat, gloves, a scarf and layers you can remove indoors. Tokyo averages 1.2°C on January nights, while Sapporo stays below freezing even by day and averages 479 cm of snow a year, so for Hokkaido, JNTO advises sturdy padded boots.