Forgive me if this is a stupid question but departure is looming ahead and I’m trying to get my suitcase packed. Obviously my predecessor will have more info but if anyone can weigh in, I’d appreciate it.
I have splurged on a few formal outfits, but am now wondering how formal a place can be when everyone is dressed in thermals and snow boots. I’m going to be working minutes from a ski slope, what does one even wear to work while using public transport and trekking through the cold? I’m definitely excited but I’ve never seen snow before so I’m out of my depth. TIA.
9 comments
There will be a changing room probably in your school so you can leave a blazer or something in your locker to get changed out of your winter gear. You’d leave your snow boots in the genkan anyway to wear indoor shoes.
I’m not sure about high schools, but unless there’s an event where parents are showing up, they usually relax on the dress code for day-to-day stuff.
Definitely a question for your pred! Not helpful I know, but I’m in Hokkaido and I know an HS ALT whose school just wears business casual and another whose school wears blazers and more formal wear on the daily, so it really depends even in the land of snow an ice.
Heat Tech thermals from Uniqlo are your friend! Super warm without being bulky. You can also buy adhesive kairo, which are self heating pads. There are types that you can stick to the small of your back and types that go in your shoes. For boots you’ll want something slip on (that way it’s easy to change shoes when you get to school) but with good traction. I recommend at least mid calf so your covered for unshoveled snow
My schools are well heated. I wear a thick jacket on the way to work but take that off when I arrive. I also wear a thermal underneath my regular dress shirt and my suit jacket. That’s always enough.
I wear my normal work clothes, with thermal underwear on underneath. It’s more than warm enough. They run the heaters as high as they go in winter, so a lot of the time you only have to be cold going from the staff room to the classroom.
Gloves, hats, winter jacket, snow boots, etc are all worn outside by everyone, then put in lockers for the day. Honestly, aside from a few teachers sitting with blankets on their laps in the staffroom, everyone looks normal.
**Don’t** buy a bunch of winter gear to take with you. You’re arriving in summer, take what you can wear now. Buy winter gear when it’s available in Japan. Teachers, other ALTs and anyone else you know will be able to give you advice on what’s suitable for your placement.
I also worked minutes away from a ski slope and it was an extremely snowy area. I am a SHS ALT and my schools are generally warm inside the classrooms and teacher’s room during the winter so appropriate sweaters are fine with thermal undergarments.
Once it’s not any over the top designs then a simple sweater is fine. Sometimes is too hot inside for sweaters so wear layers that you can take on and off when going from indoor to outdoor.
Truthfully, It depends on your school. My School is quite lax when it comes to dress code, but ive heard some schools take it a little more seriously.
I would recommend buying some long underwear, Helly Hansen Makes great ones, they are realativly expensive, but worth it. Also, a few pairs of wool socks are a must. you can wear normal cotton socks under them to keep extra warm and stop your feet from itching.
Im in the coldest town in all of japan, and tend to be fine with wool socks, long underwear and slacks, a base layer long sleeve shirt and a decentlly thick hoodie. Im from Canada tho, so take it with a grain of salt because I run pretty hot. All in all, layers are your best friend and nobody is gonna fire you for not looking professional enough.
I can get by wearing a tshirt but other schools might want you to dress formally. See how they dress then mimic
Worry less about what you wear at school and more about how to stay warm at home ahha
I’m in one of the snowiest areas in the country and my schools are hotter in Winter than in Summer because of the heating. I wear a nice thick jacket for my transit and then immediately remove it at school in exchange for my usual business casual. You should have a locker to keep your winter gear in, and I recommend keeping a bunch of heat packs (Kairo) in your desk just incase.
Being a change of clothes for work. There should be a changing room. How strict they will be varies from school to school but as a general rule the dress code is formal.
I’d assume in such a place you’ll need a car and public transportation will be lacking.