I am going to be travelling Japan end of December/ beginning of January. I’ve read lots of blogs and posts saying people wear their warmest jacket because its very cold. I understand it is surrounded by water making it more cold/moist but I was wondering how cold it really feels? Depending on where you live people have different concepts of what cold is so I was wondering if any Canadians have a different take on the weather? I live in a province where it gets to -45 even -50 degrees Celsius in the winter. I have also read Japan gets to around -1 to +7 degrees. To me this would be very comfortable weather and most Canadians I know would call this “spring weather” where a light jacket or hoodie is preferred. Is it comparable to the cold and windy San Francisco (I have been there where it has been extremely windy right by the fisherman’s wharf where a solid winter jacket was probably needed).
Also, does Japan ski resorts rent out snow suits? I will be snowboarding for a full day and will not be bringing gear as it takes a lot of space in luggage and I will be going to a country with very hot climate after visiting Japan.
Thank you in advance to anyone who replies 🙂
Edit: I will be in Osaka, Tokyo, and I think it was Nozawa onsen snow resort.
8 comments
I will also be there in the snow in January 🎉 i was there in January 2020 and on their cold days i would just wear a base layer and then a jumper over the top at night time, during the day it was usually shorts and a shirt. In the snow it was a bit colder but nothing crazy. Some days i would find myself snowboarding in a shirt as it was to hot for a jacket. Coming from Canada i think you will find it a lot warmer than you are used to by the sounds of it
You’ll be fine if you’re from Canada. I’ve traveled throughout Japan during January – March and I was fine with a heavy jacket and one or two layers, even up in Hokkaido. The jacket actually gets too warm sometimes in places like Tokyo. Coldest I’ve been was in Fox Village in Sendai.
I’ve been to Japan in January a couple of times, from an Australian summer no less and while it’s colder than a Melbourne winter, like it snows.
Coming from a Canadian winter it should be positively balmy
you’ll be fine in a T-shirt and shorts
In the major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, think of it as a Vancouver winter without all the rain lol. Average temps around 0-10°C as you mentioned. Quite nice! I’m headed there next month! Much rather prefer that than the oppressive humidity and 40-45 in August!
Dude, you need to be more specific. There’s a temperature difference of 10-20 degrees between Northern and Southern Japan. And the same applies to mountains vs sea level. I’ve been in a northern mountain town that got to -30 at night but most of Japan barely drops below zero expect maybe briefly at like 4 AM. There can be some harsh, ice cold winds, though.
Canadian living in Japan here, having also experienced the bitter -40 of Canada.
Nothing will bother you here. Naturally, don’t wear a shirt in Hokkaido in December but I’ve never had to wear anything more than a light jacket in most of Japan in winter.
You’ll be fine. I will say that if you’re staying in any old buildings you’ll be surprised by how cold it is inside! Definitely wear layers.
It does depend on where in Japan you’re traveling, obviously. I live in Yokohama and i feel like it’s kind of like San Francisco but it can snow. Some winter days it’s sunny and just light jacket weather, but other days the wind really picks up and I put my wool coat on. My normal winter layers are long sleeve, sweater, wool coat, scarf, hat, and gloves. We get snow every once in a while.
For reference I’ve lived in the northeast in the US for a long time.