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Planning a fall packing list for Japan doesn’t need to be hard. In between the sweltering heat of summer and the cool winds of winter, fall is a good time to avoid extreme temperatures. You’ll have a pleasant vacation without having to focus too much on the weather, or the crowds.
Hence its not too hard to know what to pack for Japan in fall. Take a light coat and hat to plan for any chillier days, and stockings to wear under any dresses or skirts when the temperature drops. Beyond that you’ll be able to get away with wearing dresses and skirts under cardigans depending on what type of weather you’re used to.
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Fall in Japan is a time that brings color into the trees and cities, with oranges, reds and greens always in the background. There’s something about a little color that makes everything look prettier, no?
But onto the packing list.
As this fall packing list for Japan contains items like jackets and warmer clothing, you may need to cut out an item of two if you wish to travel carry on. For a two week trip with a little hand washing you could easily ditch a top or two, as well as a dress and a pair of pants.
However even if you prefer to have a different outfit for almost every day, this packing list will still allow you to travel light and not have to lug 20 kilos around with you.
What’ll you’ll learn:
- What to pack and wear for Japan in fall / autumn
- Overview of weather
- Safety Tips for Japan in fall / autumn
- Accommodation + sightseeing recommendations
What to Wear in Japan in Fall
- 1x warm boots: These will keep you warm on chilly days, and are especially needed if visiting close to winter.
- 1-2 pairs of flats: Either both enclosed, or one enclosed and one open toed. Alternatively if you plan to do a lot of hiking make one of these a sneaker, or use your boots for hiking if they’re appropriate. Don’t be afraid to pick some cute flats, especially if you’ll be spending a lot of time in the cities.
- 4-5 x socks
- 6-10 pairs of underwear
- 3-5 bras
- 1 x pair of gloves: Check the average forecasts for your dates and pack these if temperatures are set to get low.
- Woolen hat / beanie or felt hat: Again, check the average temperatures to see if this is needed. I personally would take a woolen hat just incase it gets cold.
- Cardigan x 2
- 1 x jacket/ coat: Check the weather reports for the cities you’ll find to determine if you’ll need to make room for a coat. I’d definitely recommend one if visiting the North in Spring, or if visiting/ close to winter. Since its not quite winter you can probably get away with packing a thinner material.
- Tops x 4-7: I’d pack one pretty tank top and then a few ones with mid or longer sleeves (I personally am obsessed with blouses as they’re light and stylish). You’ll look out of place in scant tops, however showing a little stomach in the cities is fine. Make sure you have atleast one that is good for light hiking if you plan on visiting national parks.
- Dresses x 2-3: add more dresses and less tops if you so fancy. Personally I’m a die hard dress girl so I’d back majority dresses and only one pair of pants – its all up to your individual style.
- Bottoms x 3-5: If visiting closer to summer, or in the far south you can get away with just 1-2 pair of long pants, and a mix of skirts and shorts. If visiting the north or closer to winter you’ll want to have atleast 3-4 pairs of pants.
- Leggings x 1-2: 2 if you don’t have any appropriate hiking clothes and plan to be outdoors in nature a lot.
- Stockings x 1-2: In case you’ve underestimated how cold it would be you can still these under your skirts and dresses.
What to Pack for Japan in Fall
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Medical
- Any medication your on with the accompanying prescription
- Basic first aid kit that may consist of panadol / ibuprofen, rehydration sachets, sore stomach medication such as toms, cold and flu medication. However you can buy the Japanese equivalents in Japan too (ask your receptionist for directions to the nearest chemist and written translation for the medicine).
Technology
- Phone and charger
- Your camera and lenses – I’d recommend your most used would be a wide angle, I personally use a Sony a6500 + 19mm f/2.8 combination.
- Camera batteries and your charger
- Adapter for Japanese power points
- Portable charger – handy for when you run out of battery
- 2-3x 16GB memory cards. I’d recommend taking a few smaller ones and spreading out your photos rather than one big 32gb. This is a precaution in case you loose one, or it gets damaged.
Makeup & Toiletries
- Toothbrush and travel sized toothpaste
- Make up – if you’re traveling light go for neutral colors, even better if you can use one pack for cheeks and eyes. Check out this compact makeup case.
- Shampoo + conditioner, or even better solid shampoo. If you do take liquid items make sure their caps are on and wrap them in 1-2 plastic bags.
- Deodorant
- Mini packet of laundry detergent for hand washes, alternatively you can also use your solid shampoo for this (or your hotel’s soap).
Everything Else
- 2 or more bank cards. One Visa, one Mastercard to ensure you wont get rejected at too many international bank machines.
- 2 x photocopies of your passport – leave one at home, and take one with you in a separate spot to your passport. This is incase your passport gets stolen and you need to know the details.
- Lock for dorms, and for your suitcase / backpack while in transit.
Luggage
- Suitcase: Japan is relatively easy to travel with a suitcase.
- Backpack: Don’t go over 75 litres and your back will thank you for it. I’d recommend 70L backpack if traveling with more than one bulky item, otherwise a 65L backpack.
Japan Packing Lists by Season
Visiting in a different season?
Find the best packing list to fit your trip below.
What to pack in Spring in Japan (March, April, May): Spring in Japan is one of the best times to visit. It”s when you’ll see the famous cherry blossoms blooming all around the country. Packing for spring is not unsimilar to packing in Autumn. Click here for the spring in Japan packing list.
What to pack in Summer in Japan (June, July, August): Summer in Japan can get quite hot depending on which areas you’re traveling to. To find about more about what to pack for summer in Japan click here.
What to pack in Fall for Japan (September, October, November): Scroll down to learn what to pack for Japan in fall / autumn.
What to pack in Winter in Japan (December, January, February): Winter in Japan gets a little chilly with snow forming in some areas of the country. Jackets, boots and warm hats are a must during this time to keep warm. See what to wear in Japan in winter here.
Where to Stay in Japan in Autumn
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Tokyo
- Budget: A good dormitory can be found at Grids Hostel Lounge Nihombashi East. The hotel reception is open 24/7 and has a laundry service or facilities on site. Being Tokyo, its a little pricy but so is every other dorm in the city – this one is one of the cheaper options.
- Midrange: The Horidome Villa Hotel Tokyo is one of the cheaper private rooms available while still offer a good experience. The rooms come with air conditioning and tea and coffee making facilities.
- Luxury: The Peninsula Hotel Tokyo is a good option for travelers in fall / autumn and has its own private gym and pool for guests to access. All rooms have their own fridge (perfect for left overs) and their is breakfast available at the hotel.
Osaka
- Budget: The Roots Hostel Osaka is a good choice for backpackers wanting to be close to the city centre while still getting a good deal. The hostel offers breakfast and also laundry facilies. Oh and don’t worry, prices are much lower here than they are in Tokyo.
- Mid-range: The Mielparque Osaka is a hop and skip away from public transport and is open for check in 24 hours a day. There’s also a restaurant, hair salon and laundry services.
- Luxury: If you were hoping to splurge on a more luxurious hotel for a night or two in your trip Osaka is a great place to do it. I’d recommend Hotel Hankyu International as its good value for the price, and also has a restaurant and bar available onsite.
Kyoto
- Budget: The Bakpak Hostel Kyoto is a good choice for backpackers. There’s a bar, restaurant and a kitchen (for making your own meals) onsite, and its also near a train station for easy access around the city.
- Midrange: Hotel MyStays Kyoto Shijo is your best option for a cheap private room close to public transport. The reception is open 24 hours a day and there’s also a beauty spa at the hotel if you need a bit of me time. The rooms feature safes to store your valuables as well.
- Luxury: For luxury, the Hotel and Spa Lotus Modern is a pretty good option. There’s a 24 hour reception so you can check in at any time, and the hotel is child-free.
All other cities in Japan
- There are so many different cities in Japan that I couldn’t cover them in one post. To see hotel options for other popular cities visit Booking.com
Packing List for Japan: Safety and Health
bigstockphoto.com / Gutar photoghaphy
Safety rules in Japan are similar to most western countries. Keep your wits about you in big cities, don’t leave your valuables unattended and don’t walk around alone in the night in bad parts of town.
Popular Day Tours in Autumn in Japan
Tokyo
There’s a lot to see in Tokyo so I’ve given you some sightseeing and tour ideas below. For more Tokyo sightseeing ideas here.
- Disneyland or Disneysea pass – Did you know that Japan has a Disneyland? If you want to visit you can see the prices here.
- City sights – For general sightseeing of Tokyo you have three main options. Either use public transport or taxis and get around yourself, join a hop on, hop off bus, or take on the sights with a local guide who organises everything (click here to see more information).
- Do a Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji day trip – If you want to see both of these places its easier to do them on a tour due to their distance, especially if you have limited time in Tokyo. See the latest prices here.
Kyoto
- A half-day bike tour is an interesting way to explore the city and cover more ground at the same time. You can find more details here.
- The rural town of Miyama is a great place to visit on a day trip if you want to get out of the city. The two main things you’ll see are traditional Japanese architecture and the Amanohashidate sandbar. See more information here.
- Another popular thing to do from Kyoto is to visit the Itsukushima shrine which is a pretty orange arch that was built over water. On this tour you will also visit the Hiroshima peace memorial. Find out prices and more information here.
Osaka
- Sightseeing in the city of Osaka: A tour with a local guide is a good option for exploring the city, otherwise you can by a pass for the hop on, hop off bus (see prices here).
- Dig into some local Japanese food on this 3 hour food tour – find more details + prices here.
Other Tours
For more experiences in Japan have a look at the Get Your Guide website.
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