What to wear, hm...

[Gentleman10]

Hey guys,

I'm an American college student studying my year abroad in Tokyo starting September and ending July. Sofar I'm working on getting my ticket, planning what there is to do while I'm there, and all that good stuff. Actually this morning my mom mentioned clothing, and it actually hit me that I've never actually experienced a real winter before. Living in Texas doesn't exactly give me a wide range of weather: we have hot, really hot, and 'if you go outside you'll instantly fry' hot.
Needless to say it's never snowed where I live, so I'm a bit worried about what it will be like adapting to the cold. For starters I'm interested in just knowing what to wear for a Tokyo fall and winter. I'm guessing I should bring plenty of good pants and some good sweaters and jackets, but is there anything else I should be thinking about? And I know washing clothes there are a different there as the Japanese don't use dryers very much, so how many pairs of these items do you guys suggest bringing?
Thanks for your help guys. I'm a big guy, and I'm pretty sure Japanese clothes won't fit my 6ft 5in body, so I definitely appreciate everyone's help

 

[tigermilk]

Wasn't there for a year, but I was there for a month. Just had about a week's worth of clothes and hit the coin-op laundry.

You really don't need a lot of cold weather stuff for Tokyo. Snow isn't common, and neither is freezing. I've been there (Tsukuba actually, 30 miles north) in January, on a road bicycle in the dark of morning. Was it cold? At 20-25 mph it sure was. But not unbearable. I grew up in Dallas and now live in Houston. I remember some bitter cold days in Dallas, much colder than in Tokyo. Austin gets its fair share of cold weather in the winter.

And once the warmer weather comes around, it's more like Houston - hot, really hot, really really hot, and to add to the discomfort - humid. I actually thought Nagoya with its heat and humidity in August was worse than any day I've spent in Houston. That's saying something as we typically live in a sauna here on the coast.

There are big boys in Japan too, so you'll get by in a pinch. Just head to Harajuku and get some hip hop clothes - they like 'em baggy just like the American kids do.

 

[Halewijn]

maybe waterproof shoes, a scarf, good socks... and maybe gloves if you use a bicycle or something I guess?

 

[maushan3]

For Austin's monthly weather averages:
National and Local Weather Radar, Daily Forecast, Hurricane and information from The Weather Channel and weather.com

For Tokyo's monthly weather averages:
National and Local Weather Radar, Daily Forecast, Hurricane and information from The Weather Channel and weather.com

This should give you an idea of what to wear. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just a couple of warm jackets should do.

Mauricio

 

[epigene]

Tokyo doesn't get very cold compared to the northernmost parts of the US. It snows rarely (maybe a couple of times during the winter season starting in December and ending in early March at the latest). So, just get a warm jacket or two and some warm socks. Otherwise, you'll be fine (unless you decide to travel to Hokkaido and other colder parts during your stay).

The common way to dry laundry in Japan is to put them out in open air. So, you'll have to allow a couple of days (at most) for your clothes to dry.
However, there are laundromats (equipped with dryers) in various parts of Tokyo and its suburbs, so you can use them when you run out of clothes to wear.

 

[Gentleman10]

Thanks for you responses guys, I feel better now that I know I don't have to completely change my wardrobe or anything. Actually I think I'll just go with what I have, seeing how I can manage in Austin ok yearround. It seems I dont' have much to worry about asides from the amount of clothing I plan on bringing.
As for washing/drying, I know in Japan it's pretty common to put your clothes outside and let them dry, but I'm rather curious as how to handle this during the winter. Do most people use the laundromat during the winter season (I'm just trying to be cost efficient)?

>>Tigermilk, I'm not very trendy as far as fashion is concerned, but are there are any places in Harajuku you recomend? I'm glad they have some form of 'big and tall' there, because I hear many people have trouble finding clothes that suit them (I personally have more of a height than a width issue). Do you know of any specific stores I should check out while I'm there?

 

[tigermilk]

Tigermilk, I'm not very trendy as far as fashion is concerned, but are there are any places in Harajuku you recomend? I'm glad they have some form of 'big and tall' there, because I hear many people have trouble finding clothes that suit them (I personally have more of a height than a width issue). Do you know of any specific stores I should check out while I'm there?

Hmm, I'm a 38 year old suburban professional, a far stretch from the hip hop culture of the inner city. Just get of the Yamanote line at Harajuku and head east. You'll find plenty of stuff.

 

[epigene]

As for washing/drying, I know in Japan it's pretty common to put your clothes outside and let them dry, but I'm rather curious as how to handle this during the winter. Do most people use the laundromat during the winter season (I'm just trying to be cost efficient)?

We dry clothes outside even in winter. In case of rain or snow, people normally hang clothes to dry inside the house (such as in the bathroom or an extra room if you have one). Laundromats are used only in emergencies or when drying items that do not dry easily just hanging out in the open. Also, they are expensive to use (unless you have huge loads).
If you're staying with a host family, they might already have a dryer, since a growing number of households own drying machines (though smaller than those seen in the US).

 

[Gentleman10]

Alright then, I'll see how it goes. I was assigned to a dormitory since my college ran out of host families to accommodate students with, so I may be a bit limited on space, but I suppose I'll be having to redefine alot of my conceptions on space to begin with since Japanese living must be much more conservative compared to American living. Hopefully I won't have too many 'laundromat emergencies' whiel I'm there.

 

[ET_Fukuoka]

Dude I think you are going to freeze your nuts off!! I am from Hawaii and moved to Japan toward the end of summer. I was good until like October and then hell froze over!! Don't believe these people!! Get some nice sweat shirts and other winter close. Get them in the US where it's cheap. Japan doesn't believe in insulation so your place will be as cold as outside. In the winter we dry our clothes inside with the heater on, since the damp clothes act like a humidifier, or go to the coin laundry.

Parka and ski hat were my friends!!