Spring Weather in Tokyo, Japan

Many people visit Japan in April and May. I found the weather to be very comfortable when I visited Tokyo last April. The temperature in April can range from 50° to 68°F (10° to 20°C) in the daytime, to 50° to 57°F (10° to 14°C) in the evening. The cold weather of winter is long gone, but you are still far from the hot summer weather. I noticed that after the sun set in certain areas the temperature would change drastically. I talked about this in my Tokyo DisneySea post.

Bookmark this post if you are planning to travel to Tokyo, Japan in the springtime. I’ve even included a checklist in each category so you can mark off what you have packed.

Light-weight Jackets/Cardigans

Pack a few cardigans and/or light-weight jackets. These are perfect for layering over items that would generally be considered only for summer. I packed a couple cardigans, as well as a denim jacket from the GAP that I have had forever. J. Crew Factory has great cardigans. In the photo below, I’m wearing a cardigan I’ve had for years that I always travel with. I think it was from Macy’s.

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T-Shirts

T-shirts are a great basic in any travel wardrobe. When I think about what to wear to Tokyo, Japan in the spring, I think about bringing both long sleeve and short sleeve t-shirts.

Many days I was able to wear the long sleeve t-shirts on their own. Then I would pair the short sleeve t-shirts with a cardigan or my denim jacket. Target, J. Crew and the GAP have great quality long and short sleeve t-shirts.

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Long Pants

It was never warm enough to wear shorts. If you’re traveling to Japan and you go to Okinawa, bring your shorts. But Tokyo in April was not warm enough for shorts (South Korea during the same month was even colder.).
I packed a pair of straight jeans from Old Navy. Wide-leg yoga pants, also from Old Navy, were perfect for the long flight to Tokyo. I wore them around Tokyo as well.

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Comfortable Shoes

I can’t stress enough how important it is to pack comfortable shoes if you are visiting Tokyo, Japan in the spring. You will spend a lot of time walking.

Things are very convenient. However, if using public transportation, you will walk a lot. I think I spent the most time walking getting from train station to train station.

I packed New Balance running sneakers, Target Birkenstock slide dupes and black flats I found on Amazon. Having one dressy shoe isn’t necessary for everyone. However, I’m glad I did, as I had a few less-casual dresses to wear them with.

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Midi Dresses

If you wear dresses, many times it’s easier to just put on a dress than think about putting together an outfit.

Packing both long sleeve and short sleeve midi dresses was a great idea. I believe I packed two long sleeve ones and one short sleeve one. J. Crew has great cotton midi dresses.

A bonus is a kaftan, which is similar to a dress. I have one from PajamaSutra (below) and I bring it on a lot of trips. It’s perfect for lounging at your hotel or rental. Also, it’s the perfect fabric for a spring day walking around your neighborhood in Tokyo.

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Accessories

I packed a few different bags because I knew they were days I would need a specific type of bag. For example, I used a small backpack for when I went to Tokyo DisneySea.

There were days I walked through the neighborhood around my Airbnb. I didn’t need a big bag. I would use my Uniqlo “banana bag”.  This is the ultimate travel bag. I even influenced my sister to get one. They appear small but they hold so much. Another great option for short neighborhood strolls and 7-11 runs is a small fanny pack. (The photo below was taken two years prior, in the fall, not the spring. My deep tan may give that away. Haha.)

In addition to the small backpack and Uniqlo bag, I also recommend packing a baseball cap. I neglected to do this. However, it would have helped keep me a little bit warmer during those cool spring Tokyo nights.