Sydney2K

I am off to Tokyo and Nagoya in a couple of weeks' time. It's probably the worst time of the year to go, but as I am attending a festival there's not much I can do about it. In any case I wanted to get some thoughts about clothes packing strategies. Should I pack several tops and trousers (I'm male) and try to have clean clothes for an extended period of time (say five days to a week) or should I pack only a couple of tops and trousers (plus what I'll wear on the plane) and use the hotel bathroom to wash every night?

In the past what I have done was to spray rinse the clothes I wore that day and hang them in the bathroom at night, so they would dry in a 36 hour period, however this was done in winter/spring, and I am sure summer may be a bit more trying on my clothes.

Thoughts?

KimJapan

If you are staying in a better hotel, the bathroom will be large and ventilated enough to dry clothing.

It will be hot and humid...like 33 - 35 degrees and 90% humidity. I'd bring enough clothing to allow at least one change of clothes each day to use in the afternoon...in summer, we shower and change clothes at least once during the day if we have been outdoors in the heat.

tahl

Last July I took a shower every morning and then a shower every evening before dinner so that I could get unsweaty after the hot, humid day.

I'm not a guy, so it's hard to advise you on what clothes to take. What works for me, though, is to have an outfit (top & bottom) that I *only* put in the evenings, post-second-shower. That outfit stays mostly unsweaty for days, so requires less washing.

I've done this in other hot places in summer (e.g., Thailand / Vietnam); unfortunately, I forgot to plan ahead for it last year in Japan, and wished I had. I wound up spending a fortune on hotel laundry as well as rinsing clothes out in sinks.

Paul1950

Our Tokyo hotels (both were Toyoko Inns) had coin operated washers and dryers. We did not use them, so I don't know how much they cost.

Sydney2K

Thanks for the suggestions, some great tips. I'm planning to pack lighter than normal, and to pick up some polos or short sleeved shirts at UniQlo in the first couple of days.

jasmine3

We just returned yesterday from a 14 day trip to Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto and HIroshima). Very hot and humid (esp. Kyoto). We packed very light as we had washer in our apartments. Bring an umbrella as here and there we had rain. Enjoy the festival. We were able to enjoy the Gion Matsuri on the 17th in Kyoto. Great experience for our kids.

citywalks

I agree with all the above posts. I also wash shirts in bathroom sink at least twice per day and shower at least that many times. In Tokyo, you can stay out of the hot sun as the trains and subways often connect directly to food courts, restuarants, shopping malls, hotels or with stations close to museums. I typically rise early in Tokyo and plan a morning activity, often take a siesta in the hotel in the afternoon and go out at night in this exciting and safe city.

Have fun

mrwunrfl

I would take 5 to 7 days of clothes for any trip, unless it was less than 4 days.

Given that it would be short sleeve shirts, tropic weight pants, and shorts, it will be fairly compact and light. If traveling Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo, and I wanted to minimize what I carried, then I might leave some stuff at the hotel in Tokyo to pick up on return.