I am 6 feet tall and weigh about 190 pounds muscular also size 11 1/2 shoes. I really want to travel light to Japan and buy clothes there that I can't find here in the U.S. Will I have problems finding clothes and shoes my size? or will everything be waaaaaay too small for me unless I seek out some specialty store- in that case , I might as well just pack all my clothes.

You will have a hard time, at best. You will find very little that is affordable, and more that is priced beyond any savings you might find by travelling light.

My husband is the same height and weight as you, and just barely can wear shirts size LL (means extra large) purchased here as long as they never meet a clothes dryer.

Shoes, he's size 10 1/2 and is very limited in shoe style choice when there is even anything at all on offer that might fit him. The best he's had with shoes is from the Sports Authority, and even there the styles in larger size are very limited.

There are some "big and tall" shops, but they do not generally sell things at a low price.

Pants/jeans/shorts...very, very difficult. Pants and jeans are too short at best. Shorts tend to be just too narrow all around.

You will not find anything in Japan that is much different from the US, even if you were a small guy.

I hate to use cliches, but I can't resist: Been there, done that. I traveled to Japan w/my then-14 yr old son who was 6'3" and 160 lbs. He really wanted to bring back just one shirt at least. We kept our eye out everywhere we went and could not find even one T shirt for him to bring back.

I am a size 14 woman and when I went back the 2nd time to Japan w/my 13 yr old daughter, I tried on clothes. Forget it. I couldn't get the extra large sizes past my thighs.

Advice: Pack your own clothes.

:-S :-S :-S :-S :-S


(that is me, trying on japanese clothes)

I just had to add my own story here. I was in Japan for a month a few years back, and really needed a new pair of sneakers. I went into the Nike store and I told them my size (the clerk spoken English). She went in the back and then came back out, extremely red in the face and embarrased looking. They did not stock a single shoe in my size. I could have bought men's but wasn't interested.

What size shoe do I wear, you ask? Perhaps a 10 or maybe even 9? Nope. I wear an 8 or 8.5, and my foot is narrow. They simply didn't have any.

My nephew is 6'4" and slim. He bought a sports coat in a small shop in the underground mall in front of Kyoto station. He wore it off the rack.

Apparently, his shopping options where he was living (near Seoul, Korea) were more limited.

Just pack your clothes and use a coin laundry.

The only place I have found shirts that fit me in Japan are at the Hard Rock Cafes. The do have Extra Large. Not very "Japanese" but they fit.