Japan: Outerwear for March
 

I know that the typical temps for Tokyo and Kyoto and Hiroshima areas are about 40s to low 50s for March. But I know it can be a rainy time, and wet can make it feel colder. If anyone has been at that time, I am thinking of taking a 100 weight fleece hooded jacket w/a water resistant cover on outside (Northface), gloves. Is that enough over a longsleeved warm shirt? It's easy to pack. I don't want to be cold. Could go with a 200 weight fleece but that is much more bulky.
My son on the other hand only wants to take a thick hooded sweatshirt.

Bonjour Emd,

you should be ok with your jacket, I'm not sure gloves are necessary (maybe in the mountains). Your son, however, might feel cold with only a sweat. Make him take at least a water resistant light jacket.

Florence, bonjour to you. Aside from the many regular outdoor sites, we are hiking in Kurama/Kibune for a day. Also going to at least one baseball game at an outdoor stadium (Jingu). And Miyajima.
On the son, I am doing pretty good just getting him to leave denim shorts out of the suticase. The young man wears shorts here in 40 degree weather, but not in Japan. I will probably be better off packing thermal underwear shirt to go under the hooded sweatshirt for him, and I'll do that. He just won't wear a jacket unless it is below freezing.
Have you been in Tokyo or Kyoto in March, and if so how much rain did you have?

I've been to both Tokyo and Kyoto in March 2003, and temperature can be rather nippy in the morning. I've experienced 1 day of rather heavy rain in Nara, 1 day of light but freezing drizzle in Kyoto, and a rather nice and lukewarm weather in Tokyo. Other than that, 3 weeks of nice weather, with need of a light, wind breaking, jacket.

From what I saw, there can be lots of fog over the mountains surrounding Kyoto.

Tell your son that only elementary school children wear shorts in Japan, that should solve the problem ;-). Teenagers outside of school wear baggy jeans, sneakers with the heel part well crupmpled in order to slip them on and off easily when visiting temples), oversize Tshirts over a sweatshirt (both with outragous slogans in bad English - see www.engrish.com for examples), and a bag slung over the shoulder (to store comics and video games) ;-)

You're going to watch a day game in Jingu, aren't you ? (I think no night games in March)
Then not that cold outside.

Here in Tokyo we do have some rainy days in March, yes,
but not as wet as June.
As for temperature it could be chilly in early morning.

Jacket is necessary if you're hiking.

Thank you for additional info. Yes, the preseason games are afternoon games.
Well, at least it is nice to know my son will fit right in.

I was in Tokyo last March. Weather was nippy most days. Trenchcoat w/liner was perfect. Take a small umbrella.

Thanks. hmmm. Well, I was only planning on taking a waist length jacket. I can't fathom carrying around my full trench coat w/liner, but then again if I need it all the time maybe I will, and it will cover me for rain also. But I'll need something more pracitcal for hiking. Maybe I'll take the Northface jacket and pack some silk long underwear too. I'm glad I asked about this.

My parents visited Japan mid-late March, so I can remember well the weather. They are from the Boston area, so know cold, snow, rain, etc.... they were surprised by the damp cold and a bit uncomfortable at times. For our 5 days in the Kyoto area, it was rather cold and raw. We had winter weight fleece...I wore a winter coat actually...and gloves. We took frequent indoor breaks from seeing temples and walking about for coffee or tea and to warm up. Hiroshima/Miyamjima was warmer...balmy in comparison. Kanazawa had snow, as we do almost every year in March, sometimes in April too. Takayama was snowless but hovering around 0 degrees C...usual weather for there.

Layers are the best way to go. Yesterday in Kanazawa, the morning low was -1C, by noon it was 10C, and by dinnertime it was 3C. Variable to say the least.

If it turns out that you need another layer while you are in Japan, you can easily buy fleece. One place to look out for is Uniqlo. They are in all the shopping areas and sell fleece for 1000 yen or less on sale, which they will be in March. There are, of course, loads of shops, but Uniqlo stands out for the low everyday prices. Tokyu Hands department stores are also a pretty good value. There are many more places to get good deals...point being if you end up needing more clothes, you'll be able to buy them in Japan quite easily.

Looking at pictures of our March trip a few years back, I see us in the snow in Matsumoto, in the snow in Kanazawa, and me in my fully lined trench coat freezing in Kyoto!

You should bring the silk longjohns, just in case! As for your son, he'll be fine. Or at least, you tried to warn him and if he chooses to dress like a tourist in Hawaii...show him no mercy!!

THanks Kim and Lucy. This was what I suspected, that although it might be upper 40s or 50, w/the dampness may be really cold. Thanks for the suggestions on where to buy extra layers. I think I will just pack longjohns too, and I went out and bought a packable jacket for my son last night that will go over his hoodie. AS it turns out we will also be going to the Japan High School Championship Tournamnet in Osaka, so another outdoor day. Gloves, hats, and I might take a scarf too. I hate being cold.
Thanks again.

Hi,

Read this with much interest. How much difference will April make in Kyoto. We will be there April 19-23. We will also be in Hokkaido around Lake Toya at the end of April.

Does any have suggestions? I was planning on optional silk longjohns,light wool pants with layered tops and a wind breaker type jacket. Enough, too much??

Thanks!

Kyoto will probably be warm enough for a light jacket...but there are always those days when it is chilly still. Hokkaido....cold still. You might want to just buy as you need, though, given your luggage situation.

cwn,
it's not too much at all if you stay at Lake Toya area.
It may snow in late April there.
Lake Toya ski resort remains open
till the end of March or even early April.

Though it's very cold outside,
usually they keep temperature in rooms ( hotels, department stores, offices and so on)
much higher, I mean warmer, in Hokkaido than we do here in Tokyo.
Many people from Tokyo say they almost sweat inside of any buildings
in visiting Hokkaido during fall, winter and early spring.
So it's better if you make it easy to put on and off.

Here in Tokyo its warm in department stores, but I don't think that warm in offices,
hotel rooms, museums, restaurants and so on.

Hi! Just wondering how cold will ryokan be late March in Kyoto? We are staying 2 nights in Kyoto but never imagine that Kyoto will be cold in March.

If it's a real ryokan, you can count on being plenty warm enough. The room will be heated by probably an electric inverter system. If it's a budget style lodging that uses ryokan in the name, you may be cold...a budget place may possibly have kerosene heaters for rooms that must be turned off during sleep. They will provide plenty of blankets though, maybe an electric one.

Bonjour Hoshiko and KimJapan,

All the budget ryokans I've been staying in lately in Winter or early Spring had electric inverters and I've never been really cold there. Even my mother, who freezes in 80's temp, felt warm enough in such a place in March.

Topping this post for "reddd", who is asking what to wear in April in Japan.

topping again