Last Updated on September 19, 2026 by Fadra Nally
If you’ve ever been to Japan in the summer, you already know where this is going.
If you’re planning your first trip to Japan in June, July, August, or even September and haven’t yet heard about the heat and humidity, consider this your warning. Summer in Japan is hot. And humid. Very humid. But with the right Japan summer packing guide, you’ll be just fine.
I’ve now been to Japan three times: once in January, once in September, and most recently for three weeks from the end of July through the middle of August. On that last trip, I even headed north to Hokkaido in search of cooler weather.
But avoiding summer altogether isn’t always an option. And you don’t necessarily need to.
If you’re going to Japan in the summer, don’t be scared. Just be prepared.
After three weeks of sightseeing, sweating, washing clothes in hotel sinks, and figuring out what actually made a difference, I came home with some very strong opinions about summer travel essentials.
Even better, you don’t need to buy everything before you leave. Some products are worth packing from home, while others are much better to pick up once you get to Japan.
Japan Summer Packing Guide: What to Pack vs. Buy There
Here’s my quick answer before we get into the details.
| Summer Essential | Buy Before Your Trip | Buy in Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Sunglasses | ✓ | |
| Sun hat | Either | ✓ |
| Sunscreen | ✓ | |
| UV-protective jacket | ✓ | |
| UV umbrella | ✓ | |
| Handkerchief/sweat towel | ✓ | |
| Portable fan | Either | ✓ |
| Breathable underwear | ✓ | |
| AIRism bra/undergarments | ✓* | ✓ |
| Anti-chafing shorts | ✓ | |
| Linen/cotton clothing | ✓ | |
| Water & electrolyte drinks | ✓ |
*Uniqlo AIRism products can be considerably cheaper in Japan, but buying before your trip means you know you’ll have the size you need.
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Bring Sunglasses From Home
Let’s start with the obvious.
Bring sunglasses.
I was actually surprised that I didn’t see sunglasses being sold or worn nearly as often in Japan as I expected. And with the amount of time you’ll spend outside sightseeing, you’ll want them.
This is one of those things I wouldn’t leave until arrival. Bring a pair you already know is comfortable enough to wear all day.
MY VERDICT: Pack them.
Buy a Sun Hat — Or Pick One Up in Japan
A hat makes a huge difference when you’re walking around in direct sun.
A ball cap will work, but I personally prefer a bucket-style hat. It shades your face and ears, gives your neck a little more protection, and you can take it off without quite as much of the dreaded ball-cap hair situation.
Bucket hats are also very common in Japan.
I bought a Muji hat at Lawson of all places. Lawson is one of Japan’s major convenience-store chains, and some locations carry Muji products. Mine was even on sale!
It’s practical, packable, and now it doubles as a souvenir.
MY VERDICT: Bring one if you already have one you love, but this is also an easy item to buy in Japan.
Wait and Buy Your Sunscreen in Japan
You absolutely need sun protection when visiting Japan in the summer.
I brought my regular facial sunscreen from home, but for arms, legs, and general everyday use, I’m firmly on Team Buy It in Japan.
Japanese sunscreen was one of my favorite discoveries.
My personal favorite is Skin Aqua SPF 50+. It feels incredibly lightweight compared with many of the sunscreens I’ve used in the U.S. and was easy to wear every day without feeling like I had a heavy layer sitting on my skin.
I liked it enough that I bought more to bring home.
You’ll find sunscreen at drugstores and plenty of other shops throughout Japan, so this isn’t something you need to fill your suitcase with before your trip.
MY VERDICT: Buy it in Japan – and maybe bring some home.
Consider a UV-Protective Jacket
Covering your skin might sound completely counterintuitive when it’s already hot outside, but lightweight UV-protective clothing can be surprisingly useful.
I bought an extremely thin jacket from GU in Japan that was almost transparent but offered UV protection.
The key here is lightweight. This isn’t the time to throw on a traditional jacket.
It’s simply another option if you’d rather cover your arms than continually reapply sunscreen. And on a completely Japanese note, you can also buy Arm Sleeves – kind of like gardening sleeves – to keep your skin protected from the sun.
MY VERDICT: This can be a good purchase once you’re in Japan.
My #1 Japan Summer Purchase: A UV Umbrella
If I could convince you to buy only one thing for summer in Japan, it might be a good umbrella.
Not just any umbrella.
Japan has umbrellas specifically designed for both rain and sun, and I bought mine from Wpc. IZA at Hands, one of my favorite stores in Japan.
Mine has a light-colored exterior with a black underside designed to block the sun, and it opens with the push of a button.
And what a difference.
Standing under a proper sun umbrella felt noticeably cooler to me than standing directly in blazing sunlight. It also did a much better job than simply grabbing a regular rain umbrella.
There’s another reason I love carrying one in Japan: weather.
One minute you may be walking under an incredibly intense sun. The next minute, a rain shower appears.
With one umbrella in your bag, you’re ready for both.
Sun umbrellas are also completely normal in Japan, so you won’t feel the least bit conspicuous walking around with one on a sunny day.
This is one of the things I made sure came home with me.
MY VERDICT: Buy a good UV rain-or-shine umbrella in Japan.
Buy a Japanese Handkerchief – AKA My Sweat Rag
Now we need to talk about the humidity.
Japan doesn’t just get hot. It gets humid.
Sweating is your body’s way of helping keep you cool, but that doesn’t mean you want sweat running down your face all day.
Enter what Japan politely calls a handkerchief.
I call it a sweat rag.
These are basically small towels. Mine has fabric on one side and terry cloth on the other, and I carried it everywhere.
You’ll see people casually using them to wipe sweat from their faces and necks, and once you start doing the same, you’ll understand.
But they’re useful for more than sweat.
Some public restrooms may not have the hand-drying setup you’re expecting, so having your own small towel can come in handy.
And one of my favorite tricks was at temples where water was available. Wetting my towel with cool water and putting it on my face or neck felt amazing on a brutally hot day.
They’re inexpensive, easy to find, and make a fun practical souvenir.
MY VERDICT: Definitely buy one in Japan.
A Portable Fan Is a Game Changer
Portable fans are everywhere during summer in Japan for good reason.
You can certainly buy one before you leave, but Japan has an enormous selection.
I bought a rechargeable turbo-style personal fan at Hands. Instead of moving a tiny amount of air around, this thing actually had some power.
I used it on my face. I pointed it down my shirt. I used it to help evaporate sweat.
It came everywhere with me.
And rechargeable is definitely the way to go. The last thing you need on vacation is another device that requires a constant supply of batteries.
MY VERDICT: You can buy one before your trip, but it’s also easy to shop for one in Japan.
Ladies, Let’s Talk About Summer Undergarments
This next category is mainly for women.
And especially my fellow post-menopausal women who understand that sometimes summer sweating happens in places we’d rather not discuss.
When I was planning this trip, I specifically wanted undergarments that would:
- handle sweat well
- feel breathable
- wash easily in a hotel sink or washing machine
- dry quickly enough to wear again
After experimenting with a few options, I found three things that worked extremely well.
Quince Modal Underwear
I did more research into underwear fabric than any human probably needs to do.
Cotton is breathable, but once it gets wet, it can take a while to dry. Some synthetics wick moisture well but don’t necessarily give you the breathability you want in certain areas.
I ultimately went with modal underwear from Quince with a cotton gusset.
No, they aren’t winning any awards for sexiest vacation lingerie.
You will not care.
When it’s hot and humid and you’re walking miles every day, comfort moves rapidly to the top of the priority list.
MY VERDICT: Buy these before you leave.
Uniqlo AIRism Bras
My next concern was finding a bra that could deal with sweat without feeling like a tight, constricting sports bra.
I took two Uniqlo AIRism bras with me, and they were fantastic.
They slip on more like a sports bra but aren’t as constricting. Mine had adjustable straps, wicked away moisture, and most importantly for traveling, they were easy to wash and dried quickly.
I alternated between two throughout the trip, washing them either in the washing machine or by hand in the hotel sink and hanging them to dry.
Now, here’s the dilemma.
Uniqlo is everywhere in Japan, and many items may be less expensive there than they are in the United States.
But you’re gambling on finding your size. American women tend to be, shall we say, larger than a typical Japanese woman. So keep that in mind when planning your clothing options.
For an item as essential as a bra, I didn’t want to take that gamble.
MY VERDICT: I’d buy at least what you need before leaving. If you find more in your size in Japan, shop away.
Thigh Society Cooling Shorts
I love wearing dresses and skirts when it’s warm because: airflow.
But dresses introduce another summer travel problem.
Chafing.
Or, as many women affectionately call it, chub rub.
You don’t have to be a large person to experience it. If your thighs touch and you’re walking around in heat and humidity all day, friction happens.
I finally got on board with wearing shorts underneath my dresses and brought two pairs of Thigh Society cooling shorts.
These were one of the biggest surprises of the trip.
They stretch beautifully, didn’t make me feel hot, didn’t dig uncomfortably into my stomach, and helped make dresses much more comfortable for long sightseeing days.
I brought one light pair and one dark pair and washed them the same way I did my bras — machine wash when possible or hand wash in the hotel sink and hang to dry.
They made me love wearing dresses in summer again.
MY VERDICT: Buy these before your trip.
Don’t Forget to Hydrate
Here’s the mom portion of this post:
Please drink water.
You do not need to haul a gigantic reusable water bottle around Japan unless you want to.
One of the easiest things about traveling in Japan is that vending machines and convenience stores are everywhere. When you need another drink, it’s usually very easy to find one.
And sometimes water alone doesn’t quite cut it.
If you’ve been sweating heavily and start feeling run down, an electrolyte drink can be useful. One of the best-known options in Japan is Pocari Sweat.
Yes, the name is unfortunate.
Think of it somewhat like Japan’s answer to a sports hydration drink, but without the bright colors and intensely sweet flavor you might associate with some U.S. sports drinks.
And if you’ve been enjoying a few beers or highballs along the way, hydration becomes even more important.
MY VERDICT: Don’t carry your vacation’s entire water supply. Buy drinks as you go.
What Should You Wear in Japan in the Summer?
Finally, let’s talk about clothing.
For me, summer in Japan means dresses, skirts, and sandals whenever possible. I’ve already talked separately about some of my favorite shoes for walking in Japan, but fabric matters just as much.
Look for lightweight, breathable clothing that doesn’t become miserable as soon as you start sweating.
I particularly like:
- linen
- cotton
- lightweight blends
- clothing that can be washed easily and hung to dry
And remember that even though it’s hot outside, you’ll encounter air conditioning indoors. That’s another reason a very lightweight layer can come in handy.
Most importantly, don’t plan your Japan wardrobe around looking perfectly polished every minute.
Plan it around being comfortable enough to actually enjoy Japan.
What I Would Pack Before a Summer Trip to Japan
If I were packing again tomorrow, I’d bring my sunglasses, breathable underwear, AIRism bras, Thigh Society shorts, lightweight clothing, comfortable walking shoes, and whatever facial sun protection I already know works for me.
Then I’d leave some room in my suitcase.
Once I arrived in Japan, I’d shop for sunscreen, a proper UV umbrella, a small handkerchief or towel, a portable fan, and any other Japanese summer products that caught my eye.
And believe me, there will be plenty.
Japan knows summer is hot. The good news is that Japan is also very good at selling you things to make summer more tolerable.
So if you’re planning a trip during the hottest months of the year, don’t let the weather scare you away.
Just arrive prepared, stay hydrated, seek out the air conditioning when you need it, and embrace the sweat rag.
Japan in the summer is absolutely doable. You just need the right stuff.
