Autumn is one of the best seasons to visit Japan, with gorgeous autumn leaves and cool weather. Many people consider autumn to be the “best fashion season” in Japan. This is because the autumn colours inspire many fashion trends, and the cool comfortable weather makes practically anything comfortable to wear so you can get creative with shoes, outerwear, and accessories!
In this article, we introduce what typical autumn weather in Japan is like, the characteristics of Japan autumn fashion, and what to wear during autumn.
Table of Contents
- Typical Autumn Weather in Japan
- Best Fashion Season - What’s so special about Japanese autumn fashion?
- What to wear for Japanese autumn fashion?
- Accessories to Complete Your Autumn Outfit
- Japanese Vocabulary for Autumn Fashion Shopping
Typical Autumn Weather in Japan
Autumn in Japan is from September to November. Autumn weather is generally refreshing and pleasant, with moderate temperatures and humidity at comfortable levels. It is not hot compared to summer, but not too cold yet either.
However, in September, there are days when the daytime temperature exceeds 30°C and days when humidity is high, which bears resemblance to summer. Many people still wear summer clothes and carry portable fans in September.
In October, the temperature drops more and daytime becomes comfortable as well. And in November, the temperatures drop even farther, with some days when the daytime temperature drops below 20°C.
It gets colder faster further north so check the weather and temperature forecast and prepare accordingly when going to Tohoku and Hokkaido. Be especially careful of night time temperatures that can be really cold!
Typhoon Season in Japan
The biggest concern about autumn in Japan is typhoons, which often come in early autumn. The typhoon season in Japan is usually from August in summer till early autumn in October, with most typhoons recorded to occur in August and September. Typhoons bring heavy rain and strong winds, so avoid going out as it can be dangerous and public transportation may be suspended. Make sure to check typhoon information and warnings on TV and online.
How to Dress for Each Autumn Month
Each autumn month has its own weather characteristics! Here’s a summary of what to expect to guide you on how to dress.
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September : Wear thinner layers during the day which is usually warm, think summer wear like T-shirts, breezy tops, thin pants or shorts. However, carry a cardigan or wear long-sleeves in the mornings, late evenings, and nights that tend to be chilly.
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October : Opt for longer sleeves, pants, and leggings throughout the day. Light sweaters and jackets are now better for the colder mornings and evenings, and sometimes even all day.
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November : It is time to add layers. Depending on where you go, it’s time for coats, thick sweaters and jackets, boots, hats and gloves. Temperatures may differ greatly by location, so definitely check the forecast in advance and pack accordingly.
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December : December is the first month of winter, but early December weather is similar to mid~late November weather, so dress similarly.
Note : There are many rainy days during autumn in Japan. Having rain boots, raincoat, and umbrella on stand-by is recommended. On days when it rains, it will be colder so dress warmer.
Writer's Pick
Best Fashion Season - What’s so special about Japanese autumn fashion?
Autumn Provides the Opportunities to Style Up
During autumn, the pleasant weather provides the ideal opportunity to dress-up in the most fashionable and stylish fall outfits. Get creative with coordinating your outfit with various types of clothing including sweaters, jackets, cardigans, skirts, scarves, belts, hats, etc.
Just strolling down the streets in Japan becomes an exciting experience to see different types of unique Japanese autumn fashion. Get inspired on how to coordinate your next outfit, and go shopping to add to your wardrobe!
General Characteristics of Japan Autumn Fashion
With autumn being chilly in Japan, many popular fashion styles will emphasise warmth, quality, and material. A variety of fashion styles are available including cute, sophisticated, chic, etc. Autumn designs are also quite distinct in nature, featuring plaid or chequered patterns, solid colours, and plenty of knitwear. For footwear, loafers and boots take over summer sandals, flip-flops and other open-toed shoes.
Autumn Colours Make an Appearance
What autumn colours are popular to wear in Japan? Warm earthy colours like brown and beige are the classic, but also accent colours like red, orange, yellow, purple and green. Compared to bright summer colours, for autumn, these colours are preferred in darker shades, for example:
- Red : dark red, maroon, burgundy, wine red
- Orange : pumpkin orange, rust, marmalade, burnt orange
- Yellow : mustard yellow, amber, marigold, golden
- Purple : eggplant, plum, mauve, dark purple, indigo
- Green : olive green, khaki, forest, pine
This is just a sample of autumn colours that frequently appear in the fashion market during autumn, but of course you can wear any colour you like to create your own unique autumn outfit!
What to wear for Japanese autumn fashion?
We’ve briefly covered the type of clothing commonly worn during autumn in Japan, so let’s go into detail (with lots of photos!) here.
Outerwear
Autumn coats or jackets are lighter compared to winter coats and jackets, but no less essential to keep warm during autumn nights and throughout the day from mid to late autumn. There are many different types of coats in various designs to choose from, like trench coats, duffle coats, pea coats, poncho, military- style coats, faux fur coats, etc. In recent years, oversized coats are trending in Japan.
Sweaters
Sweaters are a staple during autumn and winter in Japan. They are available in many styles, materials and designs to suit different occasions and personal preferences. Popular sweaters include knitted sweaters, hooded sweater, turtleneck sweater, pullovers, etc. When choosing what sweater to wear, consider whether you will be indoors or outdoors, and what coat you will be wearing with it
Cardigan
Autumn cardigans are warmer and thicker than summer lightweight cardigans. Cardigans are a versatile and timeless fashion-piece. Available in a variety of designs and materials, they are also suitable for all types of occasions including as casual wear or office wear depending on the design. Worn over a regular top, you can wear it as an outerwear, or even layered under jackets.
Trousers and Long Skirts
With the weather becoming cooler, long trousers and long skirts are preferred. In Japan, long skirts and long dresses are worn all year long, but autumn ones are made in thicker materials and have a distinct autumn look. For even colder weather, there are also wind-proof skirts, and many ladies pair long skirts and dresses with warm leggings.
Loafers
Whether men or women, loafers come into trend during autumn. With their low-cut moccasin-like design, loafers come in a variety of materials and are easy to slip on and off. They are also a shoe design that has withstood the test of time. For ladies, recent loafer trends include chunky thick-soled loafers, and loafers accessories with large buckles or ornaments.
Boots
Boots are also a classic footwear in the autumn and winter months. Even in early autumn when the weather is still summerlike, there are some people who start wearing boots as a fashion statement. There are a variety of styles of boots, from ankle boots, knee-high boots, thigh-high boots, to chelsea boots and combat boots. The recent trend for boots is “knit boots (ニットブーツ)”.
Accessories to Complete Your Autumn Outfit
Scarves, Shawls, Stoles
Scarves don’t just keep your neck warm in the cold autumn weather, but also fashionable accessories easily coordinated with different types of outfits. A simple outfit can be made to look stylish just by adding a scarf as an accent. Aside from scarves, there are also shawls, stoles, or ponchos to help glam up your outfit.
Beanies and Other Hats
Keep your head and ears warm with beanies and knitted caps. For autumn, a light and thin beanie is sufficient and can help accentuate your look. Other hats you can consider to spruce up your outfit are berets and faux fur bucket hats.
Japanese Vocabulary for Autumn Fashion Shopping
Want to go shopping for autumn clothes in Japan? These Japanese vocabulary will come in useful whether you're shopping in-store or online.
🍁Learn the Japanese for autumn wear in Japan!! It's cooling down in Tokyo and finally feels like fall! If you go...
Posted by WeXpats on Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Are you ready to enjoy autumn in Japan? There are many things to do apart from enjoyting the autumn leaves, and embracing Japanese autumn fashion is just one of them!
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