What is the best way for a female American student to dress in Japan?

Question

I will be studying in Kyoto from Sept through May, and I want to know the most appropriate clothing to take with me. Kyoto seems pretty conservative, which is okay, but I don't to know what's best to leave. My main concerns are shoes and bottoms (jeans, skirts, and dresses).

Answer 1

♡After living here for almost 9 years now I would suggest that you just ☆'be yourself'.(*^o^*) Dress as you would back home as a student. Jeans, skirts and dresses are all fine as long as you are comfortable. Bring comfortable shoes though, getting around in Japan takes a lot of leg work and often times you have to take off your shoes before entering some places. Nice socks and comfy shoes. *A few pairs of shoes! I think the Japanese students will love seeing all your 'American clothes'. There are so many styles for young people in Japan today, it's hard to keep up. Once you get here, take a look and then if you want Japanese styles you can always buy some of the ones you like here. (Sometimes sizing is difficult for some foreigners, the only problem I usually have is with tops!) Bring your favorite accessories, bags... Have a good sized bag to carry everything you need for school and shopping and such, it's useful. Then buy your favorite Japanese styles too. You're right, in my opinion Kyoto is the most traditional part of Japan, but no one expects you to be Japanese or to try to be, so just be yourself, relax, be comfortable and enjoy! One more important point about clothes, at least for me, is the washing system! If you have 'dry clean only' clothes, it will get expensive. Most of my friends wash and hang their clothes to dry naturally, not convenient if you need jeans that take long to dry in a hurry. There are coin laundry mats though, find one when you get here if the place you're staying doesn't offer these facilities. I have a washer dryer combo so, I just wash and dry my things. Hope this helps, have a great time in Kyoto!♡ You may want to get a few handkerchiefs and a mini towel or two once you get here to carry in your bag, they come in handy. ☆Just my opinion.

Answer 2

You are a guest in the country. Dress more conservatively. Slacks and skirts are fine. But NO minis. A lot Japanese men have a view of American women that comes straight off Hollywood movies. And young women are sometimes molested on trains (subtly). I know that sounds sexist or something to Americans, but you really need to take it seriously. I lived there for 20 years and heard too many stories from young American women to consider it something to brush off.

For shoes you want them to be really comfortable for walking. You will walk a lot in Kyoto. Make sure your clothes are natural materials, fibers that breathe. It's humid and hot in the summer.
And take clothes you can layer. Central heating isn't a big thing in Japan and you need to be able to put on and take off.

Make sure the shoes come on and off easily, too.

Kyoto is a great place. I love it. It's a wonderful town to just wander around in, down little streets, and through shopping areas. It's a very artistic town and has a special pride, but the Kyoto people were always very helpful to foreigners. Have a great time. Try to see Katsura Rikyu and Shyugakuin. You have to go by appointment from the Imperial Household Agency, but it will all be easy to find once you get there. What a great experience you're about to have.

Answer 3

I just moved back from Tokyo and have been to Kyoto during the Cherry Blossom season (end of April beginning of May) and from what I have seen just about any kind of clothing would be good. It will be cold during the winter and very hot during the summer, so I would suggest for you to take a warm coat for the winter (the cold months are from about October to March). Take short sleeve shirts and some long sleeve ones for the whole time you are there. Gloves, scarfs, earmuffs, etc. are a good idea to take also. Shorts are probably good for the end of March through May and beyond. Take a good pair of walking shoes with you also, and if you have not gotten one yet take yourself a good guide book and a Japanese/English translation book with you. You are going to have a great time there. Enjoy!

If you want more info you can e-mail me and I will be more than happy to help you as much as I can.

Also when it comes to the money a rue of thumb is 1 for 1. I will give you an example. Take something like a move which costs 1200Yen just add a decimal point between the 2 and the 0. That will make it $12.00 or there about. It is the easiest way to understand their money system. Also everything has the tax already added in to the figure you will see (with the non tax amount underneath the one with tax in smaller print).

Sorry... I need to clarify something. All major credit cards work in Japan. You can go to most restraunts, and stores take them. Some convience stores do not. They take cash. Checks are not taken at all anywhere in Japan.

Like I said before I just moved back from Tokyo (was there for 2 years and have experinced alot of the culture). E-mail me for anything that you want to know. My e-mail address is [e-mail] or you can send to [e-mail].

Have a great trip!

Answer 4

Japanese students in Osaka is fashionable and they dress casual too..
jeans,skirts and dresses would be fine..

Mostly Mini
At the main store of Hankyu Department Stores, located in the Umeda district of Osaka, the assortment of skirts sold in the clothing department for young women between the late teens and early twenties turned mostly mini in fall 2003. In addition to tweed and checked skirts that give a traditional British feel, also popular are pleated skirts and skirts that come with belts and other accessories. Products priced at slightly over ¥10,000 ($91 at ¥110 to the dollar) are in highest demand. Since September, miniskirt sales throughout the store have grown by more than 50% compared to the previous year. Likewise at Daimaru's Kyoto store, which has tripled its skirt selection from last year, skirt lengths are mainly 45 cm or shorter, and popular fabrics include denim, wool, and tweed.

Answer 5

hi... Ive lived in Japan going on 3 years.... here's what I've observed...

japanese women.... they never really show any mid-drift or low cut tops.. yet their mini skirts get to UNBELIEVABLY short lengths, you'll be shocked at times, they couldn't Get any shorter! Skirts are worn even in the winter... young girls where really high socks and avg young womem wear tall boots (a nice skirt and tall boots are a must from time to time, makes you feel good to wear it sometimes, you'll be exactly like all the Japanese women. So skirts all the time.... often with (sometimes 1980ish looking) high heels.... I've seen a troop of girls hiking around a mtn tourist sight in heels.... Ive also gone camping with girls.... in heels. Ive seldom seen them wear shorts like Americans wear in the summer... though the longest half-slacks kinda like shorts are in this year. To tell you the truth though, if you look at all foreign here... that's what youll be here, a foreigner (esp in Kyoto! they even see japanese people not from Kyoto as foreigners!) and that's how you'll always be seen, as different. So it doesn't really matter if you wear things they don't. I definitely don't wear shorts or shirts that show a little mid-drift at all compared to how much I did back home though.
They're fashion is sometimes a bit different- youll see all kinds of stuff once you get here! You can generally just wear whatever you have - just depends on if you mind "sticking out".... though unless you're asian, you will anyway. Sometimes people cant tell i'm foreign right off when i wear a hat though b/c i got it in japan and it looks like a japanese girl's hat. you can get a cool hat when youre here if youre into hats -japanese love their hats. I bring back somethings that are "in" in america whenever i visit home though and i usually get really good responses,and theyre sad when i told them I got it in America (and they cant get it). sometimes even see it coming into fashion a bit later here (but i was the first, haha)
Also, I hope you have small feet... I cant buy shoes in japan, period.... i bring lots of shoes everytime i go back... sizes run on the small side always.... if you arent petite or have bigger feet- bring extras. Also - you'll never find deoderant here, not the kind youll want - bring extra! make-up runs pretty pricey here too, if you use it- bring extra!

Answer 6

I do agree with what everyone has said. I had that concern befor I visitted Tokyo and Kyoto past 2 weeks. And I was so surprised the way japanese girls dressed up themselves. Unbelievable!!!

Answer 7

i've never been to japan [ except for the airport ] but i have come in contact with many japanese tourests in viet nam and hawaii. the older folks are very neat conservative dressers the younger ones[ 20's-30's] althought pretty hip are also neat. teens run the gammit and are trend seters in clothing and varied hair styles and colors... like those japanese cartoon characters... just bring enough to get buy a few weeks then buy your clothes there if you feel you must fit in fasionably....bring all your jeans even the worn out ones. jeans,[ the fancier the better] are "huge" in asia... all the japanese i've ever met dress like they have money.... even the "hippy" types do it in style.... i once met a an american buissness man who lived in japan. he said this... "in america if you go skiing for the 1st time americans usually put on a pair of jeans, borrow some old skis and go give it a try ... a japanese will go out and spend a thousand dollars on "olympic "skii gear before he ever sees the slopes"... you just be yourself , things will be fine..

Answer 8

Dont' worry. You just be yourself.
Wash your jeans before bring it.
Japanese also doesn't wash jeans everyday, however, some girls are very sensitive with smell from clothing.
They like to buy new gnarly-jeans, it is not second-hand, they are new one.
http://www.separam.com/denim/main10.html


Debit card brought from US is not available very much in Japan.
If there is Plus or Cirrus mark in the back of your card, you may use is in Japan.

Visa/Plus
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp
Master/Cirrus
http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/cardholderservices/atmlocations/index.html

Japanese call money teller machine as ATM.

Answer 9

Be yourself but follow the dress code of the university! Some of the japanese are liberated in fashion,you can wear what you want!

Answer 10

Kimono is the best.
cool, comfortable, conservative
Easy to put off and On.
And some extremely mini skirts and cotton T-shirts + Addidas or Nike shoes
Remember three word,
Domo....
Daijobu....
Dame....