What to Wear in Japan for Women?

It is easy to tell where a person is from by the way she dresses, because people from different countries and regions have their own unique clothing styles, and Japan is no exception. Whether it is traditional national costumes or modern clothes for everyday wear, Japanese women's attire is very distinctive.

If you want to know more about the dressing features of Japanese women, this article will provide you with useful information. If you are going to travel to Japan and want to immerse yourself in Japanese clothing culture, please continue reading.

Japanese Women’s Dressing Features

When it comes to traditional Japanese clothing, you will definitely think of Kimono, which has a long history and was largely influenced by Chinese Tang Dynasty clothing.

In the third century AD, Japan had frequent exchanges with China during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty. Japanese envoys to the Tang Dynasty were given a large number of court robes with Chinese Tang Dynasty characteristics. On this basis, after improvements, the prototype of the kimono appeared. Before being influenced by Chinese Tang Dynasty clothing, Japanese clothing was relatively simple in color, but after being improved, the colors and textures became more diverse.

Since the 9th century AD, kimono has gradually gotten rid of the influence of foreign cultures and has shown its unique characteristics. Over time, the appearance of the kimono underwent certain transformations. The length and width of the sleeves, the length of the suit itself, the fabric, the fashion for colors and ornaments have all changed. The kimono with which people are familiar was finally formed at the beginning of the 20th century. It was when that the integration of Western culture into Japanese culture increased, which affected the formation of more liberal social norms and fashion trends. In Japan, kimono is a very formal dress. People need to wear kimono to participate in traditional festivals, weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies other various ceremonies.

As for Japanese women's daily clothing, it is also relatively reserved in terms of colors. Dark and light colors appear more often on Japanese women's clothing than bright colors. But at the same time, due to the popularity of uniform culture and two-dimensional culture in Japan, many young Japanese girls prefer cute styles. Therefore, short skirts, especially cute plaid pleated short skirts, have become the favorite of the new generation of Japanese girls. You can even see many beautiful Japanese girls wearing short skirts with bare legs in the cold winter. Of course, Japan has a temperate marine monsoon climate, so the temperature is not too low even in winter. At the same time, Japan's indoor heating facilities are very popular and complete, so Japanese women are not afraid even if they wear thin clothes in winter.

Accessories also play a vital role in Japanese women's dressing. In addition, many Japanese accessories are also with national characteristics, such as the belts on kimonos and wooden clogs. Accessories are not only decorative, but also reflect the identity and status of the wearer and add highlights to the overall outfit.

So in general, the clothing characteristics of Japanese women are a combination of traditional and modern elements. They have a unique traditional style and keep up with fashion trends.

Dressing Taboos in Japan

If you are going to travel to other countries, and especially to attend some grand celebrations, it is better to learn the clothing culture of that country in advance, especially some clothing taboos, to ensure that you do not embarrass yourself on important occasions.

Although Japanese women often wear short skirts to show their beautiful legs, in traditional Japanese culture, it may be considered impolite for women to expose their upper body except for their arms. Therefore, you will find that compared to the thin short skirts on the lower body, many Japanese women's upper body clothing is very strictly covered. On more formal occasions, low-cut clothes must be abandoned.

On the other hand, the Japanese place great value on modesty, so it is better not to try to dress in a way that stands out on formal occasions. But at the same time, the Japanese also attach great importance to their appearance, so you can't be careless about your appearance and think that it doesn't matter if you dress casually and sloppily. It is more appropriate to avoid overly bright colors. Instead, choose clothing that covers the shoulders and knees. For women, light dresses or tops combined with pants or long skirts are good choices.

There are many temples in Japan that are very famous tourist destinations. When visiting such religious places, you need to pay more attention to your clothing. Even short skirts are not acceptable on these occasions. In addition, before entering, you may be asked to take off your hat and shoes. These are also traditional customs, so please don't resist.

On grand or formal occasions, people often need to wear kimonos. But even when wearing kimonos, there are many taboos that need to be paid attention to. The patterns on kimonos often have specific symbolic meanings, and some patterns are taboos on certain occasions. For example, in traditional concepts, chrysanthemums are the symbol of the Japanese royal family, so ordinary people generally do not casually use chrysanthemum patterns when wearing kimonos. When wearing kimonos on formal occasions, color matching is also particular. For example, on more serious occasions, it is generally necessary to wear kimonos with black as the main color, and avoid using bright colors or overly fancy patterns. On festive occasions such as weddings, kimonos with bright colors and gorgeous patterns are often chosen.

Office attire is generally in solid and dark colors, such as black, dark blue, dark gray, etc. Japanese usually avoid wearing clothes that are too bright, fancy, or have large exaggerated patterns to show professionalism and stability. In the workplace in Japan, especially in some traditional companies or industries, the dressing code even more relatively strict. Women generally cannot wear overly revealing or short clothing, such as mini skirts and belly-baring clothes, to avoid an unprofessional impression.

Japan Travel Outfit Ideas

When choosing your travel outfits, you need to only consider the clothing characteristics and taboos of Japanese women, but also check the weather forecast in advance and add or take off clothes according to the weather. To speak specifically, we will provide you with several Japan travel outfit ideas according to different seasons.

Spring, when cherry blossoms are in full bloom, is the peak tourist season in Japan. At this time, although the weather has warmed up, the temperature difference is large and it is still a bit cold in the morning and evening. So in spring, you can choose a dress with a thin coat. Or, if you prefer a sporty style, you can also choose a pair of jeans and a hoodie. As for shoes, it is better to choose a pair of sneakers because you need to walk a lot, and a pair of comfortable sneakers will prevent you from getting tired too quickly.

In summer, remember to prepare an umbrella! It rains a lot in summer, and even when it's not raining, you still need an umbrella to block the sun. To keep cool, it is recommended to choose T-shirts, dresses and shorts made of cotton or linen. If you feel that sneakers are too stuffy, you can also choose a pair of soft-soled sandals.

In autumn, the temperature starts to drop again and the climate characteristics are similar to those in spring, so you still need to prepare long-sleeved jackets and long pants. Jeans and denim skirts are both great fashion items. If you are afraid of cold weather, you can also bring a long trench coat. In terms of color, you can choose warm tones such as brown, orange, yellow, etc. to match the atmosphere of autumn. When sightseeing in big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, you need to dress comfortably and casually. You can wear sneakers or flat shoes to make it easier to walk for a long time. While in shopping districts, you can dress more stylishly and unique. You can choose trendy clothing items according to your own style, such as fashionable T-shirts and skirts, ripped jeans, etc., and match them with sneakers or boots to show your fashion taste.

Although the overall temperature in Japan is not particularly low in winter and the indoor heating equipment is relatively complete, it is better not rashly imitate the Japanese girls' outfit of wearing short skirts with bare legs. Because Japanese girls have been wearing this for many years, they are used to this temperature, but if you are just traveling, you will definitely feel cold and uncomfortable. Especially in places like Hokkaido, there will be a lot of snowfall in winter and the temperature may even reach below zero. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a down jacket. You can choose a thick sweater as an inner layer. In addition, you also need to prepare thick pants and snow boots. And remember to bring warm accessories such as hats, scarves, and gloves to keep warm further.