Winter Packing is always one of my biggest challenges - coats and boots take up so much room in a large suitcase, and packing cubes of jeans and sweaters add up to your allotted 50 pounds shockingly fast (and I could never pack for a winter destination without a checked bag.)

Packing for Japan in winter requires more precision than most cold-weather destinations because the climate is dry, the walking is constant, and indoor heating tends to run warmer than expected. Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto typically hover between the high 30s and low 50s Fahrenheit through winter months, yet wind and low humidity intensify the cold, especially at night and in open areas around shrines, rivers, and train platforms. Northern regions such as Hokkaido are regularly below freezing, and the regular snowfall and significantly lower temperatures require heavier layers and well-soled footwear.

1. Base Layers

The right base keeps you warm and comfortable, even in your cutest outfits - and become absolutely essential in below freezing and snowy areas.

Uniqlo Heattech cashmere blend under layers

Uniqlo has been making Heattech for years and years, but I am obsessed with the newer cashmere line - they are so incredibly soft that I started sleeping in the long sleeve shirt every night - I really can't even begin to describe the softness. Wear them on their own with jeans for a simple outfit in warmer areas, and under sweaters and jackets for extra cold. 

The leggings are essential to add warmth to wide leg jeans, which can feel like you're wearing nothing at all when the wind blows (the only time I ever miss skinny jeans)

Fleece faux-sheer tights

Not just a TikTok shop ad! (or is that just me?) Fleece tights really do come through and are worth the hype. I bought these ones and was impressed with how warm they were even walking through a blizzarding Sapporo all day. 

If the sheer effect looks too light on your skintone, you can very easily dye them with a little Camel or Cocoa RIT dye - which I did, and they came out absolutely perfect in less than an hour.

Nude Tights

OKAY hear me out here - in almost every wintery outfit I put together where I'm in a skirt or dress (and in all of the photos above), my secret weapon is nude tights. I often rewear the exact same dresses and skirts that I wear on warm-weather trips with additional layers, and while a lot of us associate nude tights with grandma pantyhose, especially in photos, the tights read as just skin. While opaque black tights were the standard for so long, they started reading as really dated and basic to me a few years ago, and now I am fully on Team Nude Tights.

I have found that for temperatures above freezing (32 F/ 0 C), standard sheer 30 Denier weight tights are usually enough weight to keep my legs warm while walking around cities and spending a decent amount of time outside. 

I love the shimmery Taylor Swift tights for nights out and dressing up, but for daytime, I have found that nothing is better than Sheertex - the tights billed as indestructible. And so far, I have yet to snag a pair in 3 years of consistent wear. They really are THAT GOOD. The Cappuccino color is the perfect nude for my light/medium tan skin, as I've found other brands can look too pale and unnatural - in every photo you can see my legs, I am wearing these tights. I love that the brand is inclusive and also has shades made for medium and dark skin. 

2. Shoes to Walk 20,000 Steps In