Quick tips for Japan in Winter!

[starsandstripes]

Hey guys, just came back from Osaka and Hokkaido. This was my first time time experiencing snow. Hope these will help someone prepare for a winter trip!

SIM card
Book this in advance! Bmobile's speed was pretty poor in Hokkaido, average in Osaka.
I didn't pre-book and it was horrifying trying to get them to help me activate.

Note: There was a sign in Sapporo JR Station that said "Free Wifi card for Tourists only" Haven't used this and didn't enquire, so you guys might want to check it out.

What to wear?
Temperature averaged -3 to -6 i guess.
I'm a person that doesn't like the cold.

Top
I wore a down jacket 700fill, uniqlo heat tech, normal long sleeve cotton.

Bottom
Jeans and uniqlo heat tech
Heat tech socks x 1
Red wing boots

How i felt:
Always get a down jacket with a hoodie, didn't have one. A hoodie is extremely useful!
Body felt fine
Legs were slightly cold with jeans and heat tech, manageable.
My feet was freezing most of the time, wear some thick wool socks!

PS: Locals were wearing normal sneakers in Hokkaido probably slightly thicker ones. No need for the special spikes, unless your soles are worn out.

How much do i need?
Pretty much all the food costs around 1-2k yen.
Special tip!
To save money, eat beef don from 松屋. Tastes amazing and its cheap! Around 230-500 yen depending on your choice.

Transport - Use google maps to determine amount.

 

[[M]aiev]

松屋 is one of the most "budget" eatery at there.. Used to have my lunch at there couple of time(s).

 

[mynameisjon]

Book this in advance! Bmobile's speed was pretty poor in Hokkaido, average in Osaka.
I didn't pre-book and it was horrifying trying to get them to help me activate.

The activation hotline has an English option. used it 5 times with no problem. All you need is to get a mobile phone there which you can rent, and if you do your research there are companies that rent it out free and only charge you based on what you use.

 

[starsandstripes]

The activation hotline has an English option. used it 5 times with no problem. All you need is to get a mobile phone there which you can rent, and if you do your research there are companies that rent it out free and only charge you based on what you use.

Should've thought of that!
So you bought a SIM card from a local store in Japan, rented a Japanese local phone and activated it for free?

The instructions were pretty vague on how to activate the card too; I didn't know whether to use a Japanese brand phone or do i just need a Japan local mobile number to activate. Their english is horrendous, haha!

 

[fuzzybear]

I use visitor b mobile before in sapporo & otaru overall ok speed in my old 3G s3

No worry of activation
If not get from dimitri deal

As for winter it all down to individuals body tolances

I use a northface 700fill down. And normal long sleeves & jeans & head cap
& cashmere scarf & long john top & bottom and mitten glove & timberland all terrain shoe with goretex

If I'm encounter below minis 3 temp

Overall I'm able to endure the sapporo snow blizzard
With hood helps if snow gets too bad
As my last trip the snow hit my face I can feel pain too

So better do homework if u go to a snow country like hokkiado

Fi

 

[fuzzybear]

松屋 is one of the most "budget" eatery at there.. Used to have my lunch at there couple of time(s).

Ya it either Tat bro mâi say I go yoshi bowls

Their standard beats our local one

 

[mynameisjon]

Should've thought of that!
So you bought a SIM card from a local store in Japan, rented a Japanese local phone and activated it for free?

The instructions were pretty vague on how to activate the card too; I didn't know whether to use a Japanese brand phone or do i just need a Japan local mobile number to activate. Their english is horrendous, haha!

Buy B-mobile card from BIC Camera/Yodobashi, call telephone number stated on the pamphlet, select english when they ask, profit.

All you need is a Japanese mobile number, which you get when you rent the phone.

If you land at Narita, you can use Mobal Narita.

 

[[M]aiev]

Ya it either Tat bro mâi say I go yoshi bowls

Their standard beats our local one

already kinda give up eating at here due to the standard unless bo bian

 

[fuzzybear]

already kinda give up eating at here due to the standard unless bo bian

yalor local one cmi
only in jP i eat them

 

[lapucelle]

Buy B-mobile card from BIC Camera/Yodobashi, call telephone number stated on the pamphlet, select english when they ask, profit.

All you need is a Japanese mobile number, which you get when you rent the phone.

If you land at Narita, you can use Mobal Narita.

Think bmobile got sell cards that don't require Japanese handsets. Last group of friends that came to visit us in Japan were using their sg phones with bmobile. Just order in advance and send to jpost office at Narita/Haneda then plug and play.

 

[zetsueix]

I am looking for suitable footwear for winter though I dun think I will encounter snow in Tokyo, but I might just wanna invest in a pair of fleece-lined suede winter boots with insulated rubber soles! I still remember how cold my feet felt in my pair of sneakers even with warm woollen socks, I can feel how the cold pavements permeate through!

 

[albertchng]

I am looking for suitable footwear for winter though I dun think I will encounter snow in Tokyo, but I might just wanna invest in a pair of fleece-lined suede winter boots with insulated rubber soles! I still remember how cold my feet felt in my pair of sneakers even with warm woollen socks, I can feel how the cold pavements permeate through!

Wear a base layer sock, a mid layer and a merino wool sock... guaranty warm enough.

 

[fuzzybear]

Getting a good shoe will be a better investment if the person go more often

 

[Jerineng]

Beta standby if u going soon. Colleague at Tokyo apps me photo. Narita chiba area snowing a few days b4....

I am looking for suitable footwear for winter though I dun think I will encounter snow in Tokyo, but I might just wanna invest in a pair of fleece-lined suede winter boots with insulated rubber soles! I still remember how cold my feet felt in my pair of sneakers even with warm woollen socks, I can feel how the cold pavements permeate through!

 

[albertchng]

In Tokyo now, landed ytd afternoon.

My North Face Triclimate (a windproof fleece jacket with a waterproof outer jacket) is too warm for Tokyo, should suit Hokaiddo well. With only the windproof fleece jacket and a long sleeve V neck cotton tshirt from Uniqlo is enough outdoor, however for indoor is too warm... all shops i went have heater turn on, i can sweat in their stores. For those that prone to cough or running nose, i would suggest a good thick warm scarf for your neck area. My expose head felt the coldest when standing at the cross junction with a 10km/h wind condition at night. Best wear a beanie cap... if your also best if your down/fleece jacket comes with a hood. Today i will be going to Ginza area... with only my outer waterproof Goretex jacket with hood, a long sleeve light fleece sweater, a warm scarf, a mask and a beanie cap.

It is about 5 degree C now. In my hotel room without heater turn on, you can feel the cold (it is very cold for Singaporean standard) in the room.. make you dont want to get off the warm comfy bed.

 

[fuzzybear]

In Tokyo now, landed ytd afternoon.

My North Face Triclimate (a windproof fleece jacket with a waterproof outer jacket) is too warm for Tokyo, should suit Hokaiddo well. With only the windproof fleece jacket and a long sleeve V neck cotton tshirt from Uniqlo is enough outdoor, however for indoor is too warm... all shops i went have heater turn on, i can sweat in their stores. For those that prone to cough or running nose, i would suggest a good thick warm scarf for your neck area. My expose head felt the coldest when standing at the cross junction with a 10km/h wind condition at night. Best wear a beanie cap... if your also best if your down/fleece jacket comes with a hood. Today i will be going to Ginza area... with only my outer waterproof Goretex jacket with hood, a long sleeve light fleece sweater, a warm scarf, a mask and a beanie cap.

It is about 5 degree C now. In my hotel room without heater turn on, you can feel the cold (it is very cold for Singaporean standard) in the room.. make you dont want to get off the warm comfy bed.

How is tokyo weather today bro
As I check weather cum pm2.5 it looks bad in the unhealthy range

 

[albertchng]

How is tokyo weather today bro
As I check weather cum pm2.5 it looks bad in the unhealthy range

Am at Ginza Chuo Dori(main street) now. Is closed to traffic from 1pm to 5pm. Wife shopping while i babe watching along the street.

Weather is cloudly today... about 9 degree C at this moment.

Turtle neck long sleeve light fleece sweater from Uniqlo with a slightly insulated waterproof outer jacket with hood are best suit for this temperature.

The cloudy condition should be caused by cold air from north mixed with warm climate, not caused by polution or forest burning... not burning smell at all. All cold and fresh air... shiok!

Had a fresh sashimi and sushi breakfast at Tsujiki fish market... nice!

 

[fuzzybear]

Am at Ginza Chuo Dori(main street) now. Is closed to traffic from 1pm to 5pm. Wife shopping while i babe watching along the street.

Weather is cloudly today... about 9 degree C at this moment.

Turtle neck long sleeve light fleece sweater from Uniqlo with a slightly insulated waterproof outer jacket with hood are best suit for this temperature.

The cloudy condition should be caused by cold air from north mixed with warm climate, not caused by polution or forest burning... not burning smell at all. All cold and fresh air... shiok!

Had a fresh sashimi and sushi breakfast at Tsujiki fish market... nice!

Shiok good thx for the live update
As I wil be flying over soon after cny for my sapporo winter fest and tokyo shopping

 

[albertchng]

Went to the character street at tokyo station, walked aimlessly for at least 1km looking for this street... even asked the subway staffs most of them sent us on a wild goose chase until we met one that can speak decent english, pointed us the right direction. Tokyo station when compare to our doby ghaut station is at least 30 times bigger and 50 times more complicated.

Back in hotel now... surprisingly tonight temperature rise to 13 degree C, not that cold but still chill when facing wind.

 

[zetsueix]

Beta standby if u going soon. Colleague at Tokyo apps me photo. Narita chiba area snowing a few days b4....

I am going end of nxt mth Feb but I am really wary of the cold so I am making preparation for warm wear now!