We shall visit (from middle of April) Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) and then, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand.
As I understand that in Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand the weather is similar - hot and humid, while in Japan is cooler, how have I to pack? We like lower temperatures and cool weather. What it supposed to wear in Japan in the second part of April? Do we need light jackets? I do not want to overpack or to take with us things that we do not wear.

If somebody can advise what (in general) the people wear in Japan in spring, this will help us a lot.

Thank you in advance.

Liliana

Hi Liliana --

I went to Japan in mid-March of last year.. .. . Prior to leaving, I checked the forecasts at weather.com in hopes of getting an idea of what to pack and what to expect. The forecasts made it seem as though the temperatures would be in the 50s (F) during the day, so I was in panic mode when the captain announced it was 35 degrees outside and snowing in north Tokyo (which I was *not* expecting) when we landed at 3:30 in the afternoon! (Moral of the story: Don't believe everything you read when it comes to weather forecasts.)

Fortunately, I have become a seasoned traveler over the past 5 years or so, and I have learned that color coordinating your clothes and layering works best, so I made it through this unexpected weather situation. I survived the cold, wet parts of the trip with three layers -- a shirt, sweatshirt/sweater, and a wind breaker -- and I was comfortable.

By the time you arrive in Japan in mid-April, the temperatures should be warmer, and you shouldn't have to worry about snow. But if I were you, I would start by planning your wardrobe for the hot/humid climate, then find ways that those outfits could be layered or combined with a light windbreaker or jacket, in case it gets cold outside in Japan. (It can sometimes be warm indoors, so you want to have the ability to lose the extra layers when you go inside.) The key here is, you don't want to pack unnecessarily bulky items just to keep warm in Japan, since you won't be using those things later on in your trip and it is a waste of space.

I love the windbreaker I have because I am able to fold it down and fit it in a large ziploc bag, which I am able to easily fit in my carry on. In warmer temperatures, I use it to protect me from the rain, and in colder temperatures, I use it as an outer shell over the layers to help keep out the cold. As anyone who has seen my vacation pictures can attest, I take it everywhere I go!

Hope this helps somewhat.. .. . Have a great trip!

Thank you very much for info and advises. You are right, I have to follow your advise about layers.

Thanks again,
Liliana