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April is Japan’s Spring season and it’s a pleasant time to visit. We visited April 19th through May 3rd and the temperatures ranged from mid-60s in the evenings to the mid-70s during the day. We did encounter some light rain in Tokyo, but nothing that stopped us from canceling any of the plans we had on our itinerary. 

Here is what we ended up wearing during our two-week trip to Narita and Tokyo. 

Layering is Key

Layering was definitely the way to style our outfits for this time of year since the temperatures fluctuated from morning to night. Most of the mornings started in the 60s and then gradually increased to the mid-70s. At night it would then drop back down to the 60s.

Outerwear

We found that wearing a blazer or cardigan was the best way to adjust to the temperature changes throughout the day. Crystal wore her Olivia Plaid Blazer, which had the perfect slouchy and relaxed fit that added an effortless sophistication to her outfits. 

I am a huge fan of wearing a blazer to layer my outfits, but on this trip, I ended up wearing my Alpaca Wool Cropped Cardigan on most days. The material is soft and it provides just the right amount of warmth. It’s also lightweight, so, tossing it into a tote bag hardly added any weight to it.

For something even lighter to layer on top, wearing an Oversized Button Down Shirt is a great option. You really can’t go wrong with a staple oversized white shirt. If you wear it buttoned up it can look very refined, but if you wear it unbuttoned it has the opposite effect of an easygoing casual look to it. It’s a versatile top that has a unique blend of sophisticated elegance and laid-back charm.

Tops

We recommend packing a combination of light tops and sweaters and leaving the chunky winter sweaters behind. 

Crystal wore her Quince Mockneck Sweater on more than one occasion and it was the perfect midweight knit sweater. It’s a sweater that plays well from Fall through Spring.

Crystal wanted to add an interesting base layer to her outfits and added the Lady Lux Layering Top to her wardrobe. This sultry mesh long-sleeve top has gorgeous floral embroidery with a high neckline. Because it’s sheer, she layered this underneath the Walk The Walk Mini Dress. 

We’re so happy sweatshirts have made a comeback in recent years. These comfortable and stylish tops, which were once considered old-fashioned or unfashionable, are now being worn by people of all ages and styles. 

Crystal wore a relaxed crewneck sweatshirt with an adorable Shaggy Dog graphic and I wore a sporty Mongolian Shrunken Cashmere Sweatshirt. This luxe cashmere sweatshirt is incredibly soft and is three times as warm as wool. 

I have been into striped tops lately so I packed both a striped sweater and tank top. I wore the sweater by itself and the tank I wore underneath a cardigan. Stripes are a timeless style with a history associated with French culture. Ever since our trip to Paris last year, I have been filling my closet with effortless Parisian styles. 

A staple in my closet is the Washable Silk Cami and it of course made its way to Japan. It’s a great layer to wear underneath a cardigan or looks great simply by itself. The adjustable straps and slightly stretchy material offer the perfect fit for all body types.

Bottoms

Crystal has been styling her bottoms with sweater tights and her favorite bottoms for Japan was the Stylist Pleated Tailored Shorts. Not only are these shorts comfy, but the super high waist gives you legs for days. The best part is that these shorts can be worn in the summer too. 

If you are looking for a pair of pants that provides that magical combination of stretch and sculpt, you have to try the Naomi Wide-Leg Flare Pants. The fit is impeccable and it flatters all shapes and sizes. Apparently, this magical fabric is an Anthropologie one-of-a-kind. 

My go-to pair of bottoms for just about any trip these days are the Marine Straight Leg Jeans. I purchased my first pair a few years ago and now have them in every color (four to be exact). They are the perfect high-waisted jeans and the hint of stretch adds the comfort I need for all-day wear.

Another pair of wide-leg bottoms that have been in my wardrobe for more than two seasons now is my High Waist Wide-Leg Pants in cream. These pants are soft enough to feel like sweats, but chic enough to level up any look.

The pants that convinced Crystal to jump on the wide-legged bandwagon were her Everlane Wide-Leg Pants. She wore these comfy bottoms in Paris and ended up wearing them in Japan too. These linen pants have a flattering drape and are the perfect alternative to denim for warmer days.

Rainy Days

When we were in Tokyo, we did get some light showers. Luckily, we had indoor activities planned on those days, but we still had to dress appropriately since we would be outside walking and commuting by train. 

Since I checked the weather ahead of our trip, I packed my trench coat. Trench coats are lightweight and are great for layering. They are also excellent coats for rainy weather.

Footwear

Wearing comfortable shoes in Japan is very important since you will be walking a ton. It’s extremely rare to ride a taxi from point A to B. Most likely you will be walking and riding trains so your feet will need a pair of shoes that will provide comfort all day. 

Crystal packed a few options: black boots, white sneakers, and black sandals. Her black chunky platform boots are from Marcella and are 100% genuine Italian leather. The Carnegie boots pay homage to the classic Chelsea boot but have a unique geometric sole. Save 10% on Marcella purchases with code TRAVELPOCKETS008

The white sneakers from Cole Haan have been a staple for years now since it’s a classic design that pretty much goes with any outfit. It’s super lightweight and the footbed provides superior cushioning all day. 

Nisolo’s Go-To Flatform Sandals are super comfy as well and can be worn all day. Depending on how much room you have to pack, you might want to check the weather to see if you want to wear sandals. We had plenty of sunny days where it was nice wearing open-toe sandals.

When we visited Japan in October, I wore my Sam Edelman Loraine Tailored Loafers and I wore them again in April. The leather is soft and there is zero break-in time with these shoes since the leather is super soft and flexible.

Years back, we both used to have a pair of Converse but eventually got rid of them. Strangely, we both had issues with the shoes being uncomfortable, which was such a bummer because we loved their style. Fast forward to today and I decided to give them another try.

Thank goodness that the Converse Chuck 70 Vintage Canvas High-tops I ordered were comfy because I loved styling them with my wide-leg pants and trousers. The OrthoLite cushioning helped provide optimal comfort and the vintage-inspired design elements gave my overall look an easy-going vibe.

Airport Style

We’ve summed up our favorite outfits while we were in Japan, but I also wanted to share what I wore to and from Japan. I wore the same outfit when I flew into Japan as well as when I left. 

For long-haul flights, wearing a pair of soft stretchy pants with no zippers is a must. I also think it’s best to wear pants that don’t have any chance of touching the aircraft’s bathroom floor.

I wore Anatomie’s Cashmere Relaxed Fit Joggers. They are super cozy and the elastic waistband keeps you comfortable throughout the flight. Bonus points for having pockets too.

On top, I wore Anatomie’s Kali Pima Cotton Top. This top is wrinkle-resistant and the fabric is a soft jersey. It’s basically everything you could ask for in a travel top.

Functional Accessories

Bandolier Crossbody Phone Strap

If you want to be hands-free while traveling, shopping, or sightseeing, we highly recommend Bandolier’s crossbody phone case. The crossbody phone case not only secures your phone but gives you so much flexibility and ease no matter what you are doing. We wear our Bandoliers everywhere and can’t live without them. 

Airpod Necklace

We’re not sure if it’s the shape of our ears, but our Airpods have a tendency to fall out. To help keep them secure, we attached our Airpods to an Airpod Necklace. Several brands make this nifty accessory, but my favorite style is from Bandolier. The gold curb chain is on trend and it’s adjustable as well.

You can find various styles from Amazon and on Etsy as well. It definitely came in handy when we were hopping on and off trains in Tokyo. 

Tote Bag

We both used to carry our backpacks everywhere we went, but after our trip to Paris, we were inspired to leave our backpacks in our hotel room and switch them out for a tote bag.

The Lori Tote is Nisolo’s best-selling bag and it was perfect for Japan because we can toss just about anything in it. We both carry large cameras and are constantly grabbing them out of our bags throughout the day. Being able to easily access our camera when we need it makes this our go-to bag.

Crystal also carried her Bandolier Tote Bag, which has a ton of practical interior compartments that the Lori Tote Bag does not have. This bag has a more elegant and sophisticated style and looks great with blazer outfits.

Crossbody Purse

There were times when we didn’t need to carry a ton of stuff, so wearing something smaller like the Bandolier Crossbody Bag was a great option. Its sleek and minimalistic design is a timeless silhouette that goes well with almost any style. The best part is that you can switch out the straps, which gives you versatility and a personalized look. 

Petite Backpack

When I wasn’t carrying my camera, I wanted to wear a backpack, so Pacsafe’s Citysafe CX Anti-Theft Petite Backpack was a great option. If you’re someone who worries about carrying a backpack in crowded spaces, this bag gives you peace of mind.

The anti-theft features keep pick-pocketers away and you don’t have to sacrifice style over functionality.  With an 8-liter capacity, the “Petite” backpack is designed for minimalistic use or as an everyday bag for carrying essentials. 

Complete The Look

Jewelry

We both like to wear jewelry and recently our favorite brand has been Gorjana. Their effortlessly chic and easy-to-style necklaces, bracelets, and rings add the perfect finishing touch to any outfit.

We especially love the idea that their jewelry is designed to be layered, so each piece can be mixed and matched to create a necklace stack that's uniquely yours. Every time we get their catalog in the mail, we find yet another beautiful piece to layer with one of our existing ones. The options are truly endless and so fun to style.

Crystal is a fan of Kristin Cavallari and adores her jewelry line, Uncommon James. Her classic piece, the Girl Boss Earrings, is her most popular style and it’s definitely a standout design. Her jewelry is feminine with an edge and very affordable.

We both love wearing ear cuffs and our favorite is one we found randomly on Amazon. The quality is great for the price point and the simplicity of them makes them the perfect layering piece. I have other earcuffs, but this is the one I wear the most often.

April is a beautiful time to visit Japan and we hope our suggestions help you pack for your upcoming travels. Be sure to check the weather forecast closer to your departure date to make any necessary adjustments to your packing list.   

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