What I Wore in Japan
I have very clear goals when I pack for a trip:
- I want to look nice and put together
- I want to be comfortable
- I want to feel like ME
- I don’t want to take (very many) things that I bring back unused
So I try to remember that even if I’m on the other side of the globe, I’m likely to still like wearing the same kinds of outfits I wear at home, which makes packing pretty quick and easy.
Two quick notes:
- I used this belt bag every single day of our trip. It was perfect for hands-free traveling, big enough to fit my phone, wallet, sunglasses, Kindle, and a snack in, but not so big that I was tempted to pack in way more than I needed. Plus, it has a nice, polished look that I love. Use the code JANSSEN.
- I wore these sunglasses our whole trip. They’re nice and light and don’t pinch my head even after hours of wear.
With that said, here’s what I wore on our trip to Japan:
Wednesday/Thursday (very long travel day):
- Black Senita Jumpsuit. I could write a sonnet about how much I love this jumpsuit for travel days. I know some people just cannot imagine wearing a jumpsuit on a plane (“what about going to the bathroom???”) but it’s an extra ten seconds and I have plenty of time in an airplane bathroom and there’s nothing to come untucked, flap open, or otherwise be a nuisance. Basically it’s like wearing pajamas but looking put together. Use the code EVERYDAYREADING.
- Trench coat. This was a perfect travel coat because it’s lightweight, long enough to act as a blanket and soft (unlike the jean jacket I originally intended to wear). Mine is an older version of this one.
- Leopard Sneakers. These laceless sneakers are old but comfortable and have some fun patterns that pop up the rest of my neutral outfit.
Friday (exploring Kyoto):
- Striped Everlane Tee. This is a classic basic and if I hadn’t dripped something on it at dinner, I was planning to wear it with my red skirt later in the week.
- Madewell Vintage Jeans. I bought these jeans earlier this year and they quickly became a staple – perfect fit and a great cut.
- White Leather Ecco Sneakers. Buckle up – you’re going to see these sneakers a LOT on this list.
Saturday (exploring Osaka):
- Black J.Crew tee. This is the perfect basic black tee – I bought it a few years ago and it’s been on constant rotation since.
- Black Madewell Kick Crop Jeans. I love these jeans – I bought them this past winter and they are a perfect mix of basic and fun.
- Purple Kizik Sneakers. These purple sneakers were a fun pop of color with the all-black outfit and super comfortable for a full day of walking. Use the code EVERYDAYREADING.
Sunday (visiting friends and attending church in Kobe):
- White Crewneck Tee. This is an excellent basic white tee.
- Blue Floral Midi Skirt. This was from my most recent Rent the Runway order and perfect for a day with a lot of traveling and attending church.
- Denim Jacket. I’ve had this denim jacket since 2006 and it’s still going strong – it’s the perfect layer in cool weather.
- White Leather Ecco Sneakers. With the rain and the walking, I knew I wanted something that would keep my feet dry and would be comfortable – these were a win as usual.
Monday (visiting Hiroshima and Miyojima):
- Black Ribbed Madewell dress. This was a thredUp find a year or so ago and I love it so much – perfectly casual but just some nice details that make it extra special, like the ribbing and the longer sleeves.
- Denim Jacket. I was glad to have this along when we went to Miyojima and the ferry was pretty breezy!
- White Leather Ecco Sneakers. Another day of these beloved sneakers.
Tuesday (Bullet train to Tokyo and exploring Tokyo):
- Pink Madewell jumpsuit. This was a thredUp find and I got a million DMs about it – I wish it were still available! This Old Navy one and this Target one are the closest one I’ve found.
- White Leather Ecco Sneakers. Surprise!
Wednesday (exploring Tokyo):
- Black tee.This tee is definitely on the pricey side, but it’s a great thin fabric that’s easy to tuck into jeans or a skirt without getting bunch or making weird lines.
- Madewell crepe button front skirt. I bought this on thredUP a few months ago and it was a perfect traveling skirt (I did use a steamer on it from the hotel because it was pretty wrinkly from being folded up for nearly a week).
- White Leather Ecco Sneakers. And one more day of these sneakers.
Thursday (exploring Tokyo and then a long travel day home):
- Black Senita Jumpsuit. I went back to this jumpsuit for the flight home (I changed at the airport – I’d been wearing the same jeans from Saturday and a black tee in the morning – before I checked my luggage) and was so glad I did for the hours we spent on planes and in airports.
- Trench coat. And again, this trench was perfect for acting as a light layer and a good size blanket on the plane.
- Purple Kizik Sneakers. This time, I went with my purple Kiziks with the jumpsuit. Use the code JANSSEN.
Any other questions about what I wore on our Japan trip? Happy to answer!
Do you regret bringing 3 pairs of sneakers since you mostly wore the white ones? Or were you happy to have more options?
No regrets! I had plenty of space in my suitcase and I still wore all three pairs, so it didn’t feel like a waste for me. Plus, I don’t like to only have ONE pair of shoes because if they get soaked or start hurting my feet, I have options.