MUSUBI: Winter Blues in Japan
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If you are new to Japan and this is your first winter approaching, there are a few things that might be useful to know about winter here that might be radically different from your home country.
If you come from the UK like me, the Japanese winter is likely to be about as cold as you would find in the UK, the major differences are the amount of precipitation and the length of the daylight hours. The winters here are, unlike the UK, the DRY season. The air is going to be, (mostly), very arid and crisp. This might lead to your skin and lips drying out and chapping more than you are used to at home. Skin creams and lip balms will become 'must-have' items during the coming months.
While the daylight hours in Japan are shorter during the summer months than in Northern Europe, the winter days are a bit longer, which is a big help, especially when commuting. However, sadly, most of you will still be returning home in the dark after work.
For those of you coming from countries closer to the equator, the winter in Japan might come as a bit of a shock as it can get very cold compared to back home, especially at night. If you sleep on a futon, it might be worthwhile considering buying a foam pad to go under your futon. This will add a layer of insulation between you and the floor and aid significantly in keeping you warm in bed. A feather futon/quilt may also be a worthwhile investment as they are significantly warmer than the synthetic fillings of ordinary bedding.
I usually use three layers of bedding on top of me in winter. Flannelette sheet, feather futon and a wool blanket. If you cannot find a wool blanket or they are too expensive, acrylic will still help to keep you warm. Electric blankets are also very comforting but be careful about keeping them switched on while you sleep as some are not designed to be used in that way.
One of the things that annoyed me and that was very inconvenient when I was first in Japan, was that my apartment was heated only via the air conditioner. The problem with that is that the warm air never really reaches the floor so you can end up with frostbite on your feet while the rest of you is toasty warm. To counter this, you can either buy a heater that is used on the floor, or you can use a heated carpet. I initially bought a tiny heated carpet that I could put my feet on while sitting at my table. It was great.
If you come from the UK like me, the Japanese winter is likely to be about as cold as you would find in the UK, the major differences are the amount of precipitation and the length of the daylight hours. The winters here are, unlike the UK, the DRY season. The air is going to be, (mostly), very arid and crisp. This might lead to your skin and lips drying out and chapping more than you are used to at home. Skin creams and lip balms will become 'must-have' items during the coming months.
While the daylight hours in Japan are shorter during the summer months than in Northern Europe, the winter days are a bit longer, which is a big help, especially when commuting. However, sadly, most of you will still be returning home in the dark after work.
For those of you coming from countries closer to the equator, the winter in Japan might come as a bit of a shock as it can get very cold compared to back home, especially at night. If you sleep on a futon, it might be worthwhile considering buying a foam pad to go under your futon. This will add a layer of insulation between you and the floor and aid significantly in keeping you warm in bed. A feather futon/quilt may also be a worthwhile investment as they are significantly warmer than the synthetic fillings of ordinary bedding.
I usually use three layers of bedding on top of me in winter. Flannelette sheet, feather futon and a wool blanket. If you cannot find a wool blanket or they are too expensive, acrylic will still help to keep you warm. Electric blankets are also very comforting but be careful about keeping them switched on while you sleep as some are not designed to be used in that way.
One of the things that annoyed me and that was very inconvenient when I was first in Japan, was that my apartment was heated only via the air conditioner. The problem with that is that the warm air never really reaches the floor so you can end up with frostbite on your feet while the rest of you is toasty warm. To counter this, you can either buy a heater that is used on the floor, or you can use a heated carpet. I initially bought a tiny heated carpet that I could put my feet on while sitting at my table. It was great.
The secret to winter in Japan: the Kotatsu
Another possibility is to buy a 'kotatsu'. Kotatsu are traditional Japanese heated tables that look like a coffee table. These tables though, have a removable top. You take the top off, lay a thick futon over the base, (which has a heater in the frame between the tops of the legs), replace the top over the futon and then you sit on a cushion or 'zaisu' and put your legs inside the heated table and futon. I think that it is cheaper to stay warm this way rather than heating entire rooms but, of course, it is cold when you have to get up and move around.
The Japanese really enjoy taking very hot baths in winter. This gives you the feeling of being 'warm' for quite a long time after you leave the bath. It's nice, even if it is somewhat illusory. Onsen hot springs become very busy in winter too and are a great way of being lovely and warm/hot while enjoying a very traditional aspect of Japanese culture.
Just a word of warning though, if you have tattoos, some onsen are still very touchy about such things due to their association with organised crime gangs in Japan so they should be covered up. If they are too extensive to cover, you might be refused entry to the more traditional bath houses.
Diet changes with the seasons in Japan. This is true to a much greater extent than back home in the UK, where we continue to eat some food that would be considered as summer food, fruit/vegetables, even in winter.
In Japan, the 'donabe' pots will be coming out of storage soon. Using those clay pots, we will make delicious, warming stews and hotpots , often on a gas-bottle stove on the dining table. Winter fruit such as persimmons are already becoming available and are a useful source of polyphenols during winter. The dark brown, dried persimmons are considered a delicacy and are very expensive to buy. I'll be eating even more oatmeal porridge for breakfast in the coming months but, being Scottish and poor, I tend to eat it all year round anyway. I am fortunate that our local discount supermarket sells large, two kilo bags from Poland for only 500 yen.
Something that I have noticed in my long life, is that modern, synthetic fibres, such as acrylic and polyester, are nowhere near as good at keeping me warm as is a single layer of wool, no matter how thin that layer might be. While I do like wearing fleeces and thermal underwear, they can still fail to keep me warm if they are not supported by a wool sweater. If you do not have such a thing, you can buy them at a reasonable price from shops such as UniQlo. Check that the garment is 100% wool though.
Socks are the same. Thick, wool socks will keep your feet much warmer than any other kind of sock, even if they are advertised as being 'thermal'. They will also be less smelly and protect your feet from athletes foot as they wick moisture away from your feet and have anti bacterial properties. You can buy wool socks online from the likes of Amazon. Although they are a little expensive, I think that they are well worth it. No more summer chinos and short sleeved, open necked shirts. Back to long-sleeved shirts, ties, sweaters and wool-based suits.
In the next few weeks then, I will be changing over to my winter wardrobe of thicker clothes, wool sweaters and socks, looking out gloves and hats and bringing oil stoves and electric heaters out of storage. All the summer fans and light clothing will be cleaned and put away.
Good luck with the coming winter. With a little preparation and the right knowledge, winter need not be the grind that we expect.
The Japanese really enjoy taking very hot baths in winter. This gives you the feeling of being 'warm' for quite a long time after you leave the bath. It's nice, even if it is somewhat illusory. Onsen hot springs become very busy in winter too and are a great way of being lovely and warm/hot while enjoying a very traditional aspect of Japanese culture.
Just a word of warning though, if you have tattoos, some onsen are still very touchy about such things due to their association with organised crime gangs in Japan so they should be covered up. If they are too extensive to cover, you might be refused entry to the more traditional bath houses.
Diet changes with the seasons in Japan. This is true to a much greater extent than back home in the UK, where we continue to eat some food that would be considered as summer food, fruit/vegetables, even in winter.
In Japan, the 'donabe' pots will be coming out of storage soon. Using those clay pots, we will make delicious, warming stews and hotpots , often on a gas-bottle stove on the dining table. Winter fruit such as persimmons are already becoming available and are a useful source of polyphenols during winter. The dark brown, dried persimmons are considered a delicacy and are very expensive to buy. I'll be eating even more oatmeal porridge for breakfast in the coming months but, being Scottish and poor, I tend to eat it all year round anyway. I am fortunate that our local discount supermarket sells large, two kilo bags from Poland for only 500 yen.
Something that I have noticed in my long life, is that modern, synthetic fibres, such as acrylic and polyester, are nowhere near as good at keeping me warm as is a single layer of wool, no matter how thin that layer might be. While I do like wearing fleeces and thermal underwear, they can still fail to keep me warm if they are not supported by a wool sweater. If you do not have such a thing, you can buy them at a reasonable price from shops such as UniQlo. Check that the garment is 100% wool though.
Socks are the same. Thick, wool socks will keep your feet much warmer than any other kind of sock, even if they are advertised as being 'thermal'. They will also be less smelly and protect your feet from athletes foot as they wick moisture away from your feet and have anti bacterial properties. You can buy wool socks online from the likes of Amazon. Although they are a little expensive, I think that they are well worth it. No more summer chinos and short sleeved, open necked shirts. Back to long-sleeved shirts, ties, sweaters and wool-based suits.
In the next few weeks then, I will be changing over to my winter wardrobe of thicker clothes, wool sweaters and socks, looking out gloves and hats and bringing oil stoves and electric heaters out of storage. All the summer fans and light clothing will be cleaned and put away.
Good luck with the coming winter. With a little preparation and the right knowledge, winter need not be the grind that we expect.
Photo Credits:
Main image: FRANK211
All other content (text) created by the original author and © 2024 MUSUBI by Borderlink
WRITER
Alistair M.
From Scotland
Has experienced Japan for over 20 years!
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