How to Stay Warm in Japan During Winter: Tips from a Local

Last Updated on November 13, 2025 by Kay

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If you’re traveling in Japan during winter and you feel like it’s pretty chilly, you’re not alone. Despite being Canadian, I was shocked by how cold I felt the first winter I spent in the country.

Over the years, I’ve gotten somewhat used to the wet cold of winter in Japan, but there are days when the chill and frigid winds seep into my skin, especially at night. So in this article, I’ll share my tips, as well as my Japanese husband’s, about how to stay warm while you’re out and about during winter in Japan.

Tips to Keep Warm in Winter in Japan

Dress in Layers

This is one of the most important things to know before heading to Japan in winter. Although Japan is an island, it can be pretty chilly during winter, especially if you’re near the ocean.

However, the inside of trains or malls can be hot, which is why layers are key. I’ve written in detail about what to wear in winter in Japan, so make sure to give it a read so you’re prepared!

Buy Hot Bottled or Canned Drinks

Hot bottled or canned drinks from vending machines and convenience stores in Japan blew my mind when I first moved here almost twenty years ago. (In the dark ages before social media.) This was something I truly wished we had in Canada because boy, do Canadians need it in winter!

When it’s super nippy outside in Japan, I buy a hot bottled or canned beverage and, before drinking it, just hold it in my hands to warm up. It’s such a glorious feeling.

In terms of canned beverages, you’ll find coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and sometimes soups. They’re warmer than bottled drinks, and if you shake them, they’ll get hotter. (Don’t worry, they won’t explode when you open them since they’re not carbonated.)

I find that canned drinks can be too hot to hold sometimes, especially for young kids, so I prefer to buy bottled when traveling with my family. Bottled hot drinks are also more portable since they have a screw cap, so you don’t need to finish them right away after opening.

My personal favorite is Hot Honey Yuzu (ホットはちみつゆず). It’s sweet from the honey but not overly so, which means my citrus-hating daughter will drink it, and I won’t fall into a glucose coma after a bottle. It’s also packed with Vitamin C, so it’s a great way to fight off a cold.

My daughter also loves hot milk tea, which I suppose isn’t a surprise because I downed a small bottle every day when I was pregnant with her (and she would kick every time, it was so cute).

If you’re wondering which drinks are hot in vending machines or convenience stores, look for the red label reading あったか~い (attakai, warm) in Japanese.

Below is an image of what to look for at a convenience store.

And here is what the label looks like on a vending machine.

Try Oden

If you happen to be at a convenience store, get some oden! This is a great, affordable way to try warm and seasonal Japanese food on the go.

Oden consists of dashi broth-simmered vegetables, like daikon radish, as well as tofu, boiled eggs, and fish cakes. You can choose whichever items you want to have, and then enjoy a bowl outside. (Try not to walk while eating, though, and make sure to properly throw out your trash.)

Use Kairo

Kairo (カイロ) are small packs that become warm after being exposed to air. This is an essential winter item in Japan if you want to stay warm for several hours.

There are two types of kairo, the type that are adhesive (貼るカイロ, haru kairo) and the non-adhesive type.

For the adhesive ones, all you have to do is peel off the backing and stick it onto the outside of your clothing (like a shirt) to stay warm. Do not stick it onto your skin, it will burn!

I’m personally a fan of the non-adhesive type. For these, you need to take them out of the plastic packaging and then shake them to activate. I like to keep one in my jacket pocket and hold onto it when I want to warm up my hands.

These can get pretty hot, so if you have kids, make sure you supervise them carefully while using one. I don’t recommend giving kairo to children under the age of four, especially adhesive ones. My daughter is six and still hasn’t used an adhesive kairo because I’m worried it will burn her.

Note that although kairo stay warm for up to 12 hours, it can take a while for them to heat up.

You can find kairo almost everywhere in Japan, especially at convenience stores and drugstores.

Scour Convenience Stores

There’s a reason why people are obsessed with convenience stores in Japan. They carry everything, so if you’re cold, just head to a convenience store, and I guarantee you will find something to keep you warm.

For instance, this Family Mart was selling thermal scarves, gloves, and hats!