Rain in Japan is no joke. When it rains, it pours. On this trip, I soaked every pair of socks that I brought with me. Every pair of shoes got soaked, and by the time I got back to the hotel from a rainy day, it looked like I had jumped in a pool fully clothed. I initially prepared for the tremendous amount of rain by packing an umbrella with me (or so I thought). When I unpacked my suitcase for the rainy day, my umbrella was nowhere to be found.
1. Umbrella
Luckily, almost every convenience store sells umbrellas in Japan. So, if you forget to pack an umbrella, no worries! Umbrellas in Japan cost anywhere between 400-500 yen, which is the equivalent of $3 to $4 USD.
2. Rain boots
I did not understand the importance of rain boots. The primary modes of transportation in Japan are through subways or buses. You will definitely walk around outside a lot to get to your subway stations. Sometimes, there are dangerous puddles you should watch out for as well! However, with rain boots you won’t have to worry about puddles or overly drenched socks. I was not able to find a convenience store that sold rain boots. You may have to pack this beforehand. Or, there might be a nearby clothing or shoe store to buy a pair. I guess if you’re going to travel by car, this probably won’t be an issue for you.
3. Poncho
Why would I need a poncho if I already have an umbrella? Umbrellas are great to keep your head dry. Ponchos are great to keep your clothes and belongings dry. Not only were my clothes soaked when I got back from a rainy day, but my backpack was soaked as well. The rain tended to bounce off the umbrella and on to my back pack. A few of our classmates were able to buy a poncho at some of the convenience stores and they were only 500 yen (about $5 USD)!
Unless you want to wring out your wet socks at the end of the day, it might be smart to pack those three items!
Fun Fact: In a lot of stores and businesses, there are umbrella covers when you walk in. If there isn’t an umbrella cover, there will usually be an umbrella rack! This keeps wet umbrellas out of the building and stops the water from leaking all over the floor. You will probably get odd stares if you walk into a store or business without your umbrella being covered.
