Tokyo Winter Outfits (December): 3-Layer Guide for 3–15°C Uniqlo HEATTECH review🧣🗼❄️（Part 1)
What I wore in Tokyo at 37–59°F with wind ❄️
Hi everyone～I’m Hattie 💛
Today I’m sharing my winter outfits from my Tokyo trip 🗼❄️
I went in early December, and the temperature was roughly 3–15°C (37–59°F). But honestly, it didn’t feel “mild” at all. The wind, cloudy days, and the morning/night temperature drop made it feel colder than the number suggests. In simple terms: it was pretty cold. Like… “why is my face cold?” cold.
My Tokyo winter outfit formula: the 3-layer rule 🧣
This trip, I wore some version of this almost every day:
HEATTECH base layer + sweatshirt/hoodie + jacket
The only exception was Day 1, because I flew in from a warmer place and I was still mentally living in “not winter yet.” Tokyo immediately corrected me.
For Days 2–5, my base layer was Uniqlo HEATTECH (this is my second year wearing it). Quick summary, no fluff: it’s soft, stretchy, actually warm, and the turtleneck is super easy to style. It’s my personal favorite base layer 💕
Day 1: Flight day outfit — comfort first, always ✈️
Brown sweatshirt + white wide-leg jeans + Salomon XT-6 + denim bag
My flight outfit philosophy is very simple:
I want to be comfortable enough to sit forever, but also ready to sprint to the gate like an action movie scene if needed.
So I wore a brown sweatshirt with white wide-leg jeans. The vibe is:
“Looks like I styled it,” but the real reason is “I’m trying to survive the flight.”
Why white wide-leg jeans are elite for travel
• Wide legs = you can sit for hours without feeling trapped
• I sized up at the waist = no squeezing while seated (important!)
• They look clean and bright in photos
• When you walk, the pants flow like you have ✨main character energy✨ (not wind chill, just confidence)
After landing at Narita Airport, I felt the temperature change immediately. So I did what any reasonable person would do:
I borrowed someone else’s jacket and wore it like it was my right 🫣
It was a Quiksilver men’s camo jacket, and it matched my shoes so well that… yeah, I think I made the correct decision. I wore it. Period. 😆
Shoes: Salomon XT-6 (my “cute but can walk” hero)
I wore my Salomon XT-6 because Tokyo = walking A lot.
This pair is genuinely a “fashion + function” lifesaver: stable, comfortable, and great for fast walking.
Mine is a gray-green colorway (I bought it years ago and don’t see the exact one now), but Salomon is so good at making rare colors that still look stylish. Also, their lightning-ish logo detail? So good. Cool girl shoes 😎
👉 Shop more amazing Salomon colorways
Accessories: hat + denim bag (easy style points)
To finish the look, I added a hat and my everyday bag.
For this trip, I carried the same denim bag almost every day. I love the design, the size, the color… basically everything. I’ll write a separate post about it because I have a lot of thoughts.
And the cat-ear beanie is a serious recommendation 😺
I got it online for cheap, and this is my second year wearing it. Still perfect—no stretching, no weird shaping, no “I’ve been through things” look.
Some cat-ear hats can make your head look long or the proportions look off, but this one somehow makes the face look smaller and cuter. It’s simple, but instantly adds style.
👉 Shop the exact same cat-ear beanie（shoppee finds)
Day 2: Street roaming outfit — layered, warm, and a little bit cool 🧣
Day 2 was when I fully entered Tokyo winter mode. The 3-layer rule was ON.
Layer 1 (base): Uniqlo HEATTECH turtleneck (brown)
This is the “cashmere-feel” style turtleneck HEATTECH I bought last year. I still love it.
It’s stretchy, doesn’t restrict movement, and it’s thin but actually helps with warmth. Also, Uniqlo has released more colors lately (including a dreamy sky blue) and I’m trying to resist… but it’s hard 🤩
Layer 2 (mid): Sporty & Rich navy cropped hoodie
Their fit is honestly so good, and the fabric feels comfortable. The only downside is the price isn’t exactly “cute.”
But the cut is very cute, so… maybe it balances out? 😆
👉 Shop more Sporty & Rich sweatshirts here
Layer 3 (outer): Alo bomber jacket
I love this jacket so much. I’ve shared it before too, and I still recommend it. It’s the kind of jacket that instantly makes you feel like:
“Okay. I’m cool today.”
And in winter, feeling cool while staying warm is basically the goal. Highly recommend.
👉 Read my Alo jacket review (full post)
Jeans: low-rise, extra-long, and secretly flattering
For bottoms, I wore low-rise jeans with a slightly long length (almost dragging, but in a cute way).
The details are why I love them: white stitching + structured back pockets. It gives a subtle “lift” effect—thank you, jeans, for your service and dedication. 🙏
I wore size 26 (my usual size). They were a bit long, so I clipped them instead of hemming. That way I can wear them with both chunky shoes and slimmer shoes.
👉 Shop the same jeans on Revolve
Beanie: warm + wind-proof + “I tried” energy
My beanie is from the same shop as the cat-ear hat. Are they secretly a “cheap but cute hat” specialist? Possibly.
Wearing a hat does a few things:
• adds that “I put effort into my outfit” vibe
• keeps you warm and blocks wind
• stops your hair from going chaotic in photos
• saves time because you don’t need to wait for the wind to chill before taking pictures
Also, it can communicate my emotional state… like being “green-hatted” (if you know, you know) 😆
But the practical benefits are real.
Shoes: I went with pink for a pop
Because my top layers were darker, I chose a pink pair of shoes to add one bright highlight. They’re super cute—flat-ish, with velcro, and honestly kind of adorable in a “toy but fashion” way 😆
I’ll share a full post about these later too.
🌟 Hattie’s mini wrap-up (Part 1 ends here, because I respect your thumb)
Here are the two Tokyo winter outfits from this post:
• Airport outfit: comfy enough to sit forever + ready to sprint + add a jacket once you land for warmth
• Street roaming outfit: Uniqlo HEATTECH turtleneck base + cropped hoodie for better proportions + bomber jacket for wind and warmth
Next post, I’ll share more Tokyo winter outfits from the rest of the trip… 🗼❄️💛
👀 More brains, fits & trips on IG 👉
