Are clothing sizes smaller in Japan?

In general yes. Local Japanese clothing brands tend to have more fitted cuts and smaller sizes than European ones. A European M may need an L in local Japanese brands. The international brands (Uniqlo, H&M Japan, Zara) are closer to the European ones.

Where to buy large-size clothing in Japan?

If you wear XL or larger, the best options are: Uniqlo (goes up to 3XL in some garments), ZARA and H&M (standard EU sizes), department stores such as Isetan or Mitsukoshi (they have large-size sections), and specialised shops in Ikebukuro or Shibuya in Tokyo.

What is Tax Free shopping in Japan?

Foreign tourists can shop without Japanese tax (8–10% depending on the product) in shops with the "Tax Free Shop" seal as long as the purchase exceeds 5,000 ¥. You need to show your passport. In department stores there are Tax Free counters at the entrance or on the top floor. Check how to save in Japan for more strategies.

Which garments are worth buying in Japan?

Japan is especially known for: technical underwear (Uniqlo Heattech), high-quality socks, trainers from Japanese brands (Onitsuka Tiger, Asics, Mizuno) cheaper than in Europe, streetwear and vintage clothing, and second-hand kimono and yukata. Budget your purchases in the euro to yen converter.

Are trousers in Japan the same length as in Europe?

Japanese trousers tend to be a little shorter than European ones. If you are over 175–180 cm, the hem may be short. Many shops offer a free or low-cost hemming service (suso-age). Ask for it at the till when you buy.

How do I ask for my size in a Japanese shop?

Staff in Japanese shops usually understand "size" in English. Show the EU number or S/M/L on your phone. For footwear, look for the centimetre number (25 cm, 26 cm...) on the boxes. If you want to learn to communicate better, check the Japanese phrases guide.

Can I return clothing bought in Japan if it does not fit?

Returns in Japan are possible in many shops if you keep the receipt and tags, usually within 7–14 days. However, if you bought Tax Free, the return can be more complicated (the Tax Free system disables the option). Always try things on before paying.

What are children's clothing sizes like in Japan?

Japanese children's clothing is sized by the child's height in centimetres, not by age. The labels show the height directly: 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150 and 160 cm. You only need to know how tall your child is to get the size right. Children's footwear, like adults', is measured by the foot length in centimetres. Uniqlo, GU, Akachan Honpo and Nishimatsuya are good options. If you travel as a family, check the guide to travelling to Japan with kids.

Clothing sizes in Japan: EU ↔ JP converter

Q: How are shoe sizes measured in Japan?

Japan uses the foot measurement in centimetres. A 26 cm foot corresponds to a JP size 26. To convert: measure your foot from the heel to the longest toe in centimetres; that number in JP corresponds approximately to your Japanese size.

Convert your clothing and footwear sizes to Japan before you go shopping.

Tools 7 min read Updated 1 Jul 2026

Tokyo at night with skyscrapers and neon lights

In Japan sizes tend to be smaller and the numbering system is different. Women's clothing uses odd numbers (5, 7, 9, 11...), men's uses S/M/L with more compact measurements, and footwear is measured directly in centimetres of foot length. Use the finder to find your Japanese size.

Converter and size conversion for Japan

Find your Japanese size

Women's clothing: EU → Japan

Women's sizes in Japan use odd numbers (5, 7, 9, 11, 13...) or, in more international brands, S/M/L. The cut tends to be more fitted than the European one, so if you are between two sizes it is worth going up one. Remember that the equivalents vary by brand: use them as a starting point and always try the garment on.

EU	Japan (JP)	JP letter	Bust (cm)	Waist (cm)	Hip (cm)	UK	US
32	5	XS	78–81	62–66	85–88	6	0
34	7	S	82–85	67–69	89–92	8	2
36	9	S/M	86–88	70–72	92–96	10	4
38	11	M	89–92	72–76	96–100	12	6–8
40	13	L	92–96	77–80	100–104	14	10
42	15	LL / XL	96–100	81–85	104–108	16	12
44	17	3L / XXL	100–104	85–89	108–112	18	14
46	19	4L	104–108	89–93	112–116	20	16

The letter-size equivalents (S/M/L) are indicative: what in Europe is an M (size 38–40) usually corresponds to an L or even LL in local Japanese brands, because the pattern is narrower. In international chains such as Uniqlo, Zara or H&M the equivalence is much closer to the European one.

Men's clothing: EU → Japan

Japanese menswear uses S/M/L/XL with measurements somewhat more compact than the European ones. International brands (Uniqlo) usually have an equivalence closer to the European one; local brands can run a size larger.

EU	Japan (JP)	Chest (cm)	Waist (cm)	UK / US
XS	XS / 1	82–86	70–74	XS
S	S / 2	87–91	75–79	S
M	M / 3	92–96	80–84	M
L	L / 4	97–101	85–89	L
XL	XL / 5	102–106	90–94	XL
XXL	XXL / 6	107–111	95–99	XXL
3XL	3L / 7	112–116	100–104	3XL

Formal shirts: Japanese dress shirts use the neck size in cm. A European M shirt / neck 39–40 corresponds to a Japanese neck size 39 or 40, since the measurement is directly the neck circumference in centimetres.

Men's trousers: waist and length

EU waist (cm)	JP (cm)	US (inches)	EU trouser size
76	76	30"	S / 40
79	79	31"	M / 42
82	82	32"	M / 42–44
86	86	34"	L / 46
91	91	36"	XL / 48
96	96	38"	XXL / 50

Women's footwear: EU → Japan

Japan measures footwear in centimetres (foot length). To convert: measure your foot from the heel to the longest toe, and that value in cm is your Japanese size.

EU	Japan (cm)	UK	US
35	22	2.5	4.5
35.5	22.5	3	5
36	23	3.5	5.5
37	23.5	4	6
37.5	24	4.5	6.5
38	24.5	5	7
39	25	5.5	7.5
40	25.5	6	8
41	26	7	9
42	26.5	7.5	9.5

Men's footwear: EU → Japan

The Japanese footwear system is based on the foot length in centimetres. The conversion is direct: a 27 cm foot = JP size 27.

EU	Japan (cm)	UK	US
38	24	5	6
39	24.5	5.5	6.5
40	25	6	7
41	26	7	8
42	26.5	7.5	8.5
43	27	8.5	9.5
44	28	9.5	10.5
45	28.5	10	11
46	29	11	12
47	30	12	13

Shoes in EU size 45 or larger can be hard to find in standard Japanese shops. Brands such as the Japanese New Balance, Nike and Adidas usually go up to 29–30 cm; for larger sizes, visit Isetan or department stores in Tokyo.

Children's clothing and footwear sizes in Japan

Japanese children's clothing does not use age as the main reference, but the child's height in centimetres. The labels show the height directly (80, 90, 100, 110...), so you only need to know how tall your child is to get the size right. The correspondence with age is only indicative, because every child grows at their own pace.

JP size (height cm)	Indicative age	Child's height
80	12–18 months	~80 cm
90	2–3 years	~90 cm
100	3–4 years	~100 cm
110	4–5 years	~110 cm
120	6–7 years	~120 cm
130	8–9 years	~130 cm
140	9–10 years	~140 cm
150	11–12 years	~150 cm
160	12–14 years	~160 cm

Children's footwear follows the same system as adults': the size is the foot length in centimetres. For the youngest, sizes go from 11–12 cm (baby) upwards, rising by half a centimetre at a time. Measure the child's foot and buy that number, leaving half a centimetre of margin for growth.

Brands and shops for children: Uniqlo and GU have large, affordable children's sections with the same height-in-cm system. For baby clothes, Akachan Honpo and Nishimatsuya are the most widespread specialised chains, with everything needed if you're travelling to Japan with kids.

Tips for buying clothes in Japan

Fitting rooms available: in Japan there are always fitting rooms and staff will help you find your size. Always try things on before buying.
Uniqlo: Uniqlo sizes are closer to European ones than those of local Japanese brands. It is a good reference point.
Large sizes: if you wear XL or larger, go straight to the large Uniqlo shops, to ZARA (which has standard EU sizes) or to department stores such as Isetan or Mitsukoshi.
Second-hand clothing: the vintage shops (recycle shops, Bookoff, Kindal) have clothing in excellent condition at very low prices. Ideal for finding original Japanese brand garments.
Haggling: does not exist in Japan. The marked price is the final price. Only in some second-hand electronics shops is it possible to negotiate slightly.
Tax-free shopping: foreign tourists can shop without tax (8–10%) in shops with the "Tax Free" seal if the purchase exceeds 5,000 ¥. A passport is needed.

If it is your first trip, spending a little time on clothing before you leave saves you trouble: check what to pack for Japan and leave room for shopping. The shopping districts (Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinsaibashi in Osaka) are covered well in our guide to travelling to Japan for the first time, and if you're weighing up which city to focus your shopping in, our guide to the best cities in Japan can help you decide. Many shopping streets share space with the best places to eat that we cover in what to eat in Japan.