Tokyo October Nights: What to Wear and How Cold
Heading out in Tokyo on an October night and wondering whether to bring a jacket? Short answer: yes, a light one. The Japan Meteorological Agency's normals for Tokyo in October are an average of 18.0°C, a daily high of 22.0°C and a daily low of 14.8°C, and late nights can dip to around 15°C. Here is how that plays out, from the walk through Shinjuku to a stool at HEAVEN TOKYO, a Korean bar near the station.
How long will you actually be outside?
The question that matters is whether you reach the bar before you get cold. HEAVEN TOKYO is a three-minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station, so even on a chilly night you are outdoors for only a few minutes. Rain is the bigger issue: October's normal rainfall is 234.8 mm, so wet nights are common. A folding umbrella turns those three minutes from a dash into a stroll. If you are coming over from dinner elsewhere in Shinjuku, the same applies: the walk is short, and the rain is the thing to plan for. Check the official forecast before you leave.
What should you wear so you are comfortable inside?
A long-sleeved shirt or top with a light jacket or cardigan over it. That covers 15°C on the street and the warmth of a small bar. Once you are on a counter stool, the jacket comes off and the first drink arrives: somaek for some, soju topped with beer, a Japanese whisky for others. Easy layers matter, because once the conversation with the person next to you gets going, you may be there longer than you planned.
What if you are heading home at dawn?
The bar stays open until 5:00 a.m., and when the karaoke alternates between Korean and Japanese songs, the sky can start to lighten before anyone notices. Dawn is the cold end of the night; that 14.8°C daily low is the number to keep in mind. Soju, makgeolli and Japanese whisky are all on the shelf for the long haul, and the counter is small enough that the people you started the night with are still beside you. On a night when the last train is not a concern, choose a jacket one step warmer than your daytime instinct. Doors open on October 23.
FAQ
- Is Tokyo cold at night in late October?
- The normal daily low for October is 14.8°C, and the month gets cooler toward the end. Bring a light jacket.
- Is the bar easy to reach in the rain?
- Yes. It is three minutes on foot from Seibu-Shinjuku Station, so you are barely outside. October averages 234.8 mm of rain, so pack a folding umbrella.
- How big is the gap between day and night temperatures?
- About 7°C by the normals: a 22.0°C high against a 14.8°C low. If you are staying out in your daytime clothes, add one layer.
Bar information
- Name: Korean Bar HEAVEN TOKYO
- Address: GEST34 Bldg. 1F #103, 2-45-16 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (3 min walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station)
- Opening: October 23, 2026
- Hours: daily 21:00-05:00
- Seats: 8 counter seats, karaoke available
- All-you-can-drink: 2,500 yen per hour (about 80 cocktails)
- Operated by Nagaza Inc., the owners of Korean bars HEAVEN, MOON and SARANG in Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Osaka
Google Maps · Our Osaka bars HEAVEN, MOON and SARANG (same owners)