Finding Clothes and Shoes in Your Size in Japan: Size Charts and Where to Look
Updated: 2026-09-16
Quick answer
Hi, I'm Miya, and I help newcomers settle into life in Japan. Clothes shopping here is a lot of fun, but the first trip to a fitting room can be a small surprise: the medium you always buy at home may feel snug, and shoe boxes show a number in centimetres. This guide explains how sizes are labelled, where to look if you need larger or longer sizes, and a few habits that make trying things on easy.
The short version: measure yourself in centimetres once and keep the numbers on your phone, then compare them with the size chart for each item rather than relying on S, M or L. Shoe sizes are generally your foot length in centimetres. If the regular racks don't fit, look for larger-size sections and ask about hemming, and when you try things on, take your shoes off before stepping into the fitting room and use the face cover if one is offered.
How size labels work here
Letter sizes like S, M and L are used widely, but they tend to run smaller than the same letters in many other countries, and the fit varies from maker to maker. You'll also see F or 'free size', which usually means a single size meant to fit a range of body shapes, and in women's clothing you may come across numbered sizes such as 9 or 11. None of these translate neatly into sizes elsewhere, so it's best not to assume.
The good news is that many labels and online product pages list body measurements in centimetres — for example chest or bust, waist, hip and height ranges — and sometimes the garment's own measurements too. Those numbers are far more reliable than the letter. Shoes are usually sized by foot length in centimetres, often in half-centimetre steps, and some also show a width mark such as E or 3E, where more Es generally means a wider fit.
Measure yourself in centimetres first
Instead of hunting for a perfect conversion table, I find it simpler to measure yourself once. With a soft tape measure, note your height, chest or bust, waist, hips and inseam, and measure both feet from the heel to the tip of your longest toe, since one foot is often a little longer than the other. Feet tend to be slightly larger in the evening, so measuring then can help when you're buying shoes.
Save the numbers in a note on your phone and compare them with the size chart for each item you like, in the shop or online. It also helps to measure a favourite piece of clothing you already own, such as the length of a shirt or the width across the shoulders, because product pages often list garment measurements you can compare directly. Conversion charts you find can be a rough starting point, but the item's own chart is what really counts.
Where to look for larger or longer sizes
The regular racks in many shops focus on the most common sizes, so if you're taller, broader or have larger feet, it's worth knowing where else to look. Some department stores have a floor or corner for larger sizes, there are specialist shops for larger men's and women's clothing, and many general clothing chains carry an extended size range, sometimes only in their online store. Suit and business-wear shops often stock a wider spread of sizes as well.
A few Japanese search words help a lot: 大きいサイズ (ookii saizu) for larger sizes, トールサイズ (tōru saizu) for longer lengths, and 幅広 (habahiro) for wide shoes. Shoes at the larger end of the range can have limited stock in store, so it's common to check the shop's website or app first, or ask staff whether they can order your size. Online shops with extended ranges are also a good option, especially once you know your measurements.
Trying things on: fitting-room etiquette
Most clothing shops have fitting rooms (試着室, shichakushitsu), and it's polite to ask staff before you use one — a simple 「試着してもいいですか？」 (Shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?, 'May I try this on?') works well. Fitting rooms usually have a small step or mat at the entrance, and you take your shoes off before stepping inside, much like entering a home. Some shops limit how many items you can bring in at once, so staff may count them for you.
For tops that go over your head, you may be handed a thin face cover, or find some inside the fitting room. It protects the clothes from makeup and everyone uses it, so feel free to do the same. When you're done, hand the items back or leave them where staff ask, and if something doesn't fit, it's perfectly fine to say so and leave without buying. In shoe shops, staff are usually happy to bring other sizes for you to try.
Hemming and alterations
Trouser length is one of the most common fit issues, and shops are used to it. Some trousers, especially suit and dress trousers, are sold with the hem left unfinished so the shop can shorten them to your length, and many clothing shops offer hemming (裾上げ, suso-age) when you buy. Staff usually pin the length while you wear the trousers with shoes similar to the ones you plan to wear, and the result may be ready the same day or take a few days.
Whether hemming is included or charged, and how long it takes, depends on the shop, so ask at the counter before you pay. For other adjustments, such as taking in a waist or shortening sleeves, alteration shops (お直し, o-naoshi) are common in shopping centres and near stations. Keep in mind that altered items often can't be returned, so it's worth being sure of the fit first and checking the shop's policy.
Your phone makes size-hunting easier
So much of finding the right size now happens on a phone: comparing size charts while you stand in the shop, checking a store's app to see whether your size is in stock nearby, and ordering online for home delivery or store pickup. Those apps and online orders often send delivery updates or 'ready for pickup' messages by text or email, and many ask for a Japanese phone number when you register, so having one with data makes everyday shopping much smoother.
Setting it up is refreshingly simple — you apply online with your residence card, verify with a quick eKYC, and eSIM-capable phones can connect the same day, often within about fifteen minutes. Have a look at our setup guide for eligibility and the step-by-step, and confirm current terms on the page before you apply. Keep your measurements on your phone, and finding clothes that fit will feel far less like guesswork. I'll be right here to help.
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