The Last Japan Packing List You'll Ever Need

20 must-have items for the smoothest trip possible

Hello Insiders!

Happy New Year!
In this month’s edition, I’m sharing my packing list for all my trips across the country. These are the actual items I wouldn’t dream of leaving home without dropping in my backpack, not ideas I cobbled together from other people’s packing checklists. I hope you find it handy - have fun getting ready for your trip!

Andrew’s Essential Packing List

Plastic bags

Rarer than Faberge eggs, hen's teeth, and reasons to visit Nagoya, rubbish bins are almost impossible to find if you've never heard of convenience stores and railway stations. Pack a plastic bag or three to keep that trash bundled safely before you get back to your hotel. These are also handy for hauling laundry to the washing machine at your accommodation.

Umbrella/Pocket Rain Jacket

I’ll leave it up to you which one to choose, but definitely be prepared for unexpected showers on your visit. If you’re travelling in the summer, consider getting an umbrella that can also block the harmful UV rays from the sun. These are great if you don’t like sunscreen.

Sunscreen

UV tends to be strong here, even in the early spring, so check out this forecast page before you head out. Even if it’s weak but you’re still going to be out all day, be sure to take care of your skin. Fortunately, if you forget to bring a bottle, you can find an incredible selection in drugstores and convenience stores.

Hand cream

If you're visiting in the autumn, winter, or early spring, you'll probably find that the air's really dry. Hotels often have humidifiers, which really help, but not outside. Your hands will thank you by not turning into a pile of dessicated coconut.

Collapsible cup

Hotels are generally pretty good about putting kettles in rooms for that morning Earl Grey, hot - or if you prefer, coffee. Unfortunately, you may find thimble-like cups in rooms, which can be disappointing to say the least. Pack a decently-sized collapsible cup and you’re golden.

Pass case with retractable tether

If you do any short-distance travel on subways, buses, and trains, chances are you’ll be using a prepaid card like ICOCA or SUICA to pay fares. Tapping these contactless cards gets you through ticket gates quickly and painlessly, but keep one in your pocket, and there’s a good chance you might lose it. So do what plenty of Japanese commuters do, and get a pass case with a retractable tether. That way your card is secure, yet still easily accessible. Unfortunately, the JR Pass and other regional passes don’t work like this so you’ll want the next item.

Card case

If you’re doing long distance journeys using the Shinkansen or limited express, you’ll probably have a small pass and reservation tickets. To keep them out of harm’s way, get a chunky business card case. It’s cheaper than having to buy a new pass if you’ve dropped it in your coffee or spilt yoghurt all over it.

Tissues or napkins

Perhaps the most surprising item on this list, but yes, I often find that restaurants and cafes don’t put napkins on their tables. I don’t know why, so just pack some tissues or wet wipes and you’re sorted.

Multi-usb power brick

When you’re bringing multiple electronic devices, you don’t just need multiple power bricks and cables, but you need lots of outlets too. Unfortunately, not every hotel room in Japan can help with the outlets, which is why I always bring a multi-device power brick.

Eco bag

You’ll hear it at the cash register a million times on your trip. What are they asking? Probably it’s, “do you want a plastic bag?” Most people don’t want to pay for these, so they bring a reusable shopping bag. Keep it in your hand when you go to pay so the staff know you don't need a plastic one.

Power bank

It’s not just for maintaining access to Instagram past 4pm. It’s also an important safety item, because how else are you going to charge your phone in the event of an earthquake-related power cut?

Good shoes

Many first-time visitors are shocked at how much they walk on their trips. You’re probably going to use those feet much more than you do in a normal week, so be sure to pack some comfortable shoes. If you can get waterproof ones, so much the better, since it can rain rather a lot. Slip-ons are also highly recommended, since there are so many times you’ll need to take your shoes off. If you don’t like slip-ons, try adding magnetic clips to the laces. They make shoeing and de-shoeing a breeze.

Good socks

Good shoes are only half of the equation here. You want to wear comfy socks too with all that walking. And no holes please – perhaps nobody will care when you’re inside a castle or temple without your shoes, but in a cafe or restaurant it’s much more noticeable.

Soap

You might have heard that Japanese society is really hot on hygiene and isn’t big on things like shaking hands. That’s great, but it doesn’t explain why so many bathrooms don’t have soap. Especially outside the big cities, this is a common situation. That’s why I carry a tiny box of paper soap, which weighs next to nothing, and is oddly satisfying to use.

Small towels

Another thing that’s even more commonly absent in public bathrooms is paper towels or driers. Even in big cities, you can find yourself with dripping hands, wishing you brought your own towel. And that’s precisely what you should do. You can get small towels for this purpose at the 100 yen shop. Be sure to shake the water off your hands before drying, unless you really want to carry around a damp towel all day.

Cash

You need cash. Many restaurants and cafes do not accept any other payment methods, especially when you get off the beaten path and out of the bigger cities. Temples, small shops, museums and even some buses only take cash, and also think about earthquakes. Do you think your credit or IC card will work when the power’s out? Of course not.

Try to keep some 1000 yen bills in your wallet, especially if you need to recharge your IC card on the bus in a hurry (drivers usually won’t accept bigger bills). Also, 100 yen coins are what you’ll need to pay for luggage lockers when you can’t pay by IC card – which is everywhere except for stations in big cities.

Coin purse

If you’re using cash you’ll be collecting coins. Get something to put them in. Pro tip: if you want to get rid of coins, head to a convenience store. Often they have machines at the counter meaning you have to handle payments. This means you can say bye bye to those coins as you drop them into the machine.

Day bag

Luggage lockers are a brilliant solution for getting large suitcases off your hands. But unless you want to stuff all your essential gear in your pockets, you’ll need a day bag. Smaller is better, because Japan is short on space, especially on trains, subways, and buses. But don’t go too small, in case you find yourself doing some shopping!

Sleep mask

After sleeping at hundreds of different hotels, hostels, and guesthouses across Japan, I can say one thing with complete certainty. Darkness is not included as standard when you book a room. Badly-installed curtains, too many blinking LEDs on TVs, and light creeping through under the door – I’ve seen it all (although I wish I hadn’t). Good sleep relies on darkness, not some half-hearted attempt that’s more like twilight – so what can you do? Get a good sleep mask, and don’t lose it.

Antiperspirant

When Japanese sweat, it doesn’t usually smell. They also sweat less than us, er, sweaty visitors. This is why it’s difficult to find antiperspirant (which stops sweating) in Japan. Deodorant is easier to find, but effective deodorant? That’s another story.

Whatever you use, be sure to have enough to last for your entire trip. Finding a product that works for you while you’re here probably won’t go well.

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That’s all for this month! See ya!

Andrew

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