Packing for Japan: What Tourists Get Wrong (From a Tour Guide)
Packing for Japan is different from packing for most trips!
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In this video, I walk through how to pack for Japan in a realistic, experience-based way, based on living here and guiding travelers every day. We’ll cover suitcase choices, smart packing structure, luggage forwarding, what tourists usually overpack, what you actually need, and how to pack comfortably for Japan, including tips for traveling with kids.
The goal is simple: move easily, walk more comfortably, and enjoy Japan without managing your luggage all day.
Japan packing guide, what to pack for Japan, Japan travel tips, packing for Japan with kids, Japan luggage forwarding, Japan travel advice
23 Comments
Great point about having a top opening suitcase! That’s been my biggest struggle!
In terms of the amount of clothing, it makes no difference whether you are traveling to Japan for one week or five weeks. Almost every hotel has washing machines. It is much more important to pack the right clothing. Cotton is the worst choice. Synthetic fibers usually do not need to be ironed. I would only pack trekking clothing.
This year, I went on a pilgrimage and took five pair of underwear, one sweater, one pair of pants, and three T-shirts with me. That was enough for five weeks. All under 10kg.
i dicided to buy suitcase there 4 to be percise
im in japan now… its such a relief to not see women wearing leggings
Excellent advice, as always! Have a happy new year!!
The top opening suitcase is what I used during my trip. Very practicale for small single room and in hostel. But I did put to much stuff in it 😅
Instead of packing a full backpack in your suitcase, look at "packable backpacks". They're a thinner material, but will fold down to hand size and take up much less space in your larger bag. Great for snacks. And souvenir hauls.
Please check airline rules on rechargeable battery packs. It's probably better NOT to take them to Japan. You can rent a battery at any convenience store, keep it for your entire trip, and drop it off before you leave.
I take photographs so carry lenses, generally one on the camera and one in the bag. Around 6pm I’ll pop back to the hotel and change to a lens for night shots. It’s difficult then to carry one of the long umbrellas so I’ve now got a smaller one but still not tiny. Can you recommend a ver small fold down brolly?
Sorry but bringing Cash to another country is a bad advice unless you go to a super undeveloped country which is lacking ATMs. There are ATMs everywhere and conversion rates are far better than in your home country even if you include atm fees…
Here is a hack. Purchase a moving box from Yamato transport or similar type store. Pack up your stuff and ship via the airline you’re on.
@ 17:35 Right Abby? The wetting of the fingertips under cold water for a second or two — or nothing at all? きたないでしょう？That's a whole deep-dive discussion. Given that, I'm glad that bowing and not handshaking is the norm.
Definitely be as minimalist as you can, more so if you want to shop.
Some rules I used:
– If you’re not sure and it’s not expensive or takes space, just don’t bring it and buy it in japan if absolutely necessary. This applied for extra outerwear or big scarves when the weather was looking mostly cool with the occasional cold day.
– if you need it right away, just bring it (moisturizer in winter, a windbreaker for hiking) don’t rely on buying it or you create work for yourself as Abby was saying.
– basic confortable clothing. Tbh you only need one nice outfit at the most, the rest of the time you’re gonna be tired and just want to be warm/cool enough. HEATTECH and Uniqlo basics + jeans worked great for me. I rewore stuff too to save space.
– if all else fails you’ll just buy a carry on at your final shopping destination for all the extra stuff! But i highly recommend keeping most major shopping for the end, aside from location-specific goods. I found one for 3000 yen in Osaka.
Oh and Samsonite Spinner (size M) labeled super light is literally an amazing medium big suitcase if you need something well suited to a 3+ week trip. It’s extremely light and manoeverable.
Great video. We are leaving for Japan in 3 days from a hot Australian summer to a Japanese winter. Thanks again for your wonderful information.
13:43 since I’m not a shoe connoisseur, I didn’t! 🤣 survived on only one pair for a solo trip
And a as always, thanks for all the useful info! Hoping to be back to Japan in 2027
Traveling with 4 kids in May, and we are planning on just doing a carry on with some other smaller bags, and checking a bag with our stuff on the way back. Thanks for the other tips!
Shoe de-odorizer is essential lol
Excellent advice as always, Abby)
20:43 The only thing I disagree with. I discovered the Micro Hydro Flask and I am able to refill it in my hostel and fast casual restos that serve water and tea. I also want to avoid microplastics as much as I can so I try not to buy water from vending machine/combini
Did I hear correctly that Japanese people dont wear deodorant?🤯
One of the best things we discovered for Japan is to rent a wifi hotspot. They're good for up to 4 devices and worked everywhere (even in small mountain towns). We never once took our phones off airplane mode. This allowed us to text and make calls any time, not just when in the hotels. Often, the hotspot had better wifi than the hotels. We hooked up two phones, a tablet, and a phone for a friend – no international plans – and it was cheap – $6 a day covered 4 devices.
And yes, have a hand towel in your pocket or bag. We needed it every day.
suggestion: at least for males, merino wool underwear. they're not a knit sweater for your junk. they are light . you can get them at any mont-bell. biggest advantage: can be washed at the hotel sink and they will dry overnight with the extractor fan. they are INCREDIBLY NON SMELLY! even after one day walking.
socks, get some DARN TOUGH brand in america. you can wear them for 2-3 days without washing. they won't stink!
i am a merino wool maximalist now!