Packing for Japan ULTIMATE GUIDE (don't make the same mistakes) JAPAN GUIDE 2023 

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I lived in Japan. As a 173 cm woman I can only recommend you double check your bag and don’t forget any clothing because at my size you will be bigger than almost everyone and it’s SO hard to buy things if you forgot something. And google maps is sketchy in rural areas.

I always take my cabin bag, which contains my clothes, and a half empty large luggage, so I can bring a lot of goodies back from that beautiful country!😀I love Japan!❤

My elderly parents are planning their first trip to Japan, and asked me what they should pack. I already had my own list for them, but I think I'll just share this video instead because it's so thorough! I do have a couple of other / different suggestions though (because it's all about personal taste!) * Think twice about the gifts. There is a cultural "requirement" that if you receive a gift, you're obligated to give a gift in return. While this is a fun experience, you can actually be putting a local under stress by handing them a gift if they're not prepared, and you'll never know! It's still handy to have some gifts on you, but I now don't hand them out unless someone gives me a gift first. * Perhaps it's the places I stay when in Japan, but I often find they have pajamas only half the time. * I always take a small power board, with built in USB chargers. That way, I can have 1x travel adaptor, and then plug any items I need to, into the single power board. It's common that a room in a hotel might only have 1 or 2 power points! * I used to carry a pocket Wi-Fi, but now most phones have this function built in, saving the need of carrying an extra piece of technology around. * When packing deodorant, Japan has a strong culture of "scentless" deodorants. They find "smelly deodorant" to be rude. * Finally, as a really obscure suggestion - to take a tiny compass! I learnt this from someone else, to navigate the often huge, underground train stations. Knowing which direction you want to exit a train station, when you don't have GPS, can save a lot of hassle - particularly if you're carrying luggage! I hope these might help someone else planning a trip to Japan.

My family traveled in November/early December last year, and we brought packable down coats since they can be folded very small and are light to carry around, and are warm if you need it. Related to the "small towel" point - I brought some soap papers, it was a small container that had sheets that if you run them under water you can lather them as hand soap. I used this a few times in some public toilets where they didn't have soap dispensers. I also recommend some baby wipes for the same reason, easy to wipe your hands or body down if you get too dirty or sweaty. I also suggest packing small baggies to put your trash in. There are very few trash cans available in public so often times you have to carry it with you until you find a place. The small baggies helped to avoid messes in our backpacks, and it was easy to just throw the bag out instead of trying to find all the things to throw out when you do find a bin.

This was a great video! Since you only mentioned clothes briefly, I would like to add to that. Japanese have a different perception of what are appropriate clothes compared to most western countries I have been to. Especially for the ladies it's important to know that naked shoulders and low cleavages are something you will mostly not find there. So leave the tank tops, spaghetti tops and low-cut shirts at home. Naked legs are more common, especially in summer when you can see some tiny shorts. But mostly young girls wear that, so if you are over the age of 25 or a guy, you might want to wear pants, skirts and dresses that reach at least until your knees. They should not be too tight either, so no gym tights. In general, Japanese are very fashionable and pay attention to neat clothes. So, if you don't wanna stick out too much, take the more fancy stuff and leave the sweatpants and basketball shirts at home. Basically, dress nice but conservative and you will fit right in.

I was raised in Japan, moved to USA 30 years then Cambodia. I have met a large number of traveler/backpackers. Old and Young. New travelers and experienced travelers. If in doubt leave it out. Pack light. All clothing should be hand washable and hang dry by morning. Plan on the weather for the time you are going. Do not bring cold weather gear if you are only going for the summer and but prepare for cold in the winter.

I’ve travelled to Japan so many times and even when I was in diapers so I know most of these tips! 😛 The only tip that’s missing is bringing some light, flowy, full coverage clothes during wet season. I’ve been eaten alive by mosquitos a couple of times so I try to avoid that by wearing linen pants and light weight UV Uniqlo hoodies.

Highly recommend luggage forwarding services if you don’t want to lug a suitcase through stations like Shin Osaka or Shinjuku. It’s pretty affordable and leaves you without the hassle of trying to lug the suitcase through crowds and up and down stairs (but you’ll need to preplan if you do this as it usually take a day to send it onto your next destination). Definitely agree with the shampoo/body wash/toothbrush - every hotel/hostel we stayed at had those provided. For charging, i usually bring an adaptor and then a power board so i can charge multiple devices. But this time round i got a charger that was also a power bank built in and plugged my phone and watch into that (had USB-C and USB-A ports built in).

Leaving Sunday for my first trip to Tokyo, I'm very excited. Amazing how many of my questions you answered in this video, MUCH thanks! Very, very helpful.

I recently returned from a ten-day trip to Japan. Everything in your video is spot on. For those not staying at a hotel or ryokan (I stayed with family at times), I’m glad I brought my own toothbrush. That being said, the hotel and ryokan I’ve stayed at also had hair dryers for guests to use. FYI if you’re into styling your hair, it’s a bit of a challenge in the summer as it’s super humid! As for luggage, I had a backpack as a carryon, a tote bag as a personal item, and a small carryon sized suitcase that I checked in. They worked out perfectly for my trip. It was all very manageable, plus there are coin lockers almost everywhere in the cities. Thanks for making such helpful videos. Looking forward to seeing your next adventures in Japan!

Going in December 31- January 12.. so excited, first time !!!!! Tokyo- Kyoto- Osaka plan 😊

I will for sure come back to this video. My trip is coming up in September and I'm super excited as I am anxious since it'll be my first trip in YEARS. Definitely doing my homework before then and fortunately I have a group that I will being going with, so I won't be alone. Cheers!

This is the best informational video I’ve seen. Quick to the point and organized, I loved the list to screenshot, thank you very very much sir!

Thanks for the advice. I'll be in Japan for the first 3 weeks on January. Excited!

🧳 great tips, I like to bring hot sauce packets, plates to share food in hotel room, ziplock bags, wine key/ bottle opener, chip clip or buy one at Daiso, neck pillow. Yes Japanese don’t accept tips but do accept gifts. Go to a bar bring them a local beer or liquor. I bring Hawaii stuff all the time. Thanks for the videos.

I loved the vid! Pack comfy walking shoes, remember all your documents too. Packing cubes for your case too 😊

🧳I always bring hand sanitizer everywhere I go, but this time I plan to bring soap as well. When I went to Japan before, I remember there wasn't always soap either along with the zero hand towels. I was planning on getting those paper soap sheets from Temu because I just like to use soap over hand sanitizer when using the restroom. Very good content. Thank you for this useful video!

For someone who is getting ready for his trip to Japan. Watching this guide really helps me round up all the things I need to bring. Of course, I already have most of these items but watching this gives me reassurance. I have to admit, I almost left without having a small towel for washing my hands. Because I forgotten about how Japan public bathrooms didn't have towels to use. So that's a plus. With the airline I fly with. I can bring 2 luggage before I have to start paying. One thing I do is bring a half size luggage with nothing in it. Just in case I want to bring some stuff back I can't fit inside of my main case. Thanks again for the guide Ninja Monkey. Really appreciate it. ps - only problem I had last time was not what I brought with me. It's what I brought back. Which was allot of stuff I bought when visiting Japan. Learn my lesson. lol I had to assure the US custom officer that the things I had weren't over 10,000 dollars worth.

Love the point you made about bringing small gifts. I never thought of this and will def be doing so

I was stationed at Atsuji Naval Base 1977-1979. I am going back April 2024 to Tokyo, Kyoto, Atsugi and Osaka. Im so excited thanks for the tips.

this video was perfect! Doing my first trip next Feb, a little unsure about how cold it will be but this guide definitely will help me pack the right things!

Thank you for your useful pieces of advice! I love your channel!

3:34 And make sure it a very comfortable shoes that fit you well. Depending where you be going, but most of the time you may need to do quite a lot of walking around. 10:34 Do a little workout before the trip, so that able to carry your luggage up/down the stairs. 😅 Most stations in the cities do have escalators / elevators, but some of the station you may have a hard time finding it (especially the elevators). Or need to walk a little further to the other exit. Have some extra time when travelling around when using the train. Although the public transportation is well cover in most places but can be a little confusing for first timer.

OMG OMG OMG!! Thank you thank you!! I'm leaving for Japan tomorrow and i have not pack anything yet, so far i have prepared some things that i need for my 8 hour flight, and a souvenir for the B&B i'm staying at. I think i'll prepare some more fridge magnets or keychains from my country for them.

Thank you so much! Yes absolutely informative, I added tissue papers and sanitiser, few plastic bags to carry back your food waste just in case as they don’t have many dust bins.

Thank you for the information

Brilliant video. Covering everything! 🧳 👏 🇯🇵 Thanks Nathan!

Thanks for the info. Looking to go next fall. 😊❤

🧳 I just came back from japan. It is useful to pack a foldable shopping / grocery bag/ recyclable plastic bag as most supermarkets / convenience stores charge for bags. Or buy one and then keep it in your pockets so it handy and available. Hats / caps are useful on a hot day or when there is bright sun. No need to bring detergent - you can buy convenient pack at convenience stores or a coin dispenser at the hotel laundry 🧳

I'll be going to Japan in November and im SUPER excited! I will be bringing 1 bag (carry on) and nothing else. No need for all this luggage when you are trying to explore this Beautiful Country. Shoes: Make sure you bring COMFY shoes. You are going to walk 20k steps. Would hate for your trip to be cut short because your legs and feet hurt. Make sure if you buy new shoes to wear them AT LEAST week before your trip! Pocket WiFi: You buy these at the airport as well and you can buy them ahead of time that way all you have to do is pick it up. You can also buy an eSim for your phone (make sure that your phone is unlocked and can use an eSim). You can also buy a Sim card overseas as well, but I would suggest a Pocket WiFi if you are with a group and a eSim if you are solo traveling (this is what i will be doing. Ubigi is the biggest one over there) Battery Packs: BRING 1 OF THESE! It will be a LIFE SAFER for you! Trust me! Also would suggest Compression socks to help with your feet and ankles since you will be walking 20k+ steps. If you live in the US, i don't think theres a need for an adapter unless you have a three prong plug then I would bring one.

Thank you for this video, i will be visiting japan at the end of October to the beginning of November for our honeymoon. We are so excited.

This is all great advice. Thanks Nathan!

Super helpful! Thank You

thank you a lot! I'll be travelling to Japan in next two weeks on my own.

🧳Excellent video man!

I'm going to Japan in August for first time since 2018. Teacher here so I don't have the luxory of choosing a better time. Still super excited!

Greetings from korea 🇰🇷 😊❤ So glad i live 2 hour flight ✈️ away Usually our seasons and weathers match 😊

Thank you!

Good job mentioning the small hand towel! I don't see this mentioned very often and it's definitely not an obvious thing to bring. But the good news is that they are sold everywhere so it's not a big deal to forget to take. Just an excuse to buy nice ones when you get there!

option: if Mt Fuji is on your itinerary/bucket list bring a warm light down like jacket cuz it's cold at the top even in summer, also wear some comfortable throw away shoes, the pumice will slice and dice any nice shoes

I will be traveling to Japan November for the first time I found your advice on how to dress invaluable as have been unsure of how to pack. Thanks you 👜

👜 My personal recommendation is a portable stool. Not a full chair, but something small which can be packed away in a bag. Places to sit are at a premium in Japan so if you need to just rest for a few minutes having something to sit on (out of the way) is hugely beneficial. Locals generally go to cafe but then the expectation is you will buy something.

Helpful video.... Thanks

Very helpful, especially the bits about what NOT to pack--any space saved is excellent!

Very nice! ありがとう！

Thank you for posting this very helpful video!

Planning a trip to Ehime and you most def helped me! New subbie! Thank you so much!

Thanks for the tips! 💼

🧳Great video and many good advices. I might want to add that people should consider if they need to bring: a JR travel pass ... although it might not be worth it anymore. I would definitely also add: a smartphone (you mention it but didn't put it on the list), and of course a camera. Japan is so photogenic. One photographic item to think about is a small table tripod or similar to take pictures in nighttime. The cityscapes are amazing.

Thanks for the tips, we are going to Tokyo in October for a week 🍡🇯🇵

Thanks for the tips! I never thought of a coin purse or small gifts.

🧳not packing a toothbrush to safe on space? 😅 not sure about that though 😅

ALL excellent advice. I have saved this video and will make up my packing list using it when I go next time.

Good job! Several items that I've not seen mentioned on other channels.

🧳 thanks for this info. We plan to travel to Japan in November. Three years after our first attempt literally two weeks before Japan shut down due to Covid.

I just re watched the video as we leave for Tokyo in a week. We are doing 4 cities in 15 days, which will be easier than my previous holiday doing a 7 day ocean sea kayak trip along the Great Barrier Reef and living in tents. Surprisingly, my gear list is about 75% similar. Great video, I enjoyed it.

Perfect.

🧳🧳🧳 going this April. Thanks for all the tips 🧳

🧳After watching this decided to definitely pack light going to Japan but pack heavy going back to Australia :)

Great video. Thank you for the info.🧳

🙏🏼Thank You for this video! We followed your advice for our trip to Japan last year and my favorite recommendations you made were not to bring an umbrella (we bought 3 out there) A coin purse and the small hand towel to dry our hands. Also getting some small gifts. We did get some Manchester United / Manchester City Merch, but then did forget to have it out with us on the days when we encountered great service! Annoyingly BA did not get our suitcases to us until 3 days after we landed in Japan, So I was worried about not being able to have any deodrant, but was glad I packed a mini one in my hand luggage! 😄

Going to Japan in may for 3 weeks, thanks for the tips!

Power bank was a great reminder! Thanks.

🧳 I’m going soon to my first Japan trip, this video is super informative, thank you!!

Fantastic resource for us first time visitors…hopefully won’t be the last time. All your info and comments vevery reassuring for a persistent overpacker. I’m heading off next week for three weeks including MotoGP and covering quite a bit of central Japan with my son coming out from Australia. I’ll certainly be under packing and taking on board. Many of your great tips.🧳🇯🇵

👍👍Thank you very much for packing guidance, We are going to Japan for 10 days during this month end ( March/April ) Cherry Blossom season, Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara, Just I will play your Video and Pack, 🙏🙏( from India )

Meds in original packaging. Not pre-loaded in pill organizers etc. They want to see what they actually are.

I visited Japan in April 2019 and I experienced the 5 seasons in 7 days. Yes, even a snow day! Thank you for the awesome advice. Hopefully I can go again in 2024. Just find out the suica card will be discontinued, I have like $30 in it.😭

The one thing I was on the fence about getting for my trip was that pocket WiFi... but it was critical! Being able to have 24-7 access to Google Maps saved our bacon multiple times and it made navigating the more complicated/busy train stations a total breeze. We had the WiFi brick shipped to us to the USA in advance of our trip and left it in the Japan mail the day we departed. Easy peasy.

🧳thanks for the share! stay awesome.

This was helpful. I am heading to Japan for 16 days in June and hope to be able to pack everything in a carryon and backpack. I am packing about 5 days of clothes as my first 2 hotels have a washer and dryer and that should get me through. My only worry is getting too many souvenirs. :)

Thanks for the packing tips

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing your experience and the tips! Very useful! :) I will just pack my lightweight rainjacket instead of a disposable one, as I dont think that its that heavy nor bulky and rather want to minimize the single use plastic at least a bit by this. I know that in Japan there will be pretty much everything wrapped in plastic and stuff. Ah I will also bring my own Spork to eat. Maybe also my own pair of chopsticks :D

thanks for the video - have a good life

Thank you i was looking for this! I am visiting Tokyo on January so this helps.

You don't need to reserve special seats on the shinkansen with a suitcase as long is it's total dimension are smaller than 160cm (which is the case for most airlines anyways). Other than that good tips

👛 Thank you so much for the tips!! These will come in handy when i go this summer!

🧳 Thank you for the info. Great video! 🍻

💼 great video! keep it up man. very informative

Great video Nathan! 😊

Great Video! Thanks! ❤

Very concise, very helpful, thank you.

Great video!! First time in summer next month, let's see 🧳

I am going to japan on 24 of this month. Your information is help me when i am packing .thanks Ninja Monkey..🙂

I love that clear umbrella!!

Just got back from Japan. Great tips. Wish i found this before. I didn't find it easy to find a plug adaptor to type A before leaving Australia. But there were plenty in Japan and my hotel has usb-a ports but not type c. The towel and the eye cover is very useful. I wasnt sure about the deodorant. I watched another video saying thay strong scented deodorant or anything isn't the norm in Japan as it can be elsewhere. Definitely while I i was there I couldn't smell anything that resembled any of the allergy inducing scents people use back home. So I would double check before carrying deodorant specifically. Thats not to say you can't carry anti-persperant. Different type of product and easily available. Depending on how eco friendly you are, but I also carried a bag for rubbish as you'll have to carry your rubbish with you if you're not sat down somewhere. Emptied the contents of the bag when i could. Otherwise it might mean potentially going through various plastic bags. Even at the convenience stores just buying groceries I didn't see any reusable ones for sale. Could be I didn't look in the choas of counting coins 😂.

Amazing tips! Thank you so much!🧳One question: do I always need a separate seat reserved when I'm on a shinkansen with my luggage? If I have a backpack and a small suitcase? 🙇‍♂

🧳 not a recommendation from me on what to pack- but on how much - I traveled last November/December and also visited Okinawa - so I needed both warm weather and cool weather clothing. Pack things that can be layered. Pack things that all match/co-ordinate (Khaki or black slacks match just about everything) and plan on doing laundry (so make sure everything is machine washable and doesn't need ironing). Every hotel I stayed at had laundry facilities and for 200-300 JPY a load can be washed/dried in 90 minutes or so (once every 4 or 5 days - just right for updating my journal or writing out postcards) ---in a pinch socks/underwear and/or a marino wool base layer can be sink washed...but why bother when machines are available and cheap? that way all you need bring is smaller carry-on sized luggage and a day pack (or if you want a checked sized bag - you have room to bring stuff you buy back with you!)

I went to Japan in May and forgot to bring a stick of deodorant. It was incredibly stressful, even when I found some at Don-Ki. I was paranoid that it might not have been working and I was having a double-panic that I might be overcompensating in the other way with scented body wash and whatnot

Man…just got back this week from the land of the rising sun…you are dead on. One thing I learned is that even though I know I packed light, I should have even “halved” my light packing. 2 pairs of shoes max, I took 3 and didn’t touch one of pair. Also for me I found that next time I will take ONE suitcase, not a suitcase and a carryon smaller suitcase. Got caught like you said climbing some subways stairs as no escalators or elevator present a few times, two suitcases sucked in that way.

Your travel tip videos have become my go-to resource for planning trips! 🗺 Btw, have you heard about the new Nomadlane V4 Bento Bag? It seems like it could elevate your travel experiences! 🌟🎒

Thank you for the video. Something to to add, though someone might have mentioned it before: using luggage couriers such as Yamato, Sagawa, Takkyubin etc is a life-saver for me. These days I carry two luggages to Japan: one medium size and one cabin-size (plus my laptop rucksack). If I travel from one city to another city (e.g., Tokyo to Kyoto), but I have several towns (e.g., Kamakura and Uji) to visit in between, I will send my medium (or large for those who prefer large suitcases) from my Tokyo hotel on the day I leave Tokyo. The hotel staff can help you write the details in the receipt form (including hotel name and address in Japanese etc). I will then just travel with my cabin-size luggage to the smaller towns, e.g., Kamakura and Uji. When I arrive in Kyoto from Uji, my medium-size luggage is already there, waiting for me. Of course you can send the luggage from one small town to the next small town, but in my experience, it's quicker to send luggages between big cities (Tokyo to Kyoto will take about 1-2 days). Also, in small towns, you may need less items, thus a cabin-size luggage will suffice. Oh, and I sometimes also send small items (usually non-perishable shopping items) from Japan back to my country, just so that I don't have excess baggage. Hope these extra tips help.

Thanks for nice info😊

I’m so excited for my first time in a week!

Subbed,Love your channel,its packed with valuable information,superb advice without any waffle,excellent work from a well seasoned international traveller,love it. Maybe you might do a video on the ¥ itself and where you think it might be heading in 2024? Thanks,Great video!

Hey, cool vid.. Subscribed, I’m packing rn for my 3 rd trip, but still you brought me an upgrade 🧳

Thank goodness for those combinis that have the coin dumping machines 😅

🇯🇵 great vid, i packed my whole house my first time to Japan 😂😅