The honest list, including what first-timers over-pack, what Japan’s convenience stores sell for less, and what you genuinely cannot do without. Most first-time visitors to Japan pack too much.
Japan has one of the world’s best retail infrastructures: convenience stores on every corner stocked with toiletries, medicine, clothing, and snacks; pharmacies with remarkably cheap skincare; and 100-yen shops with everything else.
You do not need to prepare for every scenario. This guide covers what you actually need, organized by category, with seasonal adjustments at the end.
Before anything else: Japan has luggage forwarding services (takuhaibin) that ship your bags between hotels for around 1,500 to 2,500 yen. If you are moving between cities frequently, consider travelling light and forwarding your main bag the night before.
Documents and Money
- Passport: Valid for at least 6 months beyond your departure date.
- Printout of hotel bookings: Some immigration officers ask for it. A screenshot on your phone usually works.
- Travel insurance: Non-negotiable. Japanese healthcare is excellent, but not free for visitors.
- Cash: Carry 20,000 to 30,000 yen at all times. Japan is more cash-dependent than most developed countries. 7-Eleven and Japan Post ATMs accept most foreign cards.
- IC card (Suica or PASMO): Get one at the airport immediately on arrival. See the Suica guide.
Clothing
Pack for the season you are visiting. See the best time to visit Japan guide for full weather breakdowns.
- Comfortable walking shoes: You will walk 15,000 to 25,000 steps per day. Prioritize comfort over style.
- Slip-on shoes: Essential. You remove shoes constantly at temples, traditional restaurants, and ryokan. Shoes with laces waste significant time.
- Layers: Japanese buildings oscillate between overheated interiors and cool exteriors. A light zip layer is useful in every season.
- Modest cover for temples: Shoulders and knees should be covered at major religious sites. A light scarf or layer handles this.
- Packable rain jacket: Rain can arrive suddenly. A packable waterproof takes almost no space.
Don’t pack: More than 2 to 3 outfits. Japanese laundromats (coin laundry) are excellent, cheap (around 300 to 600 yen per wash and dry), and usually in or near accommodation. Most hostels and hotels have laundry facilities.
Electronics
- Power adapter: Japan uses Type A plugs (same as the USA) at 100V. Most modern electronics handle this automatically. Check your device’s power brick for ‘100-240V’ before plugging in.
- Portable battery bank: Essential. A day of navigating, photographing, and translating drains phone batteries fast.
- Universal travel adapter: Only needed if you have UK or European plug devices.
- Download offline maps: Google Maps works offline in Japan. Download the regions you plan to visit before you lose WiFi.
Health and Toiletries
Japan’s pharmacies (薬局, yakkyoku) and convenience stores stock almost everything you could need. You do not need to bring full-sized toiletries from home.
- Prescription medication: Bring enough for your trip plus extra. Some common Western medications are restricted in Japan; check the Japanese customs authority’s list before travelling.
- Basic pain relief: Japanese ibuprofen is available, but at lower doses than in some countries. Bring your own if you prefer stronger doses.
- Small first-aid kit: Plasters, antiseptic wipes, blister pads. Everything else is available locally.
- Sunscreen: Japanese sunscreen is excellent and often significantly cheaper than at home. Buy it there.
- Insect repellent: Needed in summer, especially in forested areas. Available cheaply at Japanese pharmacies.
Don’t pack: Full-size shampoo, conditioner, or body wash. Every hotel and most hostels provide them. Even budget accommodation often stocks toiletries.
Japan-Specific Essentials
- Small towel or handkerchief: Many public bathrooms in Japan lack hand dryers or paper towels. Carry a small cloth.
- Coin purse: Japan uses coins heavily. A 500-yen coin is worth about 3 USD. You will accumulate coins fast.
- Reusable shopping bag: Plastic bags cost extra in Japanese shops since 2020.
- Portable WiFi or SIM card: Rent a pocket WiFi at the airport or buy a data SIM. Japan’s public WiFi is patchy outside major stations.
- Translation app: Google Translate’s camera function reads Japanese menus and signs instantly. Download the Japanese language pack offline before you land.
Packing by Season
Spring (March to May)
Light layers, a packable rain jacket, and comfortable walking shoes. Temperatures range from 10 to 22 degrees Celsius. Cherry blossom season brings crowded parks. Pack a compact picnic mat if you plan to do hanami.
Summer (June to August)
Lightweight breathable clothing, strong sunscreen (buy in Japan), a portable fan (sold everywhere in Japan in summer), and comfortable sandals. The rainy season in June and July means a compact umbrella is essential. August heat in cities regularly exceeds 35 degrees Celsius.
Autumn (September to November)
Layering is key. September can still be warm; November evenings are cold. A mid-weight jacket covers most of the season. This is the best season to visit and the easiest to pack for.
Winter (December to February)
Proper winter coat, thermal base layers, warm hat and gloves for outdoor exploring. Tokyo winters are cold but manageable (around 5 to 10 degrees Celsius). Hokkaido and the ski resorts require serious cold-weather gear.
What to Buy in Japan
Leave room in your bag for: Japanese skincare and cosmetics (significantly cheaper at source), matcha-flavoured snacks and sweets, ceramics and lacquerware, stationery (Japan’s stationery culture is extraordinary), and 100-yen shop items you did not know you needed.
