Packing is an inevitable step before traveling. In addition to the typical items, such as your passport, there are a couple of useful things for us while traveling in Japan. Sure, they can all be purchased once you have landed. But we prefer to bring them with us to save time and money. After all, the items listed below don’t take up much space.
A List of the Useful Things to Pack for Your Next Japan Trip
Important: If you bring an Electric Suitcase or Smart Suitcase to Japan, please don’t ride it. There have been cases where tourists who rode their electric suitcases were arrested, as the suitcase was treated as a vehicle.
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A Photocopy of Your Passport Photo Page
When traveling overseas, it is recommended that you have an extra copy of your passport’s photo page in your wallet or bag to avoid being unable to verify your identity when the passport is lost. Having a photocopy of the photo page will also make it easy for you to seek assistance from the local police.
Wise Card
Because foreign exchange rates can fluctuate dramatically, we recommend purchasing the Japanese yen beforehand if the rate is at historical low. Instead of heading to a local bank for physical Japanese yen notes, consider getting a Wise Card.
The wise card is a great money exchange tool that offers competitive exchange rates. We buy the yen when the rate is good and use it when we visit Japan. After arriving in Japan, we withdraw cash from 7-11 ATMs to the free monthly threshold and use the physical card to pay as much as possible.
Currently, there is a campaign to give all new account holders a free physical debit card. The card is crucial for your Japan trip as you need it to withdraw cash from the ATM. In addition, a physical card is required if you want to pay by card at many attractions in Japan.
Pocket WiFi/SIM/eSIM
When traveling abroad, you must have access to the internet. Even if you have a phone, it won’t be much use as most apps on your phone won’t function without it. Especially if you don’t speak the language, an internet connection is essential when you want to know information about good restaurants and scenic spots close by and, most importantly, communicate with the locals.
So, if you haven’t already done so, order your Pocket WiFi/SIM/eSIM. It is usually cheaper, and having the internet connection sorted beforehand means you need not worry upon arrival.
For the difference between each product and the best providers, refer to our Japan SIM Card, eSIM, or Pocket WiFi article.
Are Any of the Transportation Passes Worth It for Your Trip?
If you have a detailed itinerary and know you will be taking the train frequently, it is worthwhile to consider whether any of the transportation passes are worth the trip.
While some passes can be purchased on the spot, many are usually cheaper or can only be purchased overseas. So, ensure the exchange voucher is in your bag before heading to the airport. For e-vouchers, we suggest printing them out in case your phone isn’t working upon arrival.
Note that the nationwide JR Pass isn’t worth it for most people after the price hike in 2022. However, if you plan to do a round trip from Tokyo to Hiroshima within 7 days, the 7-day pass is still worth it.
For more information on how to determine whether a JR Pass is worth it for your trip, refer to our “Do I Need a JR Pass” article.
The most common tourist pass in Tokyo is the Tokyo Subway Pass. The pass allows you to take the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway unlimitedly. Most attractions in Tokyo (excluding Tokyo Disney Resort) are close to a station of the two rail companies.
For other transportation deals that might save you money, refer to our Guide to Tokyo’s Transportation Passes.
In the Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto, Hyōgo (where Kobe is located), Nara, Shiga, and Wakayama Prefecture), many people either get the Kansai Area Pass or Kansai Rail Pass. Refer to our article on the Most Useful Transportation Passes in the Kansai Region for more information.
Power Bank
Bringing a power bank might not be intuitive if you normally only charge your phone once a day or even once every two days. However, you will likely use your phone a lot more during your trip. Navigation, taking photos, finding a good restaurant to eat, checking the reviews of the shops/attractions, and using official apps of the popular theme parks (Disney and Universal Studios Japan), will all drain your phone’s battery.
Power banks are sold in many places. Depending on where you base, you might even find a vending machine selling it. Amazon also has many great deals from which you can choose.
Adapter Plug
If the electric outlet where you come from isn’t type A, like in the United States, you need a power plug adapter if you plan to bring any electrical devices to Japan to charge them. Note that if the charger’s plug is a 3-prong plug, it is best to pack an adapter as well because most electric outlets in hotels in Japan look like the ones below the photo.
Since you might also travel to other countries in the future, it is recommended that you get a universal travel plug adapter with USB ports.
Medicine and Deodorant
Especially if you take prescribed medicine regularly, ensure the medicine is packed in your bag. But ensure you have checked the MHLW website for a list of medication that is allowed in Japan. When in doubt, please contact the Ministry of Health to confirm. The contact detail is listed at the bottom of the MHLW website.
It is also recommended that you bring some cold medicine and cough drops. The dosage in each country can differ, so what works for the Japanese might not work well for you. Some people also bring painkillers and deodorant while they travel in Japan.
Moreover, you might also want to pack some motion sickness pills for a comfortable flight and even a bus trip in Japan if that is a part of your itinerary.
Lastly, you will be surprised how few vegetables are in your meal while dining in Japan. So, bringing some medicine for constipation is a good idea. On the other hand, having some anti-diarrheal medicine in your bag in case you get an upset stomach is also a good idea.
Plastic Bags
More and more shops have started charging for plastic bags in Japan. Bringing a couple of plastic bags can not only save you money but also be more environmentally friendly. You can use the bags for food and small items from the convenience store. In addition, the bags can hold your trash when there is no garbage bin near you.
Keep in mind that trash bins are usually only found at train stations or attractions. Not all malls have them either. The Japanese usually bring their garbage home to dispose of it. As a tourist, you can chuck small items in your room’s bin.
Important: If you want to dispose of large items, such as your old suitcase, please contact your hotel’s concierge. You will likely be charged a small fee, but this is the rule that the locals follow.
A Good Pair of Walking Shoes
When visiting Japan, most people accumulate more than 15,000 steps in a single day. Thus, a good pair of walking shoes is essential.
If you plan to wear sandals in summer, bring a pair of socks. Many traditional-style attractions, such as temples, require shoes to be removed to enter the buildings. Wearing socks is seen as a basic manner of walking on a tatami mat-covered room, especially if you want to participate in a tea ceremony.
If you see the sign “土足禁止” by the door at any attraction in Japan, prepare to take off your shoes.
A Small Face Towel
Hand dryers might be a standard facility in public toilets in your country. However, because many Japanese people have the habit of bringing handkerchiefs, not all toilets in Japan have hand dryers. So, if you prefer to dry your hands after washing them, bring a small face towel. It will be useful on a hot summer day as well.
Moreover, it is a part of Japanese culture to wash hands at the purification fountain at a temple or a shrine before worshipping the god or the Buddha enshrined. As nothing is provided for pilgrims to dry their hands afterwards, your face towel will again prove its worth.
Coin Purse and Coin Holder
Japan is still a country where cash is commonly used as a means of transaction. So, it is likely that you will end up with many coins in your purse after a few days in Japan. Thus, many find a Coin Purse useful for holding coins. When you are still unfamiliar with the country’s currency, a Coin Holder is handy. Having a coin holder makes it easy to find the coins you need without digging through a coin purse or even your pockets.
Another way you can use a coin purse is to leave all your country’s currency in it and use your day-to-day wallet/purse in Japan. This way, you won’t be confused every time you need to pay in cash.
Nail Clippers Set
If your trip to Japan lasts more than a week, you will need a nail clipper set. Not only do your fingers and toes need to be trimmed, but the set will also be a lifesaver for treating the blisters you might get from all the walking.
Small Foldable Umbrella
Especially for our female readers, having a small foldable umbrella in your backpack is a must. This way, you won’t get wet if it suddenly rains on the day. On a hot summer day, the umbrella can also shade you from the heat from the direct sunlight. Reading till here, you might have thought of it already. It is best to get the ones that have UV protection.
Masks and Hand Sanitizer
While wearing a mask is no longer a requirement in Japan, you might want to take this safety measure while traveling. After all, getting sick overseas is likely to ruin your trip. Hand sanitizer is another item that goes hand in hand with a mask. A travel-sized hand sanitizer can disinfect your hands before enjoying street snacks at tourist attractions.
It is recommended to bring more spare masks than the number of days of travel. A Mask Case is also useful when traveling. If you don’t want to spend money on a mask carry, you can create one with a plastic document folder.
Neck Fan or Neck Cooler
Japan’s summer is hot and humid. If you spend the entire day outdoors exploring, you are likely to get heatstroke. So, to survive longer in the heat, bringing a handheld fan, neck fan, or neck cooler would be a smart choice.
Electrical Tape
Electrical tape is probably the last thing you think of when packing for an overseas trip. However, it will be a lifesaver if the rubber of your suitcase’s wheels decomposes during your trip. So, if you haven’t traveled in a while or plan to bring old luggage, consider also throwing electrical tape into your bag.
Electrical tape coupled with small scissors, the kind that trims eyebrows, can be used to wrap the wheels. When you wrap the electrical tape around the wheels, pull with strength to wrap them better. Don’t just wrap the wheel once; wrap it several times so the layer is as thick as a tire.
If you don’t have an electrical tape, get one from Amazon!
Other Useful Things to Bring to Japan
| Insect repellant | Bandaids | Blister patches | Lip balm | Ear plugs | Document folder if you like collecting brochures and tickets |
Things That Can’t Be Brought Into Japan
Apart from prohibited medication and animal products, there are a few things that we don’t recommend bringing to Japan. We have also included the items that some attractions forbid to use on their grounds.
Refer to the Japan Customs Website for a list of items that are prohibited to bring to Japan.
- Gold, including gold accessories: Japan is very strict about bringing gold into the country to prevent foreigners from using it to launder money. You might be required to pay taxes, or your gold items might be confiscated.
- Selfie stick and tripod: In some attractions in Japan, selfie sticks and tripods are forbidden. Tokyo Disney Resort is one of the spots where you can’t use these photography tools.
Important: The Japanese take personal privacy seriously. Deliberately taking pictures of strangers (including restaurant/shop staff) in Japan may cause disputes. Please check before pressing the shutter.
The Most Useful Apps for Traveling in Japan
In this day and age, smartphones are our new maps, translators, and guides! It is the most useful tool that helps us navigate when traveling to a foreign country like Japan.
But for it to be useful for your Japan trip, you will need to download a couple of apps. For more information, refer to our article on the Most Useful Apps for Traveling in Japan!
Planning Your Next Japan Trip?
Japan, where traditions, culture, and history meet with the most advanced technology and modern conveniences, also has the most picturesque landscapes! It is no wonder why Japan has been voted one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world!
So if you are planning to travel to this beautiful country, refer to our article, Plan Your Next Japan Trip – When and Where to Start, for some helpful information, advice, and tips to keep in mind when planning your visit.
