Packing/Travel tips and Comments from the road -

While packing is 90% common sense and Newtonian physics, the remaining 10% is personal style and taste.  For instance, the votes were split down the middle when it came to jeans (many folks who know better, author included, just *have* to bring a pair) and hostel sleep sacks/sheets (some folks prefer to just pay the extra couple bucks and not lug their own linens).  For instance, several years ago, one student, after hanging his jeans up overnight and spending an hour or so the next morning with a borrowed hair dryer, finally gave up and just tossed them.

The final verdict?  There's no single, perfect way to pack for a trip to Japan or anywhere else.  There are, however, some less-than-perfect ways to pack.
   
What to Leave at Home [or to bring or to do):

 
  • "I would also advise a watch with an alarm, (I think that the large travel pack is the way to go), and a long rain coat...because if the rain is from a typhoon it blows sideways." [Dana]

  • "it's easier to pack too little than it is to pack too much.  if you pack too little, you can always buy more on the way, but if you pack too much, you're stuck lugging it around for the whole trip.  and don't forget to leave room for souvenirs!  i brought that little flat black bag with me, too, so i could have another bag for any extra stuff i got while i was there that wouldn't fit in my original boatcase." [Brandon]

  • "I'd almost want to include a blurb about how much clothing to bring. I carried a lot of socks, undershirts, and underwear and never regreted it. But I could have brought half the weight I did in shirts, shorts, outer clothes, etc." [James]

  • "I found out that carrying an umbrella is completely useless, you still get wet and the compact umbrella barely covers your head and half of you back.  Instead, I would suggest a light poncho jacket that can be minimized in a small zipper bag.  I always carried an umbrella, but never used it."  [Jose]

  • "After a lifetime of traveling, I leave the following at home: Clothing that is light-colored or white, clothing that doesn't dry overnight, and more than three of any clothing item."  [Natalie]

  • "Dreadnought-style boots.  I almost strapped on my old "hiking" - actually, climbing - boots for this trip but concluded that my new "light hikers" made more sense; good choice.  I remember the fine ankle support those old Kastingers gave me, but have little interest in moving what feels like, by the end of the day, a half-ton of extra weight per foot.  I've heard my contemporaries (fortysomethings?) whingeing about the insubstantial modern hiking shoes but hey, guys - I'm not goin' back!  My ankles, arches and sensitive heels all came through the trip in good shape."  [David]

  • "Jeans and t-shirts: they take forever to dry if you wash them in the sink, and they are probably the heaviest of cotton clothing items around."  [Diana]

  • "I've learned to leave behind the beach towel/bath towel.  It's big, bulky, and slow drying (i.e. if it doesn't dry before you have to pack and be off to your next destination, then you've got one foul smelling pack - almost as bad as your hiking boots at the end of a journey)."  [Ann]

  • "Don't take an electric shaver, go manual.  They take up too much space, and you also have to carry along a converter (we all know how big those puppies are)."  [Cesar]

  • "Large amounts of toiletries. Unless you're sojourning in the desert or jungle, most toiletries are readily available everywhere. Pack small containers, and if you run out just buy more! One of my friends had a cosmetics toiletry bag that must have taken up nearly half her pack. She brought most of her jewelry and hair accessories, too!"  [Jessica]

  • Be ready to try new food. Have an open mind and try new things.  It’s pointless to come to Japan and eat McDonald’s every day.

  • Be prepared for a lot of walking, and don’t over pack.   Pack an extra bag and be prepared to return with much more stuff (I should’ve brought two).  Be patient and open-minded; you’re in a different culture, but at least you have a guide.

  • Have a sense of humor and patience for others.  Be flexible about food!  (I admit I don’t like much but not being picky makes it easier on everyone.   TRY SOME FOOD!)  Please be open-minded about something different from U.S. culture.   We are a spoiled nation, so don’t whine when everything isn’t the same.  You are paying for a different experience.

  • Don’t be afraid to use any little Japanese you know.  People here are always willing to help.  Even fussy eaters can find things to eat.  Be prepared to walk a lot.  Bring one pair of very comfortable shoes.  A book with useful phrases can become handy.  Whatever you do, pack light.  It is a pain to drag lots of luggage.  Also if you are a shopper like me, you might need the extra space to put in your souvenirs.

  • Not only did this trip help me with my understanding of the Japanese culture and language but it also helped me to become a little more independent and showed me
    that I could step out of my comfort zone and survive.

  • "Try everything, take the photo when you first have the chance, eat that weird food, and stay longer.  Do all this because you probably won't return."  [Sharon]

  • "Buy stamps as soon as you arrive and always buy a few extra.  When you do find that perfect post card, you can fill it out and send it without searching high and low for the post office (which is probably closed anyway).  If you have a few extra stamps at the end of your trip, buy a few more postcards at the airport and send them to those aunts and uncles you've been meaning to get in touch with for years but just never got around to it."  [T. S.]

  • "Use the restrooms when you have a chance. Public ones are often few and far between. You can always check out train stations, fast food places, or large temples and shrines in an emergency. Also, learn to use the basic Japanese style "ceramic irrigation ditch" style. You will have to use one sooner or later." [T. S.]

  • "Sit down!  Relax and have a cup of coffee.  The one thing an ambitious traveler forgets to do is stop occasionally.  Some of my greatest travel experiences involve sitting at a cafe and watching the people.  While doing this, I often write in my journal.  I write about the beautiful museum I just visited or describe the beautiful architectural nearby." [Robert Phillips]

  • "Go to the not-so-popular places in a new city or country.  They can be more exciting and less crowded."  [Harsono S.]
   

"On a long journey even a straw weighs heavy."  (Spanish proverb)
Trust us.  You REALLY don't need all that stuff.  Don't just pack light, pack lighter than you think you should.  Be a true traveler, not a glorified camel.

"Trust in Allah, but tie your camel."  (Muslim proverb)
Bring luggage locks and a padlock for hostel lockers, and get in the habit of always using them.  Although you don't want to spend your vacation obsessing about security, taking simple precautions can save you major headaches.

"Eat your vegetables."  (Mom proverb)
Too many travelers try to cut costs by cutting corners on meals and basic nutrition.  Remember that travel is hard work, and you'll need lots of energy to see and do everything on your list.  Keep the food budget down by going to grocery stores and markets instead of restaurants - not by skipping meals or having a Snickers bar for breakfast.

"I'm sorry to say so but, sadly, it's true that Band-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you." (Dr. Seuss)
Eventually, all travelers get rained on, delayed, lost and overcharged.  At some point, the hostel can't take your reservation because it's full, the museum costs more than the guidebook says, and somebody doesn't take American Express.  Try to stay positive and upbeat instead of throwing a fit.  Besides, these incidents often make the best travel stories later on.

"Once in a while it really hits people that they don't have to experience the world in the way they have been told to."  (Alan Keightley)
Even if your guidebook covers the city you're exploring, there's a lot more to the place than the editors actually put in the book.  Take the time to explore local neighborhoods and try to experience the daily life of people who live there.  The major sights and attractions are worth seeing, but don't limit your exploring to what your (and everybody else's) guidebook lists in bold type.

"There are no foreign lands.  It is the traveler only who is foreign."  (Robert Louis Stevenson)
We all know this, but sometimes we all need to be reminded.  Different countries have different sets of rules - sometimes shorter sets of rules.  In the interest of being both culturally sensitive and safe, immediately familiarize yourself with the laws and customs of the places you travel and adhere to them the best you can.