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*General Advices Tokyo
15 Reviews We packed all we needed for 4 weeks in Japan into a single large wheeled backpack each. The idea was great and way better than if we had more than a single bag but on a humid hot night in Tokyo after...
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Rain Gear Tokyo
3 Reviews If your in Japan make sure bags or luggages you buy are seam sealed and the zips are waterproof. Weather in Japan especially in the monsoon season could rain at anytime without warning and at a...
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Expense Tokyo
2 Reviews CASH and LOTS of it!! I was actually here 'on business', had to pick up some papers, so I wasn't looking at buying much. But as it was my first time, I just decided to turn the rest of the day into a...
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Knowledge Tokyo
5 Reviews Make sure to get a small pocket Japanese-English dictionary if you are travelling in Japan. Most of the people living in the province or the outskirts of Japan don't speak English at all! The map is...
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Just In Case... Tokyo
3 Reviews During WW2 d-day landings it is said that condoms provided for British soldiers were marked "XXL - British troops only". This was a rather obvious morale-boosting initiative. Quite what the Americans...
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If traveling by train from Nagoya airport to Kyoto, then do not have a big backpack or big suitcase. Pack very light so that you can more easily place your luggage on the train. Instead of a full-sized backpack, I used a smaller student's bookbag from Walmart which held all I needed and took up little space.
Bring a warm PJ! Thick wool socks to wear at night. And a beaniehat. I wished for a pair of gloves too. It was the beginning of June in Takayama. Days were HOT & SUNNY. The nights absolutely freezing! Keep that in mind! And you won't wake up with a major cold like I did!
1 60litre backpack1 flat moneybag to tie around my waist and that doesnt show beneath clothes, for passport and travellers chegues. Always kept money loose in my pocket 1 pair of cargo trousers1 pair of jeans1 skirt1 pair of sandals1 pair sneakers (were on my feet when I left home)2 tshirts2 singlets1 hoodie1 rain poncho Toothbrush and toothpaste1 btl solution for my lenses + case1 packet of aspirin (most for the long flight)1 packet of prescription tablets for allergy My digital camera with 560mb memorycard. When full I got pics copied onto CDs. Photobooths are everywhere!!! And its pretty cheap. My diaryMP3 playerLonely Planet guidePassportTraveller's chequesJR PASS vouchers (2x7 days)HairbrushThats is. I rented towels and sheets at the hostels. Was never a problem. All places had shampoo and soap in the bath areas. Pharmacies got everything you need and more. Only if you have...
Compared with westerners, who often travel with large suitcases, it's not common for Japanese people to travel with a large suitcase around the country. Consequently, there isn't usually a wide space to store large luggage in trains, and the coin lockers aren't large enough to hold them either. I recommend keeping your luggage small when you travel around Japan. You might want to bring several small bags so that you don't have to carry a large suitcase Since it's a Japanese custom to take off your shoes indoors, you might have to take off your shoes often in Japan. I recommend bringing a pair of shoes that you can slip off and on easily. Make sure to bring, and wear, a nice pair of socks or pantyhose to avoid any embarrassment when you take off your shoes It's important to carry a handkerchief in Japan. Many restrooms in Japan don't have paper towels. Be sure to bring a handkerchief in...
Napisan is very difficult to buy in Japan. Take a small bag with you. We knew that there would be people who would help us at various points in our trip so we took along some small gifts. Along the way there were random acts of kindness also by complete strangers.It was good to be able to thank them in a small way. Gifts we took were nice boxes of chocolate, good chocolate biscuits, good quality coffee.
Some medicines are hard to find in Japan. Simple calcium carbonate (Tums etc.) or bismuth (Pepto-bismol) are unavailable, though you will find many so-called "tabe-sugi/nomi-sugi" (eat-too-much/drink-too-much) medicines. Since these usually contain a mixture of herbs and caffeine, they may have unwanted side-effects. Bring chewable antacids.(Interestingly, these medicines, plus vitamins, etc. are in liquid form, kept in the refrigerated section of the convenience store. If you go to buy a soft drink, be sure you're not getting hangover helper, in the smaller bottle.)Also hard to find are anti-allergy medicines, especially antihistamines. Those antihistamines that are available tend to be very strong and to induce drowsiness. Loratadine and other next-generation antihistamines are unheard of.Pain relievers can be different from what you're used to. If you ask for aspirin, you may be...
If you are going to Nagasaki during March/April make sure you take warm clothing. Although it may look nice outside it can still be cold and there is sometimes a cold wind. I didn't take enough warm clothing and ended up buying another two sweatshirts. Be warned!
I cannot emphasis this strongly enough. Please bring all your excess currency in the Japanese yen. It's very difficult, near to impossible to find a bank which exchange currency, and at that, a bank which exchange currencies other than US dollars. AND they only exchange 7 other currencies only! You have to produce your passport, fill in a form stating your address and to top it off their exchange rate is really lousy. Trust me, I've been tthrough that. And this is Tokyo we are talking about
If you plan to use the trains a lot or staying at traditional Japanese inns (ryokans), use a backpack as there are many stairs to negotiate. A trolley bag will be a pain in you know where! Although it was autumn, it was early Oct (14-25) and the weather is still warm. T-shirt and jeans will be sufficient but have a light jacket with you as it turns colder when evening falls. Everything is expensive in Japan, except for items made locally. Bring your own whenever you can.
I just used a backpack and a fanny pack We usually go when it is still cold and rainy so I dressed in layers. I only took two pants, three shirts, long johns, and one good pair of shoes. Most hotels had washer/dryers, but don't expect the dryers to dry heavy cottons. I took synthetics that pack small and are warm, they also dry hanging overnight. There is a service you can get that shuttles your luggage to other hotels and to the airport. I carried a hand towel and a small bottle of liquid soap for the public bathrooms. The hotels had everything, I didn't even take my toothbrush. Hang around the pachinko parlors long enough and someone will give you a pack of tissues as advertisment. digital cameras are great for lots of pictures. I took a camcorder once, but it was too big to carry around continuously for 12 days. We did a lot of walking. Good shoes are a must. A hat with a brim is...
Park Hyatt Tokyo Tokyo
7 Reviews and 526 Opinions Most memorable
Hotel Granvia Kyoto Kyoto
6 Reviews and 743 Opinions We stayed 3 nights at Kyoto Granvia Hotel from Feb. 27 to Mar 1, 2008. We paid Yen 17,600 per night,...
The Ritz-Carlton Osaka Osaka
1 Review and 353 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Japan attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Japan sightseeing.
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Q: Hi there, Will arrive in Tokyo, Narit Airport for a layover and wanted to take advantage of seeing something. I will arrive at...
A: youre lucky to be arriving so early, so you will likely pass through immigration fairly quickly. lets still count with an hour just in case. you can either take the...
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