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 | Tokyo Packing Lists | Tips 1 - 10 of 34 |  |
1. Expect to do a lot of walking. Wear comfortable shoes and socks. Tokyo has a fantastic transportation network consisting of subways, trains, monorails, buses and taxies, but once they get you to the general vicinity, the best way to see Tokyo is by foot.
2. Bring and carry individual packages of tissues. Many Japanese rest rooms do not have paper towels. A few did not have toilet paper. Japan's traditional (non-western) toilets are have hole you have to squat over to do your business. Fear not though as most bathrooms have at least one western toilet. On the positive side, Japan has the cleanest bathrooms you are ever going to find.
If you visit those new buildings/hotels, you may find the most advance toilet. There's lots of buttons to clean stuffs... You know;) So far, its the most advanced I've encountered in all my travels.
3. Bring a good camera. Tokyo is a wonderful place to take pictures.
4. Pack items that may leak or explode (toothpaste, shaving cream, deodorant, etc.) in resealable plastic bags.
5. Use the subways, trains and monorails to travel within the city. Taxies are very expensive and buses may require more Japanese language skills (both reading the Japanese characters and speaking).
6. Buy one or more easy to carry Tokyo guidebooks.
7. One of the best ways to get from Narita airport to Tokyo is the Airport Limousines. These are comfortable buses that take you from the airport directly to most major hotels. They are also one of the least expensive ways to get to the city.
8. Pack Umbrellas and/or raincoats during the rainy season (mid June to mid July).
9. Bring a light backpack for your daily travels. You do not want to be carrying heavy bags around the city as even the subways require much walking between terminals.
10. Pack one or two empty duffel bags in your suitcase for dirty clothes and to make room for souvenirs.
11. Purchase sodas and snacks for the evening at a convenience store to avoid the costly hotel prices. Convenience stores are located near the hotels and throughout the city.
12. Bring tea bags, instant coffee and sugar packets etc.. from home. The hotels provide hot water in your room for beverages, but the self serve honor bar tea and coffee packets are expensive (about $6.00 per tea bag).
13. Bring a travel iron or plan ahead. Many Japanese hotel rooms are not equipped with irons.
14. Post Offices (yubin kyoku) are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but most hotels can mail letters for you.
15. Banks are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Most hotels also do currency exchanges at a fair rate.
16. We recommend you take American Express travelers checks. They can be cashed at most hotels and banks and replaced if lost.
17. Check the weather before leaving on your journey.
Check the dates of Japan's holidays and festivals and then learn more about festivals in Tokyo.
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THANKS, MIKE
I'd like to thank Mdchachi the info he gave me about Tokyo, which let me correct some mistakes on this page.
Please, take a look at his Tokyo page Leave a Comment |
Money! You need lots and lots of money to survive here. Really. But if you bring it, it will pay off. Shopping in Tokyo is wonderful, for everything from clothes to designer furniture. And if you're not enormous like most Americans (like me!), you'll find that for once in your life, EVERYTHING FITS YOU PEFECTLY! It's pure heaven. No more of those XS t-shirts that were shunk down from an XXXL. These things are tailored for your NORMAL body. Leave a Comment |
Expect to do a lot of walking. Wear comfortable shoes and socks. Tokyo has a fantastic transportation network consisting of subways, trains, monorails, buses and taxies, but once they get you to the general vicinity, the best way to see Tokyo is by foot.
Bring and carry individual packages of tissues. Many Japanese rest rooms do not have paper towels. A few did not have toilet paper. Japan's traditional (non-western) toilets are have hole you have to squat over to do your business. Fear not though as most bathrooms have at least one western toilet. On the positive side, Japan has the cleanest bathrooms you are ever going to find.
If you visit those new buildings/hotels, you may find the most advance toilet. There's lots of buttons to clean stuffs... You know;) So far, its the most advanced I've encountered in all my travels.
Bring a good camera. Tokyo is a wonderful place to take pictures.
Pack items that may leak or explode (toothpaste, shaving cream, deodorant, etc.) in resealable plastic bags.
Use the subways, trains and monorails to travel within the city. Taxies are very expensive and buses may require more Japanese language skills (both reading the Japanese characters and speaking).
Buy one or more easy to carry Tokyo guidebooks.
One of the best ways to get from Narita airport to Tokyo is the Airport Limousines. These are comfortable buses that take you from the airport directly to most major hotels. They are also one of the least expensive ways to get to the city.
Pack Umbrellas and/or raincoats during the rainy season (mid June to mid July).
Bring a light backpack for your daily travels. You do not want to be carrying heavy bags around the city as even the subways require much walking between terminals.
Pack one or two empty duffel bags in your suitcase for dirty clothes and to make room for souvenirs.
Purchase sodas and snacks for the evening at a convenience store to avoid the costly hotel prices. Convenience stores are located near the hotels and throughout the city.
Bring tea bags, instant coffee and sugar packets etc.. from home. The hotels provide hot water in your room for beverages, but the self serve honor bar tea and coffee packets are expensive (about $6.00 per tea bag).
Bring a travel iron or plan ahead. Many Japanese hotel rooms are not equipped with irons.
Post Offices (yubin kyoku) are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but most hotels can mail letters for you.
Banks are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Most hotels also do currency exchanges at a fair rate.
We recommend you take American Express travelers checks. They can be cashed at most hotels and banks and replaced if lost.
Check the weather before leaving on your journey. Check the dates of Japan's holidays and festivals and then learn more about festivals in Tokyo.
Leave a Comment |
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Japanese people are fantastic dressers (besides the French) and outward appearance is VERY important here in Japan. So, with this in mind, try and pack SOME nice clothes along with you IF you want to leave a lasting impression.
I usually bring along THREE types of cameras with me these days and load them with different types of films i.e. ASA200 film (for day) and the high speed Kodak 800 film for museums or places that do not allow flash photography. So, the cameras that I'd bring are: (a) the Olympus mju Zoom (with wide-angle lens). I usually use this camera for day photography.
(b) the Pentax 150 Zoom which I use for places that does not allow flash photography.
(c) the ultra-small Canon IXUS Zoom camera - smaller than the size of my palm. I hang this camera around my neck... and NO, I don't look like a dog wearing a dog tag! This camera requires a special type of film (APS) to be used.
DON'T forget to bring along your much-treasured ATM card to withdraw cash. Yes, no need to rush to the money-changers to change all your currencies into Japanese Yen before your trip.
Just ensure that you adhere to the following steps:
- Flip to the back of your local ATM card now, do you see the logos 'Cirrus', 'Plus', 'The Exchange', 'Maestro' etc on it?
- If the answer is 'yes', then you have absolutely nothing to worry about!
- Why? Because you can withdraw cash from any ATM machines in Japan, no matter how obscure the town or village you're at is.
- If you use this method, you'd also save alot on the interbank exchange rates. Money changers will charge you much, MUCH more compared to a bank.
- DO NOT withdraw cash from your Visa/ Mastercard. This is considered a CASH ADVANCE and you'd be slapped with a very hefty fee! Not worth it.
I've used this method many, many times before and so far, no ATM machines in this world have failed me.... Yes, even at the remotest village in Africa! :-))
So, happy travels!!
Photo: The City of Tokyo at Night
'All the above is, of course, a gross simplification. There are deeper reasons to travel - itches and tickles on the underbelly of the unconscious mind. We go where we need to go, and then try to figure out what we're doing there.' - Jeff Greenwald 'Shopping for Buddhas' |
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Gel soles would be a great idea when going to Japan, you will be doing A LOT of walking unless you rent a car. My feet hurt an insane amount after a few days of 8+ hours of walking and standing straight, if can't get any before you go you can pick them up in local stores. They helped save my trip!!! Leave a Comment |
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 thought to it I have no idea.
Anyway the point is that Japanese condoms are different from American / European ones. I've heard some claim that they are, how do I put this delicately, on the SMALL side.
Others contend the Japanese product is thinner and superior. Either way it is probably better to stick to the tried and tested. Leave a Comment |
most toilets do not have hand towels and many do not have hand dryers. In addition, many resturants do not have napkins.
Bring a handkerchief or small hand towel to carry with you. It will save you from wiping your hands on your sleeves and pants Leave a Comment |
Unless you speak Japanese it can be a pretty bewildering place! A smile and a point goes a long way and we did learn, hello, goodbye, please,thankyou, 1-2-3 and beer before we left but sometimes a phrase book can be a great help, ours was! Leave a Comment |
he first thing you want to avoid is a large suitcase or backpack. Trains to and from Haneda and Narita (if you land in Tokyo) are very crowded. A large suitcase will get you many nasty looks. It is, after all, my hostess told me, taking up space people can move in.
Women should bring their depilatories, cold wax strips, or other methods of hair removal from home. I could not find comparable products like this in Japan.
Women should also bring whatever works to alleviate PMS and bad headaches. I found that even the strongest of Japanese asprins and such had no affect on me. I was told by my hostess that she found American over-the-counter products like Tylenol too strong! Leave a Comment |
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