20 MUST-HAVES to pack for Japan in 2025

Time to get packing for Japan? Make your trip go smoothly with these 20 essential items.

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UV Forecast

[yoplait]

If you end up realizing your "comfortable walking shoes" aren't very good walking shoes I advise you to go to a konbini like Lawson and get some things.

•bandaids, use them to wrap your toes and prevent blisters.
•konbini socks, socks from convenient stores are pretty thick and tough. So if your feet hurt already, you might want to double up your socks to pad out the inside of your shoes.

I had to do these things on my trip. If I hadn't done them, I wouldn't have done most of the things I wanted to and would be resting too much.

[hollyc]

I bought a retractable IC card holder and hook it to the outside of metal part of my purse. It made using the IC card so much easier, I don't have to be paranoid about misplacing the IC card when I'm on the train. I usually buy Japanese sunscreen, it's so much better than American sunscreen. I love your sense of humor.

[Ilikeoatmealmorethanyou]

very good list!! and it's nice to see content that isn't catered to just tokyo (:

[vpfmycl]

If you still have luggage space on your way to Japan, I'd recommend packing 1-2 rolls of toilet tissue. The Japanese version is so thin it's practically see-through. Same for napkins/pocket tissues.

[zcqrtm]

I bring my own coffee/tea cup where ever I travel. The perfect size for me every time. 😊

[Gazumi-inOZ]

Well done Andrew another practical and informative 5⭐ video.

It bewilders me how little we use umbrellas for shade in the West. It's a no-brainer, but we're all hung up on "Oh a man's holding an umbrella is that ok" I take a folding shade umbrella with me on my Japan trips and love it.

It's like the stupid western cultural norm of shaking hands ... and then we wonder why colds & flus are so rampant ... Bowing or even a simple head nod is surely a sufficient greeting worldwide.

Alongside tissues and wet wipes in my day pack I include expanding wet towels (thanks to my wife) ... Have you seen these ? They're the size of a thick postage stamp and when wet become the most incredible tough absorbent 'man size' disposable hand towel. (I've never seen anyone mention them, now the secret's out 🫢).

Loved seeing you loading your Brompton(?) folding bike into the lockers ... a man after my own heart 🚲 I'm travelling with my folding e-bike now every trip.

Ya gotta absolutely include a battery pack, get a slimline designed one. In fact they're only 1000Y in Daiso.

I've got to look into that magnetic shoe lacing system, thanks 🤔

Coincidentally trip #11 for the first time I ran out of deodorant, ¼ bottle 🫣 ... A supermarket vist surprised me of the price of deodorant and antiperspirant in Japan 💰. I got a small bottle for around 700Y which must have been an antiperspirant that kept me drier than I've ever experienced before 😮

Great content keep it coming.
Oh and for what it's worth, I'd love to see you do live Q&A streams. Your down to earth logical approach to travelling in Japan would be welcomed LIVE 🎤

[travel-japan-solo-and-sixty]

Having visited Japan a number of times I highly recommend this video!

[xXNekou]

"If you think it looks silly come back and laugh at me when you're dying from skin cancer" 💀💀

I adore your sense of humour

[katyb]

Thank you this was actually really useful and practical!

[ceciliaclark]

Always enjoying your content, And the fact that you do not make neither shorts or live streaming.

Finally, one with the same problem as me regarding cups. i bought the same collapsible type you showed before the pandemic and it is always with me when I travel. And your choice of tea is excellent as well. I always bring a couple of teabags with me as well, even to England as one never knows what type of tea is on offer at the hotel *or when traveling in Europe, if tea is even offered.

[Pertzaa]

Thanks Andrew for the list - the business card holder for long-distance tickets was something that I should have figured out earlier, especially as I have a business card holder in the shape of an old style suitcase (perfect for this usage)

[mycharmedunicorn]

I am 61 and am from the United States of America. I would love to visit Japan before I die for up to 2 months. I am thing April-May. But I probably could not afford it. I would so love to though. I love how clean Japan is. And I respect how its natural born citizens are quiet. I love quiet, peace and tranquility. I want to see the cherry trees! And the temples and other architect.

[paulanguyen]

Thank you so much.
Over all advice and clips I had been watching yours is the best. ❤

[michaelmaslo]

I thank you so very much for this video. Very helpful. I am traveling to Tokyo in May of this year with my wife. So excited and trying to find as much information as I possibly can before headed out.

[Kkggss]

Very useful, thoughtful list!! Thank you 🙏

[heythave]

Yep, the sweating in the summer is real. You shower in your own sweat while walking outside. 😅

[zuberaspirit]

Good list indeed! Don't forget some painkillers also! They can be hard to get and are lighter then what youre used to. And if you're like me and you get sick on the plane youre not gonna have a nice time the first night because you cant get any till morning

[pandakeeper]

Great advice, especially the sunscreen. I live in the American desert, so I bring a sunscreen stick with me always. I reapply every two hours, regardless if I’ve been inside or outside.

[HepauDK]

Ah yes, cash. When you eventually find the balance on your Suica/Icoca/whatever card running low and want to top it up, you WILL need cash, as the machines for the cards that accept debit/credit cards are few and far between.
On my last trip I bought a compact telescopic umbrella, that one will definitely be in my suitcase next time I'm going.
I didn't know about the lack of remedies to dry hands in publick toilets, so I bought a hankerchief in Sendai. And since it was Sendai, of course it had Date Masamune on it. :)

[toadkult]

15:31 deodorant kills the bacteria that cause bad smells; it doesn't just hide the smell.