What To Pack For Japan In Summer

No, this isn’t dummy content or a sponsored ad – I’m in Japan right now and decided to do a ‘What to pack for Japan in Summer’ post, as all the videos and articles my family consumed before we came were rubbish. 

A little bit of context, I’ve been to Japan five times and lived in the country for five years, so not a complete noob. However, my wife (Japanese) and kids watched countless Daiso videos, Don Quixote, Abroad in Japan, and what to pack for the Summer ‘how-tos’. You’d think we knew by now.

These were my original items to take, excluding the obvious (passports and tickets)

1. Glasses and contact lenses (need to see).
2. Magazines (I still need to read them).
3. Steam Deck and Switch (didn’t use on the plane).
4. Two pairs of shoes (only needed one).
5. Medicine (did you know Japan has pharmacies EVERYWHERE?).
6. Phone (duh).
7. Charger/convertor.
8. Clothes (packed three pairs of shorts and one pair of joggers, a handful of underwear and four t-shirts).
9. Cash (Japan has finally moved towards contactless payments).
10. Empty suitcases/bags to stock up on omiyage (souvenirs).

Chances Are, You Don’t Need To Bring It

Bring what you need, such as glasses and prescriptions, but everything else can be bought here. At the time of writing, the yen is weak, so things like shoes are a third of the price they are in England – the same for dining – a Starbucks order for three people was the total of one drink back home.

Fashion in Japan is very subjective, and you could walk down the street in a onesie, but nobody would bat an eyelid. Then again, if you’re going in Summer, you’ll want to wear light clothing. On a budget? Head to the following:

• Uni-Qlo.
• GU.
• Fashion Center Shimamura.
• Avail.
• Many ‘vintage’ second-hand stores are available, but be wary that some overcharge for used goods.

We all know by now that Japan is full of vending machines, so don’t worry about staying hydrated. Remember that they aren’t always the cheapest, just the most convenient. Therefore, I recommend carrying change on you at all times.

Those who want to rely on something other than cash can use credit and debit cards. My wife opted for a debit card called Wise. You can find out more about Wise here. Additionally, she bought a SIM card through Airalo. WiFi was all I needed, and I could connect at hotels, train stations and hotspots to send messages back via Telegram, occasionally check X, and dip into Monopoly Go to keep levelling up. Just remember to turn off your roaming!

What they tell you to bring, but isn’t necessary:

• Carrier bags for rubbish – There are bins everywhere. If you buy anything from a convenience store or supermarket, consume your goods there, and there’s gonna be a bin and heading to the outdoors? Bins are limited, but that’s the same worldwide, right? In that case, hold on to a bag or two. They practically give them away at the convenience stores.
• Translators books or digital – Japan is so accommodating. We’re in the North in a rural area, and English is everywhere. Many people can speak more than they let on, though they will tip-toe around it and point to pictures to help you. If you need to translate, use your phone. Top tip: at least try to speak Japanese and prepare to listen!
• Stuff to keep you cool – The Japanese are pros at this. From neck coolers through to AC in almost every building, you will be able to maintain your body temperature. Just don’t catch the bullet trains mid-day as there’s no AC outside, and because of the overhead wires, you can’t shield with parasols. Unless you wanna die?

So…

What To Pack For Summer In Japan (besides travel documents)

1. Cash and invest in a debit card through Wise.
2. Your phone and a SIM card to save on roaming.
3. 2-3 days worth of clothes.
4. One pair of decent walking shoes or a throwaway pair, and buy some Hoka Ones when you arrive.
5. Headphones.
6. Charger—I recommend the UGREEN USB C Charger 65W Plug GaN Charger Fast Charger Plug Travel Adapter, as you can use it back home with fast charging, and it comes with adapters. Note that this isn’t a converter, but it can charge a Steam Deck and MacBooks without issue—which should be more than enough.
7. Extra luggage space to bring back stuff.
8. Medicine in Japan is decent, but if you have prescriptions or go-to medicine for travel, bring that. There’s nothing worse than getting the shits before jumping on a bullet train.
9. International driving licence. I only know about the UK, but you can get them from designated convenience stores the same day, though you’ll need to bring your driver’s licence too. Japan drive on the left, but it’s in KM, and speed limits are incredibly slow.
10. Invest in a small bag to carry around your stuff, such as wallets, glasses, medicine, and, if you’re like me and struggle with heat, plenty of body mist!

Other tips?

• Daiso is no longer the world’s best-kept secret, and they know it. The benefit of the 100-yen store was that everything was 100 yen. In Daiso, that’s not the case, and some of it is expensive. Shop around, literally, and look for places like Seria. If there’s no price tag, it’s 100 yen, and BOOM! another gift for friends/family back home.
• Be mindful of the voltage in your country. While places like Hard-Off have amazing bargains, plugging a hairdryer from Japan into a socket in the UK will blow up (yes, my wife did it). Also, not many people know this, including a lot of Japanese, but in the West of Japan, electricity is 60Hz, while in the East, it’s 50Hz. Both are 100V, mind.
• From my own experience, unless you’re a confident listener and speaker, don’t always respond in Japanese that you understand—especially at Customs. Just because you can ask where Hibiya Avenue is doesn’t mean you’ll understand how to communicate just yet.
• Japan is very humid, so without knowing where you’re coming from, you might find it quite a challenge if you’re prone to sweating. Fortunately, there are plenty of body wipes and sprays you can buy. I swear by a brand called Sea Breeze. It initially burns(!) but will keep you super cool. At least, it works for me…
• Masks. COVID is going around. My in-laws have it, and we expect to get it eventually.
• If you are a spectacles wearer, check out a place called Jins – available in most large shopping malls. They will take your existing glasses, check the prescription and can supply you with extra (stylish) glasses within an hour or so. Do note that the they’re all exclusives, so no Hugo or Red or Dead, plus they’re plastic. Still, very convenient to have another cheap pair, right?

I’m still jet lagged and on a diet of small portions of healthy food but a deluge of beer, so this article may all be in vain, and that dream I had last night to write this might be pointless. If this article helps you in any way, well, どういたしまして。