Packing for a long term exchange can be horrifically painful, between balancing weight allowances, deciding what are the necessities, and taking in weather factors (one suitcase for a summer and winter wardrobe!?) can stress out any fashionista, or just anyone who doesn’t want to wear the same three outfits for the next year.
This struggle is even greater when you are going to a country that doesn’t give you many options for shopping there. This pain is truer for me than Issie, as I have struggled in the past with being a six foot female who is most certainly not proportioned like any Japanese person ever. Because of this, I will share a sample packing list for those with a 30kg suitcase allowance (as well as carry- on) to help you survive your own personal “Sophie’s choice”.
Sample list
Sports
- Tshirt x3
- Shorts x3
- Jumper x 2
- Bikepants x 3
- Leggings x4
Casual
- Tshirt x 6
- Black pants x3
- Green pants x1
- Three quarter jean x1
- Singlet x3
- Button up shirt x3
- Dresses x 12
- Long black skirt x 1
Jumpers
- Leather
- Red knit
- Green turtle kneck
- Pink heart
- White fluffy
- Pink jacket and under jumper
Pjs
- Winter x2
- Summer x2
- Sleepover x1
Socks
- cute
- Sports
- Sleep
- Fine stockings
- Stocking x3
Underwear
- Petticoats
- Thermals x 2
Bras
- Good x3
- Sleep x1
- Crop top x1
- Strapless x1
Shoes
- 2/3 pretty
- 2 sneakers or practical shoes (slip on!!!)
- Joggers
Accessories
- Hair accessories
- Scarves
- Beanies x2
- Jewellery
- Belts
Makeup
- BB Cream
- foundation
- Eyeshadow
- Mascara
- Lipstick and lip gloss
Presents
- For uni
- For friends
Misc.
- Swimmers
- Converter
- DS and 3 games and charger
- Brita bottle and filters
- Some thermals
- My coat
- Hats x2
- Glasses x2
- Pencil case *******
Toileteries
- Toothpaste*****
- Deodorant x2
- Perfume
- Medicine
- Asthma Puffer
- Asthma preventer
- 8 Months tablets
- Doctors letter for all medicine
On the day- carryon
- Passport
- Visa
- Certificate of eligibility
- Copy of birth certificate
- Yakkan Shomei
- Tickets
- Photo ID
- IPhone
- IPhone charger
- Laptop
- Laptop charger
- Calendar
- Hairbrush
- To do list
- Pen
******** Low priority can buy in Japan
Other tips:
Buy an extra light suitcase, mine is an American Tourister and weighs 3kgs, so it gives me a lot more space for my own clothes 😀 It even features flexible wheels to help it glide. I really recommend this brand.
Don’t be afraid to buy a second, small suitcase for an extra ten or so kilos, sometimes you really do just need to bring extra.
Always take an extra month or two of medicine, just in case you lose some, or there are delays. On that note, many medicines are not permitted to enter Japan, and require you to have a doctors letter detailing your need for all of the medicines you are bringing with you. I have personally never been checked, but please visit your doctor to receive this letter before you go, so you can apply for a Yakkan Shomei. Include all medicines, even asthma puffers, panadol, and antibiotics.
If you are pushed for space, wear your heaviest clothes (that are not your ski boots!!!) on the plane, no matter how uncomfortable it is, it is always easier to wear a jumper and a coat, have all of your passports, money, and your laptop strapped to your person that it is to leave behind those two jumpers and your laptop, and all those extra socks.
Place the least essential items on the top, if you end up at the airport and are 0.5kg over the limit, the easiest thing to do is just grab that extra T-shirt that you didn’t even want anyway, but just brought in case, from the top and hand it to your family, than it is to rummage through your bag, in front of everyone, and then choose on the spot.
Think of what you can actually buy at your destination (look out for our related blog post coming out soon!), do you absolutely have to bring your favourite moisturizer? Do they have YOUR shampoo in Japan? (If it’s Tresemme, then yes!!!). This mainly applies to toiletries and beauty products, which are easy to find in most countries.
If you have friends in Japan that don’t live in the area you will be, though you intend to visit them, buy them presents from your local area to give to them instead of hauling 50 clip on koalas all the way from Australia. Reserve the koalas for the people you will meet initially!! (I did this when I visited Tokyo and Fukushima while staying in Niigata, it really helped!)
Bring clothes for the weather, you WILL need thermals and Fleeces in the Northern parts of Japan in December-March, but leave them at home if you will be going lower than Tokyo.
Japanese toothpaste can be pretty gross (in my opinion), if that’s important to you, consider bringing your own.
NEVER FORGET PRESENTS- even people that you don’t think are that important often require presents.
Cultural notes:
Japanese people wear slips, petticoats, and camisoles for modesty. If you are going to wear skirts, slightly see through t-shirts, or any dress, I would recommend you buy a few yourselves, while this is not mandatory, it is very normal and almost expected of Japanese girls. Especially with seeing bra lines through your shirts- if you think a camisole is too girly, then wear a singlet.
Be aware that cleavage and bra straps are close to taboo in Japan, you can wear absolutely mini skirts, show off your entire upper chest area, but once you show cleavage or brastraps, it becomes awkward. Honestly, just leave the spaghetti strap singlets at home and you’ll have no other issues with dressing- remember, you are not doing yourself any favours by insisting on wearing these kinds of clothes- this actually lends to a harmful stereotype that all Foreign girls are promiscuous! The only exception to this is the beach, but many girls will wear sundresses or a T-shirt and shorts over their swimwear until they are ready to enter the water (regardless of what anime may portray) and going off the beach (let’s say to 7-11) in your swimmers is a no-no.
Ladies Forth 