Travel Tips

The 5 Best Things I Packed for Japan | An Essential Japan Packing List

&NewLine;<p class&equals;"is-style-info wp-block-paragraph"><em>This post may contain affiliate links&comma; which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links&comma; at no extra cost to you&period; Please read&nbsp&semi;<a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;mostlysolotravel&period;com&sol;affiliate-third-party-links-disclosure-and-disclaimer&sol;">full disclosure<&sol;a>&nbsp&semi;for more information&period;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Packing for any trip can be a challenge&comma; but Japan has some unique packing needs that I&&num;8217&semi;ve not encountered for any other trip I&&num;8217&semi;ve taken so I&&num;8217&semi;m sharing my essential Japan Packing List&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h2 class&equals;"wp-block-heading" id&equals;"h-japan-packing-list">Japan Packing List<&sol;h2>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h4 class&equals;"wp-block-heading" id&equals;"h-keychain-coin-organizer"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;3PvmN77">Keychain Coin Organizer<&sol;a><&sol;h4>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Japan is still a very cash-based country and you end up with so&period; many&period; yen&excl; As someone who rarely pays with cash and is unfamiliar with Japanese currency&comma; this <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;3PvmN77">keychain coin organizer<&sol;a> is perfect because it allows you to sort your yen coins&comma; which makes paying faster because you&&num;8217&semi;re able to find what you need that much quicker&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<div class&equals;"convertkit-form wp-block-convertkit-form" style&equals;""><script async data-uid&equals;"a8ad3d413d" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;mostlysolotravel&period;kit&period;com&sol;a8ad3d413d&sol;index&period;js" data-jetpack-boost&equals;"ignore" data-no-defer&equals;"1" data-no-optimize&equals;"1" nowprocket><&sol;script><&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph"><a href&equals;""><&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h4 class&equals;"wp-block-heading" id&equals;"h-a-quick-drying-hand-towel"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;44g19b7">A Quick-Drying Hand towel<&sol;a><&sol;h4>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Public restrooms are abundant &lpar;and shockingly clean&rpar; in Tokyo&comma; but they often lack paper towels or hand dryers&period; Having a <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;44g19b7">quick-drying hand towel<&sol;a> in your bag will save you from having to do the old wipe your hands on your pants to dry them maneuver&period; Bonus points for one like this that has a little tab to hang off your bag to dry faster&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h4 class&equals;"wp-block-heading" id&equals;"h-a-camping-spork"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;3Xm7gsp">A Camping Spork<&sol;a><&sol;h4>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">You&&num;8217&semi;re probably thinking &&num;8220&semi;Say what&quest;&excl;&&num;8221&semi; but hear me out&period; I take this little camping spork with me on every trip&period; Ever bring leftovers back to your hotel room and go to eat them at the jet-lagged hour of 3&colon;30 am and not have the necessary fork&quest; Between that and the fact that cheap and delicious convenience store noodles are abundant &lpar;Japanese 7-Eleven puts its American counterpart to shame&comma; but that&&num;8217&semi;s another blog post&rpar; and that I often forgot to grab chopsticks with my purchase this <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;3Xm7gsp">camping spork<&sol;a> was a lifesaver&excl;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph"><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h4 class&equals;"wp-block-heading" id&equals;"h-the-world-s-smallest-umbrella"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;3XtCgqj">The World&&num;8217&semi;s Smallest Umbrella<&sol;a>&ast;<&sol;h4>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">If you&&num;8217&semi;re heading to Japan during the rainy season &lpar;months&rpar;&comma; you&&num;8217&semi;ll definitely want an umbrella and if you&&num;8217&semi;re like me&comma; you hate lugging one around&period; Enter this <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;3XtCgqj">tiny umbrella<&sol;a> &lpar;&ast;probably not the world&&num;8217&semi;s smallest&comma; but small enough that even Derek Zoolander would approve&rpar; that easily fits in your bag&comma; yet keeps you dry when the showers start&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph"><a href&equals;""><&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h4 class&equals;"wp-block-heading" id&equals;"h-compression-packing-cubes"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;46jMw8K">Compression Packing Cubes<&sol;a><&sol;h4>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">These <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;amzn&period;to&sol;46jMw8K">compression packing cubes<&sol;a> will help you coming and going on your trip to Japan &lpar;or anywhere&rpar;&excl; You&&num;8217&semi;ll want to pack fairly light for Japan&comma; especially if you&&num;8217&semi;re planning on taking the Shinkansen &lpar;bullet train&rpar; between cities and will be toting your luggage&period; But the other reason to pack light is to have more room to bring back all the kawaii Japanese souvenirs&excl; Compression packing cubes not only help keep your luggage organized&comma; but they also help you stuff&comma; well&comma; more stuff in your bag&excl;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Did I forget anything on my Japan Packing list&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<div style&equals;"height&colon;46px" aria-hidden&equals;"true" class&equals;"wp-block-spacer"><&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<hr class&equals;"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"&sol;>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h3 class&equals;"wp-block-heading" id&equals;"h-more-japan">More Japan<&sol;h3>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<div class&equals;"wp-block-coblocks-posts"><div class&equals;"wp-block-coblocks-posts&lowbar;&lowbar;inner has-columns has-2-columns has-responsive-columns has-image-right has-medium-image has-square-image"><div class&equals;"wp-block-coblocks-posts&lowbar;&lowbar;item"><div class&equals;"wp-block-coblocks-posts&lowbar;&lowbar;image"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;mostlysolotravel&period;com&sol;neon-museum-las-vegas&sol;" class&equals;"bg-cover bg-center-center" style&equals;"background-image&colon;url&lpar;https&colon;&sol;&sol;mostlysolotravel&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;12&sol;neon-museum-las-vegas&period;jpg&rpar;"><&sol;a><&sol;div><div class&equals;"wp-block-coblocks-posts&lowbar;&lowbar;content"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;mostlysolotravel&period;com&sol;neon-museum-las-vegas&sol;" alt&equals;"Neon Museum Las Vegas&colon; What to Know Before You Go">Neon Museum Las Vegas&colon; What to Know Before You Go<&sol;a><time datetime&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-block-coblocks-posts&lowbar;&lowbar;date">September 4&comma; 2026<&sol;time><div class&equals;"wp-block-coblocks-posts&lowbar;&lowbar;excerpt">Gambling is probably the first thing most people think of when they &hellip&semi; <&sol;div><&sol;div><&sol;div><div class&equals;"wp-block-coblocks-posts&lowbar;&lowbar;item"><div class&equals;"wp-block-coblocks-posts&lowbar;&lowbar;image"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;mostlysolotravel&period;com&sol;where-to-park-in-lucca-parking-ztl-rules-avoiding-a-fine&sol;" class&equals;"bg-cover bg-center-center" style&equals;"background-image&colon;url&lpar;https&colon;&sol;&sol;mostlysolotravel&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;08&sol;where-to-park-in-lucca-scaled&period;jpg&rpar;"><&sol;a><&sol;div><div class&equals;"wp-block-coblocks-posts&lowbar;&lowbar;content"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;mostlysolotravel&period;com&sol;where-to-park-in-lucca-parking-ztl-rules-avoiding-a-fine&sol;" alt&equals;"Where to Park in Lucca&colon; Parking&comma; ZTL Rules &amp&semi; Avoiding a Fine">Where to Park in Lucca&colon; Parking&comma; ZTL Rules &amp&semi; Avoiding a Fine<&sol;a><time datetime&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-block-coblocks-posts&lowbar;&lowbar;date">September 1&comma; 2026<&sol;time><div class&equals;"wp-block-coblocks-posts&lowbar;&lowbar;excerpt">Can You Drive Inside Lucca’s City Walls&quest; Can you and should you &hellip&semi; <&sol;div><&sol;div><&sol;div><&sol;div><&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h2 class&equals;"wp-block-heading" id&equals;"h-if-you-like-it-put-a-pin-on-it">If you like it&comma; put a pin on it&excl;<a href&equals;""><&sol;a><&sol;h2>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph"><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<div class&equals;"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">&NewLine;<div class&equals;"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img onerror&equals;"this&period;onerror&equals;null&semi;this&period;src&equals;'https&colon;&sol;&sol;mostlysolotravel&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2025&sol;08&sol;image-not-found&period;png'" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;mostlysolotravel&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;06&sol;best-japan-packing-list-1024x576&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-718"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<div class&equals;"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"><&sol;div>&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;

Lori Barbely

Hi, I’m Lori, the Chief Travel Officer for Mostly Solo Travel! I created this site for solo (and would-be solo) female travelers. My goal is to inspire your trips, give you practical advice on how to plan, and to ease your fears so you can explore the world on your own.

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