Packing for Japan

What to Wear on the Flight Of Friendship Trip
Casual and comfortable attire is recommended for airplane travel and our time in Sendai visiting the displacement shelters. Blue jeans, cargo shirts, t-shirts and tennis shoes are all perfectly acceptable.

For more official events such as the visit to Fuji TV and a dinner at the Oregon Grill, business casual is suitable. Please no blue jeans. All buildings are air conditioned, so a light sweater or jacket be helpful.

Pack Light
Japan is an ultra modern, extremely expensive and incredibly crowded place. It has a population of about 130 million people crammed onto a group of islands about the size of California. As a result, space is at a premium and everything costs more. You can make the most of your trip to Japan by packing well.

Japan boasts more modern conveniences than you will find anywhere in the United States. You won't have any trouble finding a product you need, but it will be much more expensive than it would be at home. It therefore makes sense to bring most of the items that you will need with you. Space is at a premium in Japan. Everything is smaller, including hotel rooms. This does not leave much room for your luggage. We suggest packing light.

Shoes and Socks
It is a custom in Japan to take off your shoes when entering a home. Get used to removing your shoes several times a day. You will walk around a lot in Japan, so you will need shoes that are sturdy and easy to slip on and off. Also be sure your socks are clean and hole-free. It is considered bad manners in Japan to have holes in your socks.

Travel Documents and Money
Carry your passport with you at all times in case you need to prove your identity. Visas are not required for Americans for short stays in Japan. The Japanese currency is called the yen. Japan has a modern banking system, so you can get yen from Japanese ATMs using your debit card from home. Your major credit cards will also be honored, although you may be charged a transaction fee by your bank.

Electronic Devices in Japan
The wall sockets in Japan look like they accommodate old fashioned two pronged American plugs. However, the voltage is lower in Japan than in the United States. In fact, the voltage varies in different parts of Japan. Some of your electronic devices will work, but others will not. You will probably be able to charge your cameras, but it will take longer. If you are using something that could be damaged by the lower voltage, like a laptop computer, it is a good idea to bring a currency converter box. Bring a plug adapter so a three pronged plug fits into the two pronged sockets.

How to Pack Your Clothes
If you are checking luggage, it is a very good idea to pack a change of clothing in your carry on bag. This will come in handy if your checked luggage is lost or you spill something on yourself during your flight. You can pack more inside your bag if you eliminate the air between items. Effective packing can help you with this and keep your items safe and relatively wrinkle free. Utilize the space inside your shoes by rolling up socks and underwear and shoving them inside. Shoes are heavy and take up a lot of space so they should go on the bottom of the suitcase. Keep in mind that the bottom is the side of the bag that is down when the bag is standing up. Fit your shoes together top to top and lay them across the bottom. Next, roll up jeans, pants and shirts. Lay them on top of the shoes. Fill the empty spaces with smaller items like t-shirts, socks and underwear. If you have something fragile, wrap it in your clothes and put it in the middle of your bag.