So you finally have your visa, decided on a starting date within the company, gotten your flight booked, and at this point maybe even decided on your apartment (or perhaps a weekly rental for the time being). Great! Now all that’s left is to pack. Of course, we know only too well that this is easier said than done. How can you possibly fit in everything you want to bring in a luggage (or two, or three) with limited weight allowance? Here’s a checklist of the must-bring items as well as recommended items to bring to Japan. On the contrary, we also have a list of items we DON’T recommend bringing plus the items you actually SHOULDN’T bring to Japan.
- Must-bring items
- Items we recommend you bring
- Items we WOULDN’T recommend bringing
- Items you SHOULDN’T bring
I. Must-bring items (a.k.a do not leave home without these!)
1) Passport (with visa)
- It goes without saying that you can’t even enter Japan without this, so don’t forget to bring it!
2) CASH
- Recommended: Over 3,000 USD in yen (roughly 300,000 JPY)
- Why?
– In CC2’s case, your salary for the first working month will be paid at the end of the following month. That’s almost two whole months with no income.
– Expect to spend a bit with buying necessary appliances, furniture, and the like.
– Japan is more open to credit/debit cards or paying via applications like PayPay, but there are still some shops that accept cash only.
3) Legal and important documents as required by your country
- These may include the following: graduation certificate, diploma, transcript of university records, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and even a printout of your job offer or contract.
- Bringing legal identification from your country might also be a good idea. These include your driver’s license, national IDs, and the like.
4) Clothes
- Recommended: Bring a variety of clothes. Formal office wear isn’t required in CC2, but it’s always a good idea to have a suit on hand for that one formal/business occasion. If it’s not winter, we recommend skipping on thick winter wear to save luggage space. Just be sure to bring at least one jacket or coat.
- Tip: Clothes can be bought in Japan, but be sure to bring more of yours, including underwear, if you have sizes larger or smaller than the Japanese ones. (For females: bra sizes are different here in Japan!)
5) Shoes
- Recommended: Comfortable footwear and at least one pair for formal occasions.
- Tip: Same with clothes, shoes can be bought in Japan, but take note of the difference in sizes.
6) Medicine – prescribed and over-the-counter
- If you are on regular medication for any reason (including birth control pills) and would find it difficult to obtain your medicine in Japan, then it’s best to bring them with you. However, be sure to note the limitations, restrictions and prohibitions regarding certain pharmaceutical ingredients. Click here for a more detailed Q&A on bringing medicine to Japan or for applications if you need to bring controlled substances, by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
- Tip: Over-the-counter medicine as well as vitamins or supplements can be bought in Japan, but we recommend bringing some anyway especially for those first few weeks when you’re still new to the country AND the language! This writer recommends painkillers in particular for headaches brought on by jet lag and general stress in being in a new environment!
7) Gadgets and electronics
- These include (but are not limited) to the following:
– your phone/smartphone (we recommend open line/sim free if you want to keep using your phone instead of buying a Japanese one)
– universal adapters or power converters (especially if your country uses 3-prong plugs for chargers, etc.)
– portable chargers
8) Arrival Day 1 Necessities
- Bringing a simple first aid kit is recommended so that you don’t need to go running to a convenience store in case of an accident. (Some OTC medicine may be included here.)
- Towels, toiletries and basic grooming items (shampoo, conditioner, soap, a razor, toothpaste and toothbrush, deodorant, perfume, etc.) can be found at almost any convenience store so you can save some baggage space unless you want to bring your favorite items. Hotels will also have these available for you.
- You may, however, wish to bring an extra towel if you are staying in an apartment instead of a hotel.
II. Items we recommend you bring (a.k.a home comforts you will miss!)
1) Food
- We advise bringing food for those first few days or even weeks of familiarizing yourself with your local supermarket, Japanese brands and flavors, and just general homesickness. Long-lasting food (snacks, canned goods, etc.) from home are especially recommended. However, be aware that meat products are subject to animal quarantine. Click here for more information.
2) Condiments and spices
- If you’re very particular with flavorings from home, bring some until you can figure out where to buy them in Japan. Stores like Kaldi Coffee Farm and Jupiter Coffee & Imported Foods might sell them.
3) More toiletries, grooming and beauty products
- If you use particular toiletries and makeup brands. A few Google searches also revealed that some people moving to Japan prefer bringing their own deodorant and toothpaste.
4) More gadgets
- Laptop or tablet
- Hard drive – if you have your own movie/drama/anime collection! (note: pornographic items are prohibited!)
- Camera, if you have one
5) Credit card
- Why? Getting a Japanese credit card isn’t that easy if you’re new to the country. Also, if you own a card by any reputable brands such as Visa, Mastercard or American Express, it can help speed up procedures like getting signed up for phone plans and internet.
III. Items we WOULDN’T recommend bringing
1) Electric appliances
- One, they might be bulky and take up baggage space. Two, Japan has a unique voltage of 100v with a 60hz frequency for Kyushu/Fukuoka. We do recommend bringing a universal adapter but still, bring appliances at your own risk. Click here to read more about using overseas appliances in Japan.
2) Kitchen and cooking utensils
- Most of these can be bought at 100-yen shops!
IV. Items you SHOULDN’T bring
Most of these are self-explanatory: they’re illegal anywhere! Click here for a comprehensive list by the Japan Customs.
- Drugs
- Firearms
- Explosives
- Counterfeit money
- Pornographic materials
- Fake goods
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All images are for illustrative purposes only. Photo credit: pixabay.com, unsplash.com
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