A Japan Packing List You Can Use

After my first trip to Japan (and especially after I shared that I traveled there with only a carry-on bag), everyone wanted to know exactly what (and how) I packed. And while there aren’t really any rules about what to wear in Japan, or any specialty things you really need to bring for the average Japan trip, I figured I would still share what I learned about what to pack for Japan!

I personally traveled to Japan in November, when the weather is typically cooler; the average high was around 60-65 degrees F most days, with a few warmer and a few cooler days (and chillier nights). I was there for just under 3 weeks (19 days total), and this list is based on what I packed and wore as an average-sized American woman.

How do people in Japan dress?

Japanese people are known for being pretty stylish, but stylish in quietly sophisticated way. Think: clean lines, neutral colors, Western silhouettes, and high-quality fabrics. You won’t see a ton of athletic wear on locals in Japan, and most people — and especially most Japanese women — dress fairly modestly; even in summer, you won’t find Japanese women showing a lot of skin.

There aren’t really rules for tourists in Japan, though. You honestly can wear whatever you want that you’re comfortable in, whether that’s super casual clothing or more fancy outfits.

Since I was visiting in the autumn, most of the clothing I packed automatically covered my chest, shoulders, and knees — though I’m not one to show a ton of skin even in warmer weather. A friend of mine who visited Japan in August said that she mostly wore long dresses in the heat and never took her short shorts or crop tops out of her suitcase since it just wasn’t what most people were wearing. But you’re not gong to get harassed or anything like that in Japan if you dress less conservatively.

Checked bags vs carry-on-only in Japan

I mentioned above that I went carry-on-only on my trip to Japan. And this was definitely on purpose, as I was moving around a lot and taking several trains during my trip. In hindsight, I’m really really glad I opted for smaller luggage.

It’s of course not impossible to travel with checked bags/bigger suitcases in Japan. You can do whatever you want! But moving around with big bags isn’t always easy or convenient.

For example, you’ve maybe heard about the luggage-forwarding services that you can use to send your big bags between cities in Japan. These services are super useful and affordable, and people definitely use them! But transferring luggage like this is not instantaneous; you need to allow at least 24 hours (or more) for delivery in most cases. Meaning you’re going to have to be carrying your toiletries and overnight essentials regardless, since if you send your bag out from Tokyo on Monday morning, it won’t make it to Kyoto until Tuesday at the earliest.

If you’re going to just one or two cities in Japan and not switching hotels very often, then you’ll be fine with checked bags or bigger/multiple suitcases. But if you’re doing a lot of traveling around Japan and changing hotels more than once or twice during your trip? Then I would highly recommend trying to pack light.

It makes traveling on trains and public transit a lot easier; for example, if you want to take larger luggage on most Shinkansen bullet trains, you need to book a special seat near a luggage rack — and these seats are limited.

Plus, so many hotels in Japan have public laundry rooms with really nice coin-operated washing machines AND dryers! You can usually do a load of laundry (wash and dry) for around 300-400 yen ($2-$2.50 USD). I did laundry twice on my 19-day trip to Japan.

READ MORE: 10 Tips for How to Pack Carry On Only for Your Next Trip

What you REALLY need to pack for Japan

This first list represents my personal must-haves for any trip to Japan, any time of year. You’ll be happy you brought all of these things.

(If you’re just here to see my full Japan packing list, though, keep scrolling!)

1. Good shoes – You’ve maybe already heard this about Japan, but definitely be prepared to walk A LOT. Like, it’s not unusual to walk anywhere from 15,000-25,000 steps a day in a city like Tokyo as you visit shrines and museums and shopping areas. Good shoes that you can walk all day in are absolutely essential; just pack the sneakers.
2. Breathable clothing – Japan gets incredibly HOT in the summer months, and even during spring and fall it can be really humid. Breathable clothing is going to be your friend. I’m a huge fan of merino wool in any climate (Unbound Merino is my favorite for shirts, and Wool& is my go-to for merino dresses), and linen and light cotton is also a good bet.
3. Power bank – I drained my phone battery SO FAST in Japan between taking a ton of photos/videos and using Google Maps a lot for directions. A solid power bank is a must; I currently like this plug-in one, and this MagSafe one.
4. Hand towel – While public restrooms in Japan will be clean and usually stocked with toilet paper, they might lack soap and any way to dry your hands (like, we’re talking zero towels and zero hand dryers in many cases). You’ll see Japanese people carrying around little towels specifically for drying their hands in public restrooms; pick up a cute one as a souvenir, or come prepared with your own towel (something like this is perfect).
5. Soap/sanitizer – I always recommend traveling with hand sanitizer regardless, and in Japan you might also want to bring something like these soap sheets to keep in your bag since many restrooms won’t have soap.
6. Cash + a coin purse – Japan still requires cash in a lot of situations, from shopping to eating out at restaurants. Have a plan for getting cash out (ATMs are plentiful; you can find safe ones at nearly every convenience store), and somewhere to store it. I recommend a separate coin purse, as you’ll be collecting and using lots of coins!
7. Foldable tote bag – If you plan to do lots of shopping (or just want somewhere easy to store your konbini snacks for the bullet train), be sure to tuck a foldable tote bag into your day pack. My favorite is this one from Osprey that has a nice zipper.
8. A good day pack – You’re going to want to carry around your soap and hand towel, cash/coins, perhaps a water bottle, an extra layer, your foldable shopping bag, and somewhere to hold on to any trash you make throughout the day (because Japan doesn’t really “do” public garbage cans). A good handbag or day pack is therefore also really necessary. I carried this small backpack most days in Japan, and it was perfect.
9. Electric fan – I consistently name this little handheld fan as one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. It folds up small, has a super long battery life, and comes in clutch when it’s hot out (or when you find yourself in a hot, stuffy train or room). I don’t travel anywhere without one of these.
10. Phone lanyard – While pickpocketing is not as much of a concern in Japan as it is in some European cities, I still liked having my phone lanyard on this trip. It makes grabbing my phone for a quick photo super easy, and I never worry about dropping my phone or leaving it behind somewhere. Also, everyone in Japan seems to have one! (Here’s a super affordable one.)

Japan packing list

And here are the exact items I packed for my November trip!

My luggage

I went carry-on-only for this trip, using my Hanke trunk-style carry-on as my main bag, which is great for really small hotel rooms since it takes up less space when it’s open. I utilized a couple compression packing cubes, as well, to help keep my clothing organized and taking up as little space as possible.

I also had a backpack as my personal item; my current favorite is this Pacsafe backpack, which fits all my essentials and has anti-theft features, as well.

If you’re going to check a bag, my favorite checked luggage for more than a decade has been an Osprey rolling bag (I have a 60L one, but the 80L one is also a great size).

Clothing I packed for Japan (for women)

This is specifically everything I’d recommend packing for either a spring or fall trip. If you’re going to Japan in the summer, you won’t need the jackets and you might want more dresses/skirts than pants. And if you’re going in winter, you’ll definitely want more warm layers and a good winter coat!

I was in Japan for nearly 3 weeks, but packed roughly enough clothing for 7-10 days and then just did laundry as needed.

Here’s everything I packed/would recommend you pack:

• 1 pair of jeans
• 1-2 pairs of comfy long pants (I like these Columbia ones for doing lots of walking, and also brought a pair of flared merino leggings mostly for travel days)
• 1 pair of heavier/dressier pants (I have a pair of straight, ankle-length merino pants that I love: the Rosso by Wool&)
• 1 pair of cropped merino leggings (to wear under dresses)
• 1 long skirt (this light flannel skirt was perfect for fall)
• 1 maxi dress (I just brought a plain black merino dress)
• 5 short-sleeved tops (I really like Unbound Merino tops these days, as they look good and are odor resistant!)
• 1-2 long-sleeved shirts
• 1-2 cardigans for layering (I packed 1 and wish I would have packed 2 of these!)
• 1 sweatshirt or other warm layering piece
• 1 set of pajamas
• 8 pairs of socks (including compression socks for the plane)
• 10 underwear
• 3 bras
• 1 casual jacket (I took a packable puffer coat, but a denim or leather jacket would also work)
• 1 raincoat (I love this Columbia one for a more casual look, and this short trench to look a bit more put-together)
• 2 belts

Things I would usually pack but didn’t

A few notable things that I *do* usually pack that I left at home for Japan:

• Swimsuit – I’m often a “just in case” packer when it comes to throwing a swimsuit into my bag. And Japan IS known for its onsen (hot spring) culture. However, onsens in Japan are almost all strictly nude. Meaning there’s really no reason to pack a swimsuit at all unless you’re going in summer and staying at a hotel with a pool.
• Slippers – I also usually throw a pair of light slippers into my bag to wear in hotel rooms. However, almost every hotel in Japan will provide you with slippers or little house shoes to wear. Some will even provide you with pajamas (though in my experience these “one-size-fits-all” pajamas really only fit up to mayyybe a US size large).

Shoes for Japan

Also, keep in mind that you’ll be taking your shoes on and off more than usual in Japan, as some ryokans (inns) and restaurants will ask you to remove your shoes at the door. So don’t pack any shoes that are really difficult or time-consuming to take off or put on.

Clothing for Japan (for men)

If you’re a man planning to go to Japan (or, probably more likely, a wife wondering what to pack for your husband), here’s what I would suggest:

• 2 pairs of jeans
• 1-2 pairs of hiking pants or similar
• 1 pairs of khakis or dress pants
• 4-5 t-shirts (my husband Elliot has also been obsessed with merino shirts lately, as they are breathable but odor-resistant, so you can pack fewer)
• 2 polo shirts
• 1-2 long-sleeved shirts (Elliot loves this merino henley, which can be dressed up or down)
• 1 fleece or sweatshirt
• 1 casual coat
• Raincoat (especially if traveling in spring) – here’s the one my husband has
• Pajamas
• Underwear for 10 days
• 7-8 pairs of socks
• 1 pair of good walking sneakers
• OPTIONAL: 1 pair of nicer shoes
• 1 hat for sun (this foldable one is great)

Toiletries

For a good toiletry bag, I love me a good hanging bag. This Sea to Summit one is great if you don’t have a ton of stuff, while this larger hanging bag (I have the XL size) is excellent for a longer trip (though maybe not if you’re just taking a carry-on).

In this bag I pack:

And a first aid kit with painkillers, meds for upset stomachs/heartburn, a few Band-Aids, nail clippers and tweezers, etc. is always good to have! I like this little pill case for travel. (Though note that any prescription medication should always go in your carry-on bag or purse; never check it in your suitcase! And double check if you need to bring a doctor’s note with any of your prescription meds to enter Japan.)

My carry-on backpack

My new favorite backpack that’s both functional AND stylish is this Pacsafe backpack. This backpack has anti-theft features like slash-proof straps, lockable zippers, and RFID protection, and will fit all your carry-on essentials.

Inside this bag:

• My laptop (if I’m traveling with it)
• Kindle Paperwhite
• My camera with extra battery/SD card (for Japan I traveled with my Fujifilm X-T50)
• Outlet adapter (IF you are from anywhere outside of North America; Japan uses the same 2-pin wall outlets as the US — but note that it’s usually just 2 pin without the 3rd grounding prong, so make sure any wall pieces you have only have 2 pins!)
• Charging hub
• Electronics chargers
• Headphones
• Power bank for keeping your phone charged on the go
• A travel-sized umbrella (UV umbrellas are very popular in Japan during the spring/summer, too!)
• A fold-up market bag perfect for shopping
• Reusable water bottle
• Snacks for the plane/train

My travel purse

Along with my small Pacsafe backpack that I used as my everyday day pack in Japan, I also packed a lightweight sling bag (a Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag) to use as a purse. Since I only traveled with a carry-on, I packed the backpack in my rolling suitcase, and put the sling bag (with all my purse things inside it) in my carry-on backpack at the airport, and wore it the rest of the time on travel days.

In my purse (on most days):

READ MORE: 12 Important Things to Know About Traveling in Japan

Can you really do it in a carry-on?

Well, I did, and I’ve been on plenty of trips using just a small suitcase and backpack! The trick is to wear your bulkiest clothing on airport days, and pack clothing items that you can easily mix and match into different outfits.

Believe it or not, I probably could have left a few things at home! I did wear everything in my suitcase, though one pair of pants and a couple tops I only wore maybe once or twice. With access to a washing machine, you’d be surprised how few outfits you can get by with!

It’s also very easy to make 3oz of toiletries last for a couple weeks — or you can always pick things up as you need them in Japan.

I hope this post was helpful for you to figure out what to pack for your own trip to Japan!

You can of course pack whatever you want, but I found my packing to be pretty spot-on for my November trip. Whatever you do, just make sure you have good shoes and comfortable clothes that you can walk a lot in.

Do you have any other questions about packing for a trip to Japan, or what to wear in Japan? Let me know!

Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she’s actually traveled!