Before you pack you should consider a few things such as what your body size is, how long you intend to stay here, and how much money you have to move to Japan.
Understanding Japan
What is The Purpose of Your Stay?
What is The Expected Duration of Your Stay?
If you know that you won't be here for long you might want to skip some seasonal items like a winter coat or sweater. Remember if you are intending to stay in Japan for more than 1-2 years you will end up buying a lot of new clothing and personal items once you get settled in here. The less things you bring from your home country the more room you will have to buy new things that you love. If your stay in Japan will be short then it is unlikely that you will have time to wear or use all of the thongs you packed from home so it is better to leave them.
What is Your Body Like?
Japanese people are smaller than most foreigners. The average woman is about 5'2 and the average man is 5'7. Women usually wear a shoe size 5-8 and men usually wear a shoe size 6-10. If you are tall or overweight then it will be hard to find clothing here. The selections are small and limited for anyone that usually wears a large size in their home country. If you are 5'6 and over as a woman or taller than 5'10 as a man you might find that clothing is too short for you. If your feet are a woman's size 9 or more or a men's size 10 or bigger (or wide feet) you will find it difficult to find shoes. If you are overweight (U.S Size 10 for Ladies or U.S Size XL for men then you will find it difficult to find clothing that fits you properly if it isn't made out of a stretchy material. You will want to pack a few more clothing pieces and plan to buy more things online after you arrive in Japan.
What is Your Budget?
If you happen to be someone that has a lot of money to work with then this list might not be for your unless your goal is to simply be a minimalist. The more money you have to spare the more things you can bring to Japan. This list is assuming that you are coming to Japan on an economy flight with an economy budget. You are usually only allowed to carry 2 checked bags, a personal bag, ad a carry on. If you don't mind paying for more luggage to be shipped or flown over to Japan then by all means feel free to pack more, but keep in mind no matter how much money you have unless you are planning to live in an old house in the middle of nowhere you will not have enough space for your entire wardrobe, figurine and plushie set from back home. Even the nicest of Japanese apartments are very small in comparison to most homes from America and Europe. Keep in mind that the more bags you carry the harder it will be to travel with them if you are coming to Japan alone. Can you really pull 5 suitcases and carry 4 bags? What if you can't find a trolly? What about once you get on a packed train or bus? It might be possible to handle multiple pieces of luggage when you are at the airport by using a cart but unless you are taking a taxi or can arrange a shipping service at the airport for your luggage you're going to have a problem.
Packing List
Here is a general list of things that I'd recommend bringing to Japan for someone that plans to stay here for over a year. This list also applies to someone that plans to start a new life in Japan and will be living here on a permanent basis. Remember the goal is to only pack what you need and to leave what you don't. You will be living in a new country so you will have to adjust and adapt to the food, entertainment, clothing, and toiletries available here. If something is ever really missed, you can always buy it online or ask for your family and friends to ship it to you. I would suggest boxing and labeling everything at home so that your family and friends can easily access it and send it to you should you have the space, time or money to have it brought to you once you get settled in Japan.
Clothing
Plan to buy and pack modest clothing. That means avoid mini dresses and mini dresses and bodycons. It isn't appropriate to show cleavage, backs, or shoulders in Japan so halter and crop tops shouldn't be packed in your bag. Bring only enough outfits to last 5-7 days at the most. You should choose clothing that can easily be mixed and matched so try to refrain from flashy or bright colors. If you must pack something colorful stick to only a few pieces. Always get fitted before you leave! Ladies be sure to get properly measured for your bra. I'd suggest investing in some that will last as it isn't easy to find a good bra that fits right here if you wear a D cup or more. It is better to wear loose fitting clothing than to wear a shirt that is very tight and uncomfortable. It will draw unwanted attention and it isn't flattering. The less you pack the better. I would suggest bringing roughly 2-5 casual outfits, 2 business casual outfits, and 2 sets of pajamas. 1 pair of easy to slip on and off running shoes, 1 pair of neutral colored heels, and 1 pair of foldable flats (for ladies). You should bring 1 sweater, 1-2 cardigans, 1-2 pairs of jeans, 1 neutral colored pencil skirt, 1 neutral colored dress pant, and 1 small waterproof winter coat (down jacket). Bring a good amount of clean good quality socks. Don't over pack with your underclothes! You can buy socks and underwear here in Japan but make sure you have a week's worth of underclothing.Avoid long sleeved shirts with exception of your sweater and cardigans because Japanese people hate cold weather and will usually have the heat on high enough to combat the cold. You will feel hot sweaty and uncomfortable if you aren't dressed in removable layers. Japanese people don't wear perfume or strong scented hair or body lotions. You should probably leave anything that has a strong odor.
Toiletries
A simple travel sized set of basic items such as body wash, toothpaste, deodorant, mouthwash, soap, hand sanitizer, and body lotion is all that you will need. I would suggest only bringing 1 large and 1 small to medium sized towel. Once again because Japan is a first world country you can easily buy basics like this from the dollar store, convenience store, or grocery store once you arrive in Japan. You can even purchase these things online with ease from places like Amazon and Rakuten. Your goal is to save time, space and money while packing. While you won't be able to find all of your favorite items here like deodorant you will be able to find replacements for these items and you will learn to "assimilate". If you absolutely cannot go without something such as foundation or a specific hair lotion then remember you can always buy it online (or of course find a substitute from within Japan). If you have tan to dark brown skin then it will be extremely difficult to find foundation. You can buy darker shades of makeup from high end stores at the mall or you can always order it online. I would suggest packing a year's worth of foundation if possible in your bag (4-8 jars of foundation and concealer). Remember you can always but it online or have your family send it to you as well!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.