Japan is incredibly organised, safe, and efficient — but also very different from what many travellers are used to. A good checklist helps you move smoothly between ultra-modern cities, quiet temples, mountains, and food-filled streets. This list covers everything you actually need, written for real travel, not overpacking.
🛂 Travel Documents & Essentials
🛂 Visa requirements checked (many nationalities visa-free)
✈️ Flight tickets / boarding passes
🏨 Hotel, ryokan or apartment confirmations
🧾 Travel itinerary (digital + printed)
🛂 Copies of passport & important documents (paper + cloud)
📄 Travel insurance documents
📱 Emergency contacts list
🏥 Health & Personal Care
🩺 Personal medication (original packaging)
🩹 Small first-aid kit
😷 Face masks (still commonly used)
🧴 Hand sanitiser & tissues
💊 Motion sickness tablets (trains & buses)
🕌 Culture & Etiquette Basics
🙏 Small towel or handkerchief (often no hand dryers)
🚮 Trash bag (few public bins)
🤫 Respect quiet zones on trains
📸 Be mindful with photos at temples and shrines
💴 Cash for temples, markets & small restaurants
👕 Clothing & Essentials
👟 Comfortable walking shoes (you will walk a lot)
🧦 Extra socks (shoes off in temples & ryokan)
🧥 Light jacket (weather changes quickly)
🧣 Modest clothing for temples and shrines
🎒 Daypack for daily exploring
🚆 Transport & Getting Around
🎫 JR Pass (if using long-distance trains)
🚇 IC Card (Suica, Pasmo, Icoca) for local transport
🗺️ Train routes saved offline
🚕 Taxi app installed (GO Taxi / Uber limited but useful)
📱 Electronics & Tech
🔌 Travel adapter (Type A / B)
🔋 Power bank (essential for long days)
📶 Pocket WiFi or eSIM
📍 Offline maps & Google Translate downloaded
💰 Money & Payments
💰 Japanese Yen (JPY) cash (very important)
💳 Credit card (accepted, but not everywhere)
🏧 ATM access checked (7-Eleven ATMs are best)
📱 Payment apps (Suica / Pasmo if available on phone)
🍜 Food & Dining Tips
🥢 Dietary preferences written in Japanese (if needed)
🍱 Cash for ramen shops & vending machines
🚰 Tap water is safe to drink
⏰ Queueing is normal — patience pays off
🧠 Good to Know Extras
🗓️ Check public holidays & festival dates
🌸 Seasonal planning (cherry blossom / autumn leaves)
🧳 Luggage forwarding service (takkyubin)
🧭 Addresses saved in Japanese (very helpful for taxis)
