Travel equipment worth packing

Bags, cameras, chargers and the equipment you will use on the road.

Pack a bag you can carry

Start with the essentials, then add equipment for the activities you have actually planned. Try walking with your packed bag, including stairs. If it is awkward at home, a crowded station will not improve it.

What earns a place in the bag?

Essentials: travel documents, required medication, phone and charger, payment backup, comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.
Depends on your trip: a small day bag, power bank, rain layer, laundry supplies and equipment for booked activities.
Optional: a separate camera, extra lenses, specialist accessories and duplicate gadgets. A phone may cover your photography needs.

Minimal packing example: one main bag, a small day bag, a few outfits with a laundry plan, one familiar pair of walking shoes, toiletries, essentials and one charging kit. Add seasonal or activity-specific items instead of packing for every possibility.

Charging in Japan

Japan uses 100V power and commonly two-flat-pin sockets. Check each device’s input label: a plug adapter changes the fit, not the voltage. Do not assume a high-power appliance is compatible. See JNTO’s electricity guide.

Check the flight limits once, before packing

Check your packed dimensions and combined baggage weight against every airline and fare you will use. Keep power banks and spare lithium batteries in cabin baggage and remove them if a bag is gate-checked.

ICAO’s March 2026 update limits passengers to two power banks and prohibits recharging them during flight. Airlines can be stricter about capacity, quantity and use to charge other devices. Read the watt-hour label and check the operating carrier’s current policy; the FAA battery guide explains the main handling restrictions.

On this page

Backpack
Camera
Day bag
Wallet
Memory cards
Travel locks
Earbuds
Power bank
Toiletries and laundry
Insoles
Earplugs
Staying connected

Use the details below for fit, weight and comfort, then run through the departure checklist.

Official charging and battery sources checked 1 October 2026.

Person wearing a baseball cap and beige backpack facing a traditional Japanese shrine with red and white wooden architecture and surrounded by greenery.

Backpack

The Osprey Farpoint is one of my gear picks; choose the size and fit that work for your back and trip. Adjust the loaded bag before your test walk, and leave room for the items you will pick up along the way.

Back view of a Canon DSLR camera mounted on a tripod at night, capturing a well-lit urban building scene visible on the camera's LCD screen.

Camera

A phone is enough for many trips. If you take a separate camera, consider the weight of the whole kit, including lenses, batteries and charger. The Nikon Z6 III and DJI Osmo Pocket 3 serve different needs. Choose the one you will actually carry and use.

Flat lay of photography and tech gear on wooden floor including closed silver MacBook, two cameras, camera lenses, external hard drives, memory cards, camera flash, a grey backpack, and a canvas camera bag with strap.

Day bag

The Chrome Kadet Sling Messenger Bag is my go-to day bag. Test yours with the things you take out each day: phone, wallet, water, medication and camera. Keep it zipped and bring it in front of you in crowds. A comfortable light bag beats extra pockets you never use.

Close-up of transparent eyeglasses, a wooden earbud, and a key resting on a folded denim wallet on a dark wooden surface.

Wallet

Make room for coins as well as cards. A Pacsafe wallet is one option, but the useful habit is keeping a backup card separately. Carry small notes for places such as Fukuoka’s yatai, and save the details you would need to block a lost card.

Vintage Cosina CSL film camera with a black strap, alongside three memory cards and a Yongnuo lens cap on a gray surface, accompanied by a dried brown leaf.

Memory cards

Match the card type and speed to your camera’s recording mode, then test it before the trip. Carry a spare and copy important photos to a second device or service when you can. Splitting photos across several cards limits a loss; a second copy is the backup.

Close-up of a black hard-shell suitcase with a built-in TSA combination lock and two zipper pulls secured in the lock.

Travel locks

Check that your lock fits the bag or hostel locker you intend to use. It can deter casual opening, but keep valuables with you rather than relying on the lock. Inspection rules vary by country, so check the requirements along your route.

Pair of white wireless earbuds lying in front of a red charging case on a black surface with a dark background.

Earbuds

Comfort matters after several hours. Try your earbuds for a longer session before flying, and bring the charging cable or adapter you need. Choose noise cancellation for cabin noise or an open-ear design for awareness. Pause the audio when announcements or instructions matter.

Cream-colored portable power bank lying on a wooden surface with four small LED indicator lights on and a USB port visible.

Power bank

Choose enough capacity for the devices you actually use, within your airline’s limits. Check the output as well as capacity if you plan to charge a laptop. Follow the flight checks above and keep the label readable so the battery rating can be confirmed.

Black toiletry bag with various black personal care items including lip balm, tube of cream, foldable comb, toothbrush, and a pair of black socks with white grippy patterns on a light surface against a marble background.

Toiletries and laundry

Pack what you use in leak-resistant containers. Check liquids, aerosols and blades against the security rules for your route. Confirm hotel amenities before packing duplicates. A small laundry bag and access to a washing machine can save more space than another outfit.

Pair of black leather sneakers with laces and textured rubber toe caps on a plain light background.

Insoles

I include Superfeet among my gear suggestions, but fit is personal. Test any new insoles in the shoes you will wear on the trip, over several ordinary walks. Familiar comfortable shoes and time for breaks matter more than buying something new just before departure.

Person sitting in an airplane seat looking out the window at a blurred aerial view of a city below.

Earplugs

Noise-reducing earplugs can help in a shared room or on a flight. Check their fit and follow the instructions. Ear pain caused by pressure needs a different approach; if it happens repeatedly, get medical advice before flying. Make sure you can still hear alarms and important announcements.

World map with location markers connected by lines surrounding a central shield icon labeled VPN, illustrating global virtual private network connectivity.

Staying connected

Save your hotel address, bookings and the next journey’s details offline. Keep your software updated and use strong sign-in protection. A VPN may suit your needs, but it cannot stop every scam or make an unsafe download safe. Check the current features before paying for one.

See our other Guides!

Dimly lit airplane cabin showing rows of seats with personal entertainment screens, one screen playing a black-and-white movie scene.

Ear pressure when flying

Understand ear pressure during flights, gentle comfort measures, and when symptoms need medical advice.

View of an airplane wing flying above a landscape at sunset with the sun low on the horizon and partly cloudy sky.

Flight Tips

Compare seats, connections and comfort choices for your actual aircraft and itinerary.

Rear view of a commercial airplane on a runway at night with runway lights and city lights blurred in the background.

Is the cheaper flight worth it?

Compare the complete journey cost, baggage, transfers and booking conditions before choosing a fare.

Close-up of a dark blue United States passport partially covering an international flight boarding pass with seat 16A, flight MUC-AOI to Ancona on February 3, 2016.

Japan entry requirements

Find the official Japan visitor-entry guidance for your nationality, residence and trip purpose.

Wreckage of a large, old airplane fuselage with missing parts and visible damage, lying on barren dark ground under a cloudy sky.

Safety

Prepare for common travel problems in Japan, with official emergency resources and a practical fallback plan.

Person wearing a hooded jacket and backpack standing by a large lake, looking at snow-covered mountains in the background.

Travel Checklist

Work through Japan entry, medicine, payment, connectivity and arrival checks before you leave.

Person walking on a road pulling a black wheeled suitcase at dawn or dusk, wearing shorts and sneakers with a visible tattoo on one leg.

Travel Equipment

Choose bags, clothing and technology around walking, weather and your airline’s actual baggage rules.

Choose your stay in Japan

Compare Japan stay types by privacy, luggage, arrival time and total cost, including cancellation conditions.

Preferences

Privacy is important to us, so you have the option of disabling certain types of storage that may not be necessary for the basic functioning of the website. Blocking categories may impact your experience on the website. More information

Accept all cookies

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Open cookie preferences