First Trip to Japan? The Magic Trick to Cutting Your Luggage in Half

It was only a 3-night, 4-day trip, so why was my 28-inch suitcase packed to the brim and about to burst?

I vividly remember preparing for my first trip to Japan. The extra coat I packed just in case it got cold, the large bottle of cleansing oil from home in case my skin broke out, and even a book in case I got bored. My mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety translated directly into the weight of my suitcase. But from the moment I landed at Tokyo's Narita Airport, it wasn't a romantic journey but the beginning of an ordeal. The endless transfer corridors, the steep stairs of a subway station with no elevator in sight—the memory of me struggling with my 20kg suitcase is still dizzying to think about.

Especially in Japanese city centers, there are many moments that aren't very friendly to travelers with suitcases. Many business hotels barely have room to walk once you open a single suitcase, and old restaurants or shops often have no space to store your luggage. The things you packed 'just in case' end up becoming a nuisance, obstructing your daily movements and draining your energy. That's when I learned firsthand that excessive luggage is a shackle that restricts the freedom of travel.

I'm writing this for you, who, like me back then, might be sweeping all sorts of things into your suitcase thinking, 'I'll probably need this too?' for your first trip to Japan. I want to use that anxious feeling of yours to help you take out the unnecessary items from your suitcase, one by one. Your trip will become much freer, just as your suitcase becomes lighter. So, shall we start by looking at the things we can get rid of first?

Items to Boldly Leave Behind: You Can Get Them All in Japan

Alright, shall we reopen that suitcase you struggled to close? Let's start by taking out the main culprit for the weight: that heavy toiletry pouch. To put it simply, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, facial cleanser, and even pajamas—you can find almost everything in Japan. And often, with much better quality than what we use at home.

Japan is a country that is serious about its hotel amenities. It's a mistake to think you'll just find a simple bar of soap and some shampoo. Even at major business hotel chains like APA Hotel or Dormy Inn, you'll find large pump bottles of products from familiar brands like Shiseido, Pola, and DHC. The quality is so good that you might have the surprising experience of your hair feeling even better, not stiffer. Needless to say, the amenities at ryokans and luxury hotels are even better. As for pajamas, instead of packing bulky cotton ones, I recommend trying the yukata or the comfortable waffle-fabric loungewear provided by the hotel. Just wearing them will make you feel like you're truly on vacation.

Of course, you might worry, 'I have sensitive skin and can only use my own products,' or 'I'm staying at an Airbnb, so there are no amenities.' Don't worry. In that case, just take a quick look around on your way to your accommodation. Drugstores like Don Quijote and Matsumoto Kiyoshi, and convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Lawson, and Family Mart are waiting for you. There, you can easily find travel-sized versions of best-selling products famous even in Korea, like 'Senka Perfect Whip' or 'Biore Cleansing Oil,' for around 300-500 yen. You might even have the fun of discovering new products or local favorites that become your 'holy grail' items, which are hard to find back home. It's a much more economical and wise choice than lugging heavy bottles from home, only to not finish them and throw them away.

The same goes for umbrellas, which can be a packing dilemma due to weather. There's no need to pack a bulky folding umbrella just because the forecast calls for rain. It often rains suddenly in Japan, so most convenience stores sell sturdy and simple clear vinyl umbrellas for 500-700 yen. Their quality is on a different level from the disposable ones in Korea; many people use them throughout their trip and even bring them back as a souvenir. Heading out light and, if you get caught in the rain, coolly stepping into a convenience store to buy an umbrella like a local—isn't that the real charm of traveling?

Just by leaving out toiletries and miscellaneous daily items, your suitcase should feel noticeably more spacious. You can fill this precious empty space with the freedom of travel and the joy of shopping. But that doesn't mean you should travel with an empty suitcase. In the next chapter, we'll fill the space we've saved with the true essentials that you absolutely must pack from home.

Absolutely Essential: What You MUST Pack in Your Suitcase

Alright, thanks to what we've boldly left behind, we now have a much roomier suitcase. It's time to fill that space with the real gems that are hard to find locally or would significantly lower the quality of your trip without them. There aren't many. Just remember these four things.

First, comfortable shoes that feel like a part of your feet. This is non-negotiable. In Japan, there's a saying that 'your two sturdy legs are your best transit pass' because traveling there is a series of endless walking. 20,000 steps a day is the bare minimum, and it's common to exceed 30,000 steps when you get lost in pretty alleyways or shopping streets. The new, stylish shoes or high heels you packed will make you regret it by the first evening. The best choice is a pair of sneakers that you've already broken in for at least a week, preferably walking or running shoes with good cushioning. Packing blister prevention bands or cushioned insoles is also a very wise precaution.

Second, your electronics survival kit. This means a 110V adapter (plug converter), a high-capacity portable battery, and a multi-port charger. Japanese hotels often have few outlets, and many still have old layouts without outlets by the bed. Instead of packing individual adapters, it's much more convenient to use a single multi-port charger with several USB ports and plug it in with just one converter to charge all your devices at once. A portable battery is a no-brainer. Between using Google Maps for directions, Papago for translation, taking photos, and making payments with a mobile Suica card, your smartphone battery will drain in no time. Make sure to bring a reliable one with a capacity of at least 10,000mAh.

Third, the unexpected travel cheat codes: a coin purse and a foldable shopping bag. Japan is still a country where cash, especially coins, is frequently used. A single 500 yen coin is worth nearly $5, so it's a pain if you lose it while it's jingling in your pocket. A small coin purse with a wide opening that lets you see and grab coins easily will cut the hassle at the checkout counter in half. A foldable shopping bag (eco-bag) is also essential. Most shops in Japan charge for plastic bags. Paying 3-5 yen every time you buy a snack or two at a convenience store can add up, and carrying multiple plastic bags is cumbersome. Solve it all with one light shopping bag that fits in your pocket.

Finally, your personal over-the-counter medications. Japanese drugstores may seem like a paradise of cure-alls, but finding the right medicine for you when you're actually sick can be difficult. The ingredients might be slightly different, or the language barrier can make it hard to explain your symptoms accurately. Be sure to pack your usual digestive aids, painkillers, anti-diarrhea medicine, and allergy medication in a small pouch. If you take prescription medication regularly, it's safest to prepare a generous supply along with an English-language prescription. If you're curious about the regulations for bringing in personal medication, it's a good habit to check the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website before you leave.

Conclusion: A Lighter Suitcase for a Richer Journey

The essence of travel is to fill yourself with new experiences, not to haul your old belongings around. Just a few habits to lighten your suitcase can make your trip much freer. In addition to the essentials we've already packed, let me give you some final detailed tips to dramatically reduce your luggage without compromising the quality of your trip.

First, when it comes to clothes, 'layering' is the answer. A combination of a thin thermal inner layer, a basic t-shirt, a cardigan or a thin fleece, and a lightweight outer jacket that doubles as a windbreaker is much smarter than one bulky sweater. On a chilly spring or autumn day, you can wear the cardigan, and when it gets warmer in the afternoon, you can take it off and pop it in your bag. The same goes for winter. A thick knit sweater becomes a burden in Japan's notoriously overheated indoor spaces or subways, but if you're wearing thin layers, you can easily take one off to adjust. Sticking to basic colors like beige, black, and white makes it easy to mix and match, allowing you to create different looks each day with fewer items.

The same applies to cosmetics. Pack those samples you have lying around at home, use them up generously on your trip, and throw away the empty containers. What if you run out? You're in Japan, the paradise of drugstores. It can be a small pleasure to browse Don Quijote or Matsumoto Kiyoshi and try out a sheet mask or cleansing oil. The extra pair of shoes you packed 'in case it rains' or 'in case I go to a fancy restaurant' will take up the most space in your suitcase and, 90% of the time, will never be worn. Remember that 'just in case' is usually another way of saying 'not needed'.

And the most important mindset: intentionally leave half of your suitcase empty. This isn't just space for shopping. It's because a trip to Japan is a series of unexpected 'discoveries.' From snacks like Tokyo Banana and Hiyoko Manju, to the cute stationery at Loft, the pretty home goods at Francfranc, the limited-edition snacks you find at a convenience store, and even the good luck charm you receive from a small shrine. This is your space to be filled with items that hold the memories of your journey. A full suitcase robs you of the opportunity to bring new things home, but a spacious one expands the possibilities of your trip.

The true value of this empty space will become apparent the moment you leave the airport. On the endless stairs of a subway transfer with no elevator, at a coin locker where it's hard to find the right size, and on the asphalt road you have to walk to your accommodation, you will be praising yourself. Instead of struggling to drag your luggage, you'll have the leisure to enjoy the surrounding scenery. As you lighten the weight of your luggage, your journey will be filled with richer experiences and memories.