10 Days in Tokyo
In mid-September, Daniel and I drove to Houston to catch a direct flight to Tokyo. Daniel is an avid Sofubi collector and Japan is the place to be for that. I was looking for a trip that would allow us to explore a new place without feeling over-programmed or overwhelmed (my job is overwhelming enough). Tokyo turned out to be the perfect destination, especially since we only scheduled a couple specific excursions and planned the rest as we went.
Reliable public transport, tourist hospitality, and rigorously followed social etiquette made Tokyo a low friction place to explore, even as someone who isn’t fluent in Japanese. Daniel spent a significant amount studying the language before we went, and that helped us interact meaningfully with the locals.
We ate duck ramen for breakfast nearly every morning, explored temples in the rain, and took a little pilgrimage to Mt. Takao on the Autumnal Equinox, which was a national holiday. But we spent most of our rainy days (they were practically all rainy – it was typhoon season) exploring shops, food markets, and neighborhoods.
Tokyo – and Japan in general – is a very trendy place to visit these days, and sentiment about tourists is reasonably mixed. We tried our best to learn the cultural norms and avoid being loud Americans in public. We also avoided taking photos in crowded place, and obviously didn’t do inane influencer stuff. Overall, it was a great experience and we’re looking forward to going again.
Tokyo Packing List: What I Packed
As I mentioned, we went during the rainy season, so we planned for humid days in the low to mid 80s. We had some cooler mornings and one full-on typhoon day, where we stayed in our hotel room until late afternoon. It was so hot and dry in Austin at the time that all the rain was a welcome sight, even if it was inconvenient at times.
One of the most important aspects of packing for Japan/Tokyo is a basic awareness of differences in dress and modesty standards. If you’re an American, you’re going to stick out no matter how you dress, but it made me feel more comfortable to adhere closer to what I saw other women wearing. The current style in Tokyo is loose all over with interesting layers. As a result, I never wore the straight leg jeans I brought (they don’t feel too tight in the U.S., but I felt exposed in Tokyo) and I only wore tighter tops with looser, longer bottoms. I didn’t worry too much about wearing my shorter shorts on hot or hiking days, though.
Another thing to note is that many Japanese hotels have laundry rooms, and the machines are combo washer/dryers that automatically add lightly scented detergent (it didn’t bother my sensitive skin). You can easily pack for half your total trip and do a load of laundry in the middle. Just keep in mind that the dryers don’t work that well, so you’ll need to add extra time or hang things to dry in your room.
I used my trusty 22-year-old Jansport backpack and a carry-on roller bag for the trip there. Everything fit with room, including a travel clothesline, Kindle, compression socks, a vintage digital camera, chargers, toiletries, etc. I also packed an empty zip-top tote with the intention of converting it to my carry-on and checking my roller bag on the way back (souvenirs! shopping!). About halfway through the trip, we purchased a larger checked bag at a stall to fit all of our souvenirs (it’s true what they say that you are going to shop more than you think you will).
Here are the clothes and shoes I packed:
- Favorite A New Day T-shirt in 4 colors
- Lauren by Ralph Lauren Polka Dot T-shirt
- We the Free Protagonist Tee
- Denizen by Levi’s Shorts
- Lightweight navy skirt
- Uniqlo Sundress for layering (I actually removed this last minute, but I should have brought it!)
- Nylon sling bag
- Uniqlo Cardigan (for flights and cool weather)
- Teva Trekking Sandals
- Jefferies Organic Cotton Socks (loved these so much more than the athletic socks I brought – lightweight and seam free)
- Brooks Ghost 8 Sneakers (the perfect amount of platform to keep rain from seeping into the sides)
- Uniqlo hooded sweater (not pictured, emotional support sweater, lol)
- Uniqlo EZY Wide Leg Jeans (bought in Tokyo)
- GU Balloon Pants (bought in Tokyo)
- Montbell Nylon Cap (bought at Mt. Takao)
Notes:
I bought almost everything on my Tokyo packing list secondhand. Most items were gathered over several months. I purchased a few things – like shorts, extra t-shirts, and a sling bag – explicitly for this trip.
Since I wear a clergy shirt or business casual clothing almost every day, my “off duty” wardrobe had thinned out considerably. I didn’t have the components needed for several days spent walking outside. I am so grateful that my local Goodwill and Thredup had almost everything I needed.
The only things I bought new were the Brooks sneakers and the organic cotton socks (plus things I bought in Tokyo). You might think you want your cute, stylish shoes with no support, but you really don’t. Unless you’re under the age of 30, just suck it up and wear the ugly sneakers. They’ll keep your feet in good shape for weeks of walking.
I actually packed a rain jacket, but it wasn’t completely water proof and was annoying to haul around in stores. If you plan to go during a rainy season, I recommend buying an umbrella at a konbini when you arrive, then donating it to your hotel when you leave; there is really no need to travel with one. You will want rain resistant shoes, ideally with a bit of a platform, but you won’t necessarily need rain boots because the streets don’t puddle that badly.
Let me know if you want to know anything else (and apologies for the lack of product links).
