How I packed for 17 days in Japan (and what I didn't need)
Seventeen days of packing for a trip with lots of city changes. What I brought, what I didn't need, and what I missed while traveling around Japan.
Seventeen days is a long time to pack for, so I thought hard about my suitcase before leaving. Here's what worked and what I'd do differently.
Comfortable shoes. You'll walk a huge amount, so bring shoes you've already broken in before traveling.
Varied clothes for changing weather. In a single day it can get hot, start raining and turn windy. What worked best was bringing tops, T-shirts, sweaters and jackets that aren't too thick.
Power bank. It's super important: you spend the whole day away from your accommodation and you use your phone for everything.
The number one tip: don't bring too many things. I ended up having to buy an extra suitcase to bring home everything I bought there.
A small or medium suitcase. If you're taking shinkansens, you'll be moving the suitcase a lot, and a very big suitcase or a heavy backpack are very annoying. What I missed most, in fact, was space in the suitcase for my purchases.
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