One of the most popular backpacks is the Osprey Fairview 40L. Osprey has a bigger version at 55L, but I’m a minimalist so I don’t think you need anything bigger than 40L.

The male version of the Fairview is the Osprey Farpoint 40L.

I used a Kelty Redwing 40L when I was in Japan. I liked this backpack a lot. Sadly, Kelty no longer makes that size. They now just have a 36L and 50L.

I had knee replacement surgery in 2023, so to extend the life of my titanium knee, I’ve ditched the backpack (I’ve been using one for 30 years of international travel and it’s what I used during my trips to Japan!) and I’ve gone with a combination wheeled suitcase/backpack. Osprey just came out with a new and improved one that is amazing: Osprey Sojourn.

The Sojourn is firstly a wheeled suitcase but it can then be turned into a backpack, perfect when climbing stairs and getting off and on trains in Japan.

The Sojourn comes in three sizes:

• 22″ / 45L
• 25″ / 60L
• 28″ / 80L

The next piece of luggage you need for Japan is a day pack for carrying your stuff around when sightseeing. Make sure it’s not too big and not too heavy.

On my first trip to Japan, I got a day pack that was way too big and heavy. I was carrying around too much stuff – camera, the Lonely Planet Japan guide, which is the weight and size of the Bible, water bottle, sunscreen, and on and on. You’ll be doing a lot of walking in Japan. A lot. And it’s going to be soooooo hot in the summer. Get a backpack that has good support with good straps but that’s not too big.

The Osprey Daylight Plus has great reviews and has great support. For me, I have a lot of camera gear, so I use a camera backpack. Jump to the camera section for info on what I carry.

A backpack rain cover is an essential item to pack for Japan in the summer. It rains at that time of year and sometimes the rain comes down in buckets. It’s also typhoon season.

Pack a rain cover for both your small daypack and your bigger backpack.

I like these backpack rain covers from Frelaxy because they have a storage pouch and a reflective strip is good for walking at night.

I swear by these compression cubes from Tripped. I have been traveling full time for almost 3 years and I use these compression cubes every day and they’re still in decent shape. They organize your clothes and they compress them, thus saving you tons of space.

These narrow cubes from Tripped fit the narrow shape of backpacks PERFECTLY.  Wide packing cubes are better for suitcases and unsuitable for backpacks.

You also get a shoe case and a laundry bag. The former keeps your shoes from dirtying other things in your bag. The latter keeps your dirty clothes separate from your clean clothes.

One of the reasons I love Japan so much is how safe it is, especially for solo travelers. Still, I don’t like keeping my money and phone in my backpack. I like to keep it in front of me for easy access and security.

I’ve come to really love these fanny packs that are now being used across the body. They’re comfortable to wear and much more stylish than the old fanny packs that people would wear at their hips.

Make sure you get one with an internal pocket, meaning one pocket zipper faces your body. It keeps your money and credit cards safe. If you’re lucky your phone, too.

If you don’t want to use a crossbody fanny pack in Japan, I recommend this anti-theft purse from Travelon. It’s what I’ve used over the last three years. Now I switch between this purse and the above fanny pack.

The purse has 4 pockets: ideal for organizing your wallet, phone, and other essentials. It also has a water bottle pocket.

The material is also anti-theft proof, meaning thieves are not supposed to cut it open with a knife. The zippers have locks on them, making it harder for thieves to get into your purse.

The first must-have electronics for your Japan packing list is a power bank. You need it to recharge your phone (or pocket WiFi or Kindle) if you’re out and about and the phone runs out of batteries.

On my first trip to Japan, I was touring Takayama when my phone ran out of batteries. It was dark and I was completely lost! I had no idea where I was, and I had to go to the bathroom like crazy. Luckily, I met a Japanese man who walked me to my hotel, which happened to be 20 minutes from where I had gotten lost.

I’ve used many power banks. You want to get one that is powerful enough that it will recharge your phone quickly.  I prefer having a power bank to have at least 20,000 mAh of power for multiple-day hikes. For Japan, you can probably get by with 10,000 mAh.

Check that your smartphone’s cable is compatible with the power bank. Do you need a power bank that accepts a USB-C or USB-A cable? But now some power banks are magnetic.

I’ve had good luck with Anker power banks. Right now, I’m using a Mophie power bank.

The good news for those from North and South America is that Japan uses the same Type A and Type B outlets, so you shouldn’t need a power plug adapter. It actually came in handy one time in Japan when my laptop (3 prongs) needed to fit into a 2 prong outlet.

However, if you’re from Europe (Type C plug), Singapore and the UK (Type G plug), and Australia (Type I plug), you’ll need a power plug adapter.

Japan’s power supply is 100 Volts. The United States and Canada are 120 Volts, which is generally fine for Japan, while Europe is 240 Volts and Australia 230 Volts. Your phone, power bank, Kindle, and laptop should automatically switch voltage – no need for a converter. But if you add other items like a hair dryer to your Japan packing list, then you might need something that changes the voltage. An adapter is not it! You’ll need a voltage converter. Or check your electronics to see if they’re dual voltage.

Don’t travel to Japan without packing item trackers like Air Tags or Tile Mates. Air Tags are for those who use Apple products (iPhone) and Time Mates are for those with Android products like a Samsung phone.

Attach them to your things and then use an app on your phone to track where the item is. For example, when you’re flying to Japan and you need to check your luggage, you can put an Air Tag or Tile Mate into your backpack or suitcase and you’ll know where the bag is at all times by tracking it on an app. So cool!

If you’re like me and you’re a real bookworm, then you’ll want to pack a Kindle or iPad, so you can read books during downtime or when on a train. Forget about packing physical books. They are just too heavy and in Japan with all the walking you need to do, you have to limit your weight. You can get an e-book for Lonely Planet Japan.  

I have a Kindle Fire that I use to read books AND watch movies. Mine is an 8” Fire with 32 GB of memory.

By the way, if you like to read a book set in a place you’re visiting, check out this FABULOUS list of books on Japan.

As I’ve mentioned 100 times in this post, Japan is hot and humid in the summer, so you need short-sleeved shirts. Make sure they dry quickly, don’t wrinkle too much, and don’t absorb too much moisture. The best material for this is nylon or polyester, but it isn’t the most comfortable material to wear. You can also try bamboo viscose material, which is more comfortable but doesn’t dry as quickly as polyester.

I sweated a lot and after one use, my shirts were so gross that I had to wash all 7 of my shirts after 7 days. I was also worried that I smelled because I know that Japanese people are sensitive to smells. You can easily find coin-operated washing machines and dryers in hotels, hostels, and guesthouses in Japan.

Your wardrobe for Japan should include mostly solid-colored shirts (no writing or designs or patterns) so that you can easily mix and match with different pants and skirts. I pack a combination of subtle and dark colors like grey and dark blue shirts with bright colors like pink and bright blue. Sometimes I want to stand out like when taking tours so that the tour guide doesn’t leave me behind. I know that might sound strange to you, but as a solo traveler, it’s a fear I have.

Don’t pack tight-fitting, low-cut tops as Japanese dress quite modestly.

My Japan packing list included a mix of pants, capris, skirts, and shorts. Everything I packed was specifically for hiking and travel—lightweight and breathable. No jeans. They are just too heavy, bulky, and hot. Bring pants made of nylon, polyester, or bamboo viscose.

I never saw Japanese women (or men) wear shorts in Tokyo or Kyoto. Young Japanese women often wore long skirts. So, if you still want to wear shorts, you’ll fit in better if they’re down to your knees.

I also never saw Japanese women wearing leggings alone. If they wore leggings, it was with a skirt or dress.

Pack pants or capris that have lots of pockets and at least one of which is zippered.

I’ve had these North Face Aphrodite capri pants for almost 10 years! They have lots of pockets including two zippered pockets and they’re super comfortable. The pants also wick away moisture and repels water.

I also love my Libin Capri Pants. The material is very comfortable, lightweight, and quick-drying. Plus! They’ve got 4 zippered pockets. The only problem is that they run a bit small. I wish I’d gotten a bigger size.

Pack enough underwear for a week: 7 pairs. Wash in the sink if you run out before you need to wash your shirts and pants.

Pack at least 4 pairs of socks. Make sure your socks have no holes in them and they’re not too scruffy because you might need to take your shoes off when entering some hotels, restaurants, temples, tea houses, and Japanese homes. Dark colors are a safe bet. Going barefoot inside (or outside) is a no-no. If you want to wear sandals, then you need to carry a pair of socks with you.

I also recommend wearing compression socks on the long flight to Japan. They also help if you are like me and have plantar fasciitis.

You probably think I’m crazy for recommending to pack a fleece for the summer in Japan. I always travel with one because I get cold on planes, and trains and buses tend to be cold.

If you’re someone who never gets cold on planes, then you might want to leave it at home because fleeces can be bulky and take up a lot of space.

The other reason I always pack a fleece, even in the tropics, is that if I get sick and get the chills, a fleece has been a lifesaver.

Now my fleece actually has never fit in any of my backpacks. I had to tie it around my waist or wear it when I traveled between cities in Japan.

I like Columbia fleeces because they’re comparatively lightweight, not so bulky, and not too expensive.

This is another Japan packing item that’s optional. It’s hot in Japan and when it rains, it doesn’t really get that much cooler, so a rain jacket just sort of uncomfortably sticks to you. An umbrella is better for dealing with rain.

If you’re going to be spending time in the mountains like doing the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route tour or hiking at Kamikochi, then a lightweight jacket will come in handy in the morning and late afternoon and evening.

I travel with this Columbia Switchback jacket. I love the color and quality, and I can scrunch it up small enough to fit in my backpack.

The sun gets strong in Japan in the summer, so it’s essential to pack a hat. Baseball cap is also fine. But make sure to remove it when inside especially when entering temples.

You’re going to be doing a lot of walking in Japan, so you want to bring a pair of good quality walking shoes with good support. If you’re buying new shoes, make sure you’ve broken them in by the time you get to Japan. Don’t buy cheap shoes. Footwear for Japan is one area you don’t want to skimp on.

I love Brooke’s Adrenaline GTS shoes. They work well with my plantar fasciitis and bunions. I wore them during my second trip to Japan and I had no problems with my feet.

If you’re lucky and don’t suffer from foot problems, then I recommend the Cloudflyer On shoes. They’re so stylish that (depending on the color) you can get away with wearing them with more formal clothes. They also give you amazing support. Unfortunately, they don’t come in wide sizes, so I don’t wear them when traveling.

The other pair of shoes that you should pack for Japan is flip-flops. They’re comfortable, lightweight, and don’t take up much room.

I don’t wear flip-flops outside, though. Instead, I wear them around my hotel room (but only if I’m allowed to wear shoes inside, that is). If I’m staying in a hostel or a guesthouse with a shared bathroom, I wear them in the shower.

No matter what country I visit, I always pack a money belt. Japan was no exception during my two visits. I wore mine when I was traveling between cities. My money belt held my passport and half of my credit and debit cards and money. But I never wore it when sightseeing or a day or night out and about. I kept it in my room.

There are two kinds of money belts that you can get:

• Traditional Money Belt
• Running Belt

I’ve used both but I feel like the running belt is more comfortable than the traditional belt. So that’s what I use the most often nowadays.

The only negative is that the fabric of the runner’s belt can start to smell after a few days. Given the heat and humidity in Japan in the summer, it’s very likely to smell even sooner.

If you’re going to be staying in hostels, you’ll need a combination lock to store your valuables in your locker.

Make sure your lock’s bars/cables are thin because sometimes the hole you need to put the lock through is small. You can also use the lock to secure your backpack’s zippers.

You might also want a lock for locking your checked luggage. I recently had some things (not expensive) go missing from my suitcase while traveling from Mexico to Costa Rica last year. Just make sure the combination lock is TSA-approved.

You’ll of course need to pack a toiletry bag for Japan. Get one that comes with a hook that will allow you to hang the bag from something like a towel rack in the bathroom. A lot of different pockets is a good thing, too. I like to keep my toothbrush separate from my hairbrush!

Tripped has a toiletry kit that consists of 3 bags:

• Hanging toiletry bag with multiple zippered pockets
• Transparent bag for liquids – great for getting past TSA
• Pouch organizer for cosmetics

I love this Japanese-brand soap box. Sadly, I left mine in Costa Rica and I have to make do with a cheap one that leaks.

It’s got a sponge that soaks up the extra water, which keeps the soap dry and helps it last longer. The container also has a band that goes around it, preventing it from opening up in our toiletry bag and spilling all the contents out.

If you’re staying in a hostel, pack your own towel. Some hostels require you to pay to use one of their towels for the shower.

Make sure it’s a microfiber one as it will save you space in your luggage. These towels also dry quickly.

You can buy a variety of sizes. I have one that’s the size of a beach towel and one that’s small for drying my face.

I like the towels from Rainleaf because they don’t smell like another brand of towel I have.

These exfoliating washcloth towels are a perfect addition to your Japan packing list. They’re quick-drying, lightweight, and small. Pack one to use for the shower.

The first time I visited Japan in August, I packed a water bottle, and it became a nuisance. Because it was hot and humid, I was constantly needing to rehydrate but I constantly wanted COLD, COLD, COLD water. Unfortunately, the water in my water bottle was warm or nothing was left. So, I’d go to one of the ubiquitous vending machines and buy another and another bottle of COLD water. Then I ended up juggling two water bottles. I felt like I wasn’t really helping the environment or saving space. In the end, I left the water bottle on the train.

The next time I went to Japan in the summer, I bought a bottle of water from a convenience store and then when it was empty, I refilled it from the tap in my hotel room. It’s safe to drink tap water in Japan. I used that same water bottle until it got scruffy-looking or until I needed COLD water from a vending machine or a convenience store.  

If you still want to pack a water bottle for Japan, consider one that is lightweight and that fits in your backpack side pocket.

June, July, September, and October are the rainiest months in Japan, so your packing list should include an umbrella.

Both times I went in August, it didn’t rain all that much. The first time, it rained twice: a typhoon in Kyoto (one day of heavy rain) and an annoying drizzle in the morning in Hakone. The second time I went to Japan in August, it poured during the two days I was in Nikko. The rest of my stay was dry.

This might seem a bit old school for some of you, but I like to pack physical copies of my flight, hotel, and tour information along with a physical copy of my passport. Booking.com allows you to print off a copy of your hotel name and address in Japanese.

All of these paper copies go in a plastic document holder. As I travel, I also fill the document holder with receipts, ticket stubs, and paper maps. 

Another must-pack item for Japan is a bunch of Ziploc bags. They are perfect for storing food, especially packages of food that you open but don’t finish. You can put wet or dirty clothes in a Ziploc bag. They’re good for storing bottles that have a tendency to leak or open. Pretty much everything in my backpack is in a compression bag or a plastic Ziploc storage.

Keep your passport in a Ziploc bag. I got caught in a sudden heavy rainstorm in Thailand. My passport was in my money belt under my clothes, but it got soaked and the ink from some of my stamps ran. I now ALWAYS store my passport and some money in a Ziploc bag in my money belt.

I love Moleskin Journals for writing about about my travels. This is what I took with me to Japan–actually three of them because they are rather thin. They’re thin, lightweight, and durable. The paper is nice and smooth, giving you a nice writing experience.

I pack a tiny sewing kit with needle, thread, and some buttons in case a button falls off or something rips. A button on my pants fell off at the beginning of my trip to Peru. Thankfully, I had a sewing kit and I could sew it back on and still use the pants.

If you’re looking to buy a camera for Japan, I recommend getting a Fuji or Sony mirrorless camera.

Fuji X-T4 Mirrorless Camera

I own a Fuji X-T4. The camera takes great photos. Fuji cameras are known for producing photos with great color. It also has built-in image stabilization. Fuji just came out with an X-T5, but I think the X-T4 is good enough.

Sony a7 III Mirrorless Camera

The other camera that I recommend getting is the Sony a7 III. This is probably the best non-professional camera on the market. It’s got great autofocus and it produces sharp images in low light. know Sony came out with the a7 IV, but the a7 IIII is still great and is now cheaper.

I recommend packing these camera lenses for Japan:

• Average focal length Zoom (16-80 mm) for everyday shots of street scenes, people, and attractions
• Wide Angle Zoom Lens (10-24 mm) for street scenes in Tokyo and Kyoto and the traditional Japanese architecture.

If you want to night shots of Tokyo streets, night photos from the Tokyo Sky Tree, or early morning shots of Mt. Fuji, bring a tripod to ensure your photos are sharp.

I pack this mini tripod. It’s small, lightweight, and stable. I like it more than the gorilla pods.

However, a full-sized tripod is better for those street shots.

Pack a camera and lens cleaning kit for Japan. I can guarantee that you’re going to need to clean your lenses multiple times during your trip.

There are lots of lens cleaning kits on the market. I own this kit (I threw away the case). Whichever one you get, your kit should have first and foremost a lens pen, a small spray bottle of cleaning fluid, a microfiber cloth, a brush, and a rocket air blower (in order of importance).

Lens pens and microfiber cloths get dirty, so make sure they’re relatively new.

I cannot recommend this Peak Design camera strap enough. I love it.

It’s supposed to work with any camera brand. I find the strap easy to adjust, durable (same one since 2018), and comfortable.

Just watch several videos first before attempting to put the strap onto the camera. Some videos teach you the wrong way.

The humidity in Japan can ruin your camera and lenses. Pack plenty of silicone gel packets and store them with your camera and lenses in Ziploc bags. They will soak up the moisture and thus prevent fungus and mold from forming on your equipment.

Humidity destroyed my camera and one of my lenses while traveling in Central America.

I have a Brevite Camera Bag, but I hate it and don’t recommend it. The top compartment collapses onto the bottom compartment, so the stuff in the top part sits on my camera and lenses. That is probably what broke my camera lens. As soon as I get back to the U.S., I’m buying a Wandrd Prvke Lite.

At the time I was buying a new camera bag, I bought the Wandrd Prvke 31L, but it was way too big and heavy for me. I returned it and got the Brevite Jumper instead.

Now Wandrd has an 11L camera bag that expands to 16L called the Lite and it’s probably the ideal bag for me and a perfect one to take with you to Japan.

The bag has got four compartments as well as internal smaller comparts. It’s sturdy, durable, and comfortable. There’s a laptop sleeve. I also like that the camera compartment opens from the back and not the front.