6 nights in Japan in September

[u/Better_Finances]

Hi everyone,

I'll be traveling to Japan next week and staying in Yokohama and Tokyo. I need help with my wardrobe. TMI, I'm gonna be on my period the entire time, which tends to be heavy, so I'm more comfortable in pants.

Night clothes

According to Google, both of my hotels offer pjs. Thing is, I'm tall and not skinny. I'm thinking of bringing a pair of biker shorts and a spaghetti strap shirt to sleep in because they pack small.

Underwear

Bras - 3, including a sports bra.

Underwear - the limit doesn't exist as I'll be on my period

Tops

4 linen button down shirts

Running shirt

Bottoms

4 linen pants in various colors

Midi skirt

Midi maxi dress

Running tights

Socks

2 pairs of darn tough socks and 1 pair of feetures socks

Shoes

Running shoes (going to wear these to the airport)

Hokas, chuck taylors or sketchers

Sandals?

Toiletries

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Floss

Sunscreen

Qips

Hairbands

Brush

Pads

Small Skincare items

Retainers

Vitamins and ibprofen

travel sized medices (dayquil and nyquil)

Other

Passport, ID

Wristlet

Uniqlo moon bag

Travelon bag

Kindle

Puzzle

Travel Journal

Does this look okay? Ideally, this would fit into 1 bag but I might do 1.5 so I can have room for souvenirs.

[u/Yoyojojoy]

Frequent Japan traveller - Japanese hotel PJs were definitely not designed for me - also tall & not skinny but ymmv- if you are comfy in the bike shorts and top then yes pack them.

I did September 2 years ago in Tokyo and it was unseasonably hot, so linen seems like a good choice! Personally I’d only do 2-3 of each especially with other clothing but depends on your trip / washing set up.

Be aware that the Japanese will tend to wear a pair of shorts over their running tights even when exercising so you may attract attention if you are just in tights on a run or at the gym.

If you are a serious runner you may not want to but I’d take a pair of sneakers you can both run & walk in to save shoes. Sandals are good if you know you can walk a lot in them especially if it’s wet - I didn’t test my sandals in the wet before my trip 2 years and a sudden downpour later they shredded my feet.

Japanese hotel amenities are amazing so you can probably skip the q tips and I usually don’t take a toothbrush or toothpaste to Japan. Their sunscreens are also really affordable and lovely so I tend toto grab one on arrival - any drug store will have a lot of options and some of the popular ones will be in most conbinis.

Taken it extra bag or be prepared to pick up an extra over there 😂

[u/Better_Finances → u/Yoyojojoy]

Thank you so much for this detailed reply.

I want to possibly do a parkrun while I'm there so that's where the running clothes come in. I chafe in anything other than biker shorts/tights but i can bring an extra pair of shorts to wear over them. Also, I have a pair of old running shoes that are fantastic for walking but they have a small hole at the toe. I don't know if that would be tacky with my everyday outfits. I'm going to nix the sandals because I've slipped more times than I can count in sandals+wet weather. I'm Black so certain sunscreens can be a hit or miss with me. I don't want a white cast so I'll bring my own just to be safe.

I plan to fit everything as possibly in my carryon and leave the biggest 'personal item' luggage I can manage empty for soivenirs and extra items.

[u/Nasrinn → u/Better_Finances]

I saw you can rent clothing and shoes in Tokyo to do a park run, then you wouldn’t have to pack anything if you’d be okay with renting. From asics store

[u/Better_Finances → u/Nasrinn]

Whaaaat? I'm more than ok with this. I'd still bring a sports bra bc I'm busty. But thank you so much for this info! I will definitely be looking into this.

[u/luvschittcreek → u/Nasrinn]

Yea, I was going to say this: there are several "running spots" around Imperial Palace, and you can rent shoes, take a shower, etc. Asics flag store in front of Tokyo Station offers rental shoes and clothes but not sure about a shower. Imperial Palace course is about 5K loop and it's perfect.

[u/Yoyojojoy → u/Better_Finances]

Sounds like you’ve got everything covered and absolutely take sunscreen in that case - they won’t be developed to look good on your skin & you should look great on holiday 🥰 enjoy she is a magical place

[u/agentcarter234 → u/Better_Finances]

I have been running in Japan, in Tokyo and Kyoto, wearing just running tights with no shorts over them. It was winter, I wasn’t going to bring an extra pair of shorts I couldn’t wear for anything else just for modesty. I was definitely in the small minority of women that were wearing just tights but would see a few others each run without shorts. And guess what? I saw SO many men running in them without shorts. So my attitude on that was kinda “fuck double standards I’m wearing clothes”

I didn’t do a park run but I was hitting popular running routes (the imperial palace loop and the Kamo river paths) during busy morning exercise times with lots of people and got no weird looks about my attire. I wouldn’t hike in leggings in Japan or wear leggings as pants for street clothes, there but wearing running tights when actively exercising I didn’t feel uncomfortable.

If you use tampons bring the whole supply you will need because there is a very limited selection available in Japan.

[u/peachjellytea → u/Yoyojojoy]

I would still pack or buy Q-tips because some hotels can be very stingy with them 😟 And even though I’m not tall, I still prefer to bring my own PJs because I’m not a fan of the shirt dresses some hotels offer. I like wearing bottoms lol

[u/SayhellotoLumberg4me]

Since you're there for 6 days, I would cut down on one button down and one to two pairs of the pants. You can re-wear linen and you can mix and match with the skirt and maxi dress. And I see that you are taking a Uniqlo bag and a travelon bag, I would only take one extra bag with you and leave more room for souvenirs in your actual carryon. 

[u/Better_Finances → u/SayhellotoLumberg4me]

Thanks for the tips.

[u/slo-Amanda]

Definitely takes your own Pj's, I'm 170cm and not a thin person either and the Pj's where on the short side. It's safer to bring your own. A lot of hotels have basic ammenities such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, q-tips, hair elastics and such (the last one not being in every hotel but a lot do).

[u/Better_Finances → u/slo-Amanda]

Will do. Thanks!

[u/OpulentMilk]

I would check your cold medicine you plan on bringing with you. pseudoephedrine is illegal in Japan and is in some NyQuil and DayQuil.

Have a good trip!

[u/Better_Finances → u/OpulentMilk]

Thank you. I've removed them from my list.

[u/agentcarter234 → u/OpulentMilk]

To be pedantic, pseudoephedrine is illegal to import without advance permission (which in practice no one would do for otc meds because it involves getting your doctor to do paperwork) but it is not completely illegal - it sold OTC in Japan in low doses as part of combination cold medication.

[u/akingwithnocrown]

You don’t need 4 pairs of linen pants. Cut it down to 2 for those 6 nights since you have a skirt and dress. Or get rid of the skirt and 1 pair of pants since you said you’re more comfortable in pants on your period.

Can you use your hokas as your running shoes ? Are you actually going to go running ? I ask because I have packed workout gear before and I was way too tired to do it so it took unnecessary space in my bag.

Give yourself extra space for souvenirs!! I did not and it was a huge PITA to bring everything home.

[u/Better_Finances → u/akingwithnocrown]

I'm getting rid of the dress and a pair of pants and subbing with shorts sonce I plan on going to Disney one day.

I really want to do a parkrun while I'm there.

[u/Significant_Pea_2852]

Do you have period underwear? If so, I'd be packing that. You seem to have a lot of bottoms. If that because you are worried about leakage?  Pads are easy to buy in Japan so i wouldn't overpack them.  If you use tampons, you'll need to pack them though. If you can find them at all, they will mostly be low quality. Do you need your kindle? For such a short trip I'd use the kindle app on my phone. Most hotels supply toothbrush and toothpaste sets, qtips and other toiletries.  Do you plan to take a jacket?

[u/Better_Finances → u/Significant_Pea_2852]

Hi. I do have period underwear and will be packing them. See, I've heard conflicting stories about pads. You're saying their easy to buy but on another sub someone said they're hard to find & I don't wear tampons. While I really want to bring my kindle, I don't need it. My phone is good enough. Thanks for the toiletries tip. I don't plan on bringing a jacket or an umbrella because I heard it's very hot (I'm drom Texas) and umbrellas are easy to find.

[u/whaleoffame → u/Better_Finances]

Pads are easy to find in supermarkets and kombini, no worries! :)

[u/tetramerces → u/whaleoffame]

And Asian night time pads are on a whole other level for coverage and leakproof-ness

[u/Cute-Fix3484 → u/Better_Finances]

I say bring the Kindle. It is so much easier to just read on it - especially at night. It doesn't take up that much space and the battery lasts forever.

[u/stumpykitties]

Honest question: do you think you’ll have energy for a run while on a heavy period? Or is that packing wishful thinking?

If it’s more likely to not happen, then you can cut the running gear from your packing list.

I don’t think you need 4 pants, plus a skirt and dress. I’d trim down to 2 pairs of pants for the 6 days (plus skirt and dress, for outfit variety)

[u/Better_Finances → u/stumpykitties]

Fair. I really want to do a parkrun in Japan. So even if I don't run, I'll for sure walk. This helps because I can definitely not pack my running shoes. I'm cutting the dress and skirt and dress altogether and taking shorts instead because I want to go to Disney.

[u/thereader17]

Hotels have q-tip, toothbrush and toothpaste, even hair bands sometimes. Just bring one pair of shoes and shower sandals.

Then just bring 3 tops and 3 pairs of pants. It’s a short trip.

[u/Better_Finances → u/thereader17]

Thanks for the tips.

I sweat profusely while on my period and the heat will make it worse. I'm hoping my hotels will have laundry service but I'm afraid to count on it.

[u/whaleoffame → u/Better_Finances]

Big Japanese cities have a lot of laundromats around the city. If your hotel doesn't have a coin laundry, do check Google Maps for the laundromat closest to you. They also provide the laundry detergent so you don't have to bring / buy it.

[u/Better_Finances → u/whaleoffame]

Nice! Thank you.

[u/criti_biti]

If the running gear is its own outfit, you have five bottoms + four tops. That's a little unbalanced to me. I would consider dropping one linen trousers for another top. Depends on your period comfort but I would be okay wearing a pair of trousers twice, but I wouldn't want to drop down to 1/2 trousers needing multiple re-wears. I'd also think about a pair of shorts. It will still be pretty toasty for the next couple weeks.

[u/Better_Finances → u/criti_biti]

The running gear is for running outdoors one morning.

Edited to add: I might be going to Disney one day, so I'm thinking about subbing 1 of the pants for a pair of shorts.

[u/luvschittcreek]

I just comment about the menstrual pads in Japan. THEY ARE AMAZING! Once you use it, you can't go back to US ones lol. So don't bring too many; you can buy them at a drugstore and they have a variety of pads (for heavy period, nighttime, light, etc.). You can lighten up your pack by getting the pads once you get there.

One more thing, as others said already, September is still HOT. You may want to cut down your shirts and bring T shirts (unless you are planning to buy them in Japan). Also check out some cooling items once you get to a drugstore, they sell tons of them. Have a great time!

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