Packing advice

Old Mar 1st, 2007, 12:35 PM
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Packing advice

We are chronic over-packers but everything I read on this site makes it clear that will be difficult to manage because of space constraints, stairs in stations, etc. Three of us (mom, dad, teenage son)will be in Japan for 9 days the first of April - traveling to Tokyo, Hiroshima, Miyajima and Kyoto. None of us are "japanese sized". After reading through earlier posts, I WILL be taking PJs - my son will want no sightings of mom. I am concerned about finding laundromats and it seems we will need to be prepared to layer as the weather early April could be cool. I have considered for some of those items that don't easily dry overnight to try the take it and throw it away strategy (such as my husband's undershirts). When we went to Hong Kong years ago, my favorite part of being on the concierge floor was the free laundry service, but it was VERY hot and humid when we were there and we wore two different sets of clothes almost every day. I'm open to any advice about how to take enough clothes to be clean and presentable but not too many to tote around the country.
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Old Mar 1st, 2007, 02:57 PM
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At that time of the year, you don't need too many layers. A raincoat (probably no need for the lining) and maybe a jumper/pullover/sweater should do. As you're highly unlikely to bump into someone you know at each places, I won't worry about wearing the same things more than once.

I am familiar with the throw-away strategy. Just a reminder that Japanese people dress nicely. You may not want to feel "shabby".

PS, you should be able to find "coin laundry" in most cities. Regular laundry shops would take a few days.
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Old Mar 1st, 2007, 03:15 PM
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For most of your route (except Miyajima) you will be riding the shinkansen. There are escalators up to the platform but you will almost certainly have to carry your luggage down from the platform. So it is not to hard.

Best to travel light. T-shirts (or undies) don't take up much room so you aren't going to save much by tossing them along the way. And if you had outer clothes that you would toss away then you ought to just toss them before you go to Japan.

Last April I took some tropic weight pants to Japan (from LLBean). These are much lighter and thinner to pack than jeans. It was rainy and fairly cold. The pants (trousers) were warm enough (I kept my body warm) and when they got wet in the rain they dried very quickly.

You don't need to pack umbrellas. They are cheap there, 200 or 300 yen for a regular one and 500 or 700 yen can get you a compact one.

You could use the baggage delivery service to get your luggage sent ahead of you. Or stash stuff into coin lockers at the train station.

Your hotel staff can help you find a laundromat. No problem.

Your itinerary is ambitious considering that you only have 9 days. I hope that doesn't include your Japan arrival/departure days.
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Old Mar 9th, 2007, 07:02 AM
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do we need to take bathing suits? The Westin in Tokyo doesn't have a pool.
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Old Mar 9th, 2007, 07:51 AM
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Don't know where you're flying out from, carry your rainjacket and wear a thin, warm sweater onto the plane, then except for another sweater (twinset), pants, shoes, long/short T's, undies and PJs, is there more to pack? Also bring the lightest luggage you can carry yoourself.
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Old Mar 13th, 2007, 02:15 AM
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Bathing suits--the only reasons for taking them would be either if you're planning to swim in the pool or going to "co-ed" onsen. Otherwise no need to. (But bathing suits don't really take up much space in the suitcase, do they?)

I recall Westin Tokyo had some kind of arrangement that you can use a nearby gym with a pool. Though you'll probably have to pay per use, around JPY2000-2500. (Though this was at least 5 years ago, and the policy could have changed.
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