Tokyo: Gear

• Sights
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Travel Tips
• Features

Gear

Because porters can be hard to find and baggage restrictions on international flights are tight, pack light. What you pack depends more on the time of year than on any dress code. Pack as you would for any major American or European city. The big and tall, however, should weigh the importance of that extra pair of shoes or slacks against the fact that, despite the size of many locals these days, most clothing stores (especially for women) maintain a narrow status quo. At more expensive restaurants and nightclubs, men usually need to wear a jacket and tie. Wear conservative colors (blue, black, or gray) at business meetings. Casual clothes are fine for sightseeing. Jeans are as popular in Japan as they are in the United States and are perfectly acceptable for informal dining and sightseeing.

Although there are no strict dress codes for visiting temples and shrines, you will be out of place in shorts or immodest outfits. For sightseeing leave sandals and open-toe shoes behind; you'll need sturdy walking shoes for the gravel pathways that surround temples and fill parks -- if not a long day of trudging up and down subway-station stairs. Make sure to bring comfortable clothing that isn't too tight to wear in traditional Japanese restaurants, where you may need to sit on tatami-mat floors. For beach and mountain resorts pack informal clothes for both day and evening wear.

If you think that toe-revealing hole in your sock or run in the foot of your stocking will remain your own little secret, think again. Japanese do not wear shoes in private homes or in many temples or traditional inns. Having shoes you can quickly slip in and out of is also an advantage. Take some wool socks along to help you through those shoeless occasions in winter.

Dietary diversity abounds in Japan, but not without effort. Don't be surprised if accommodating waitstaff is at a loss for dish details -- or why you need to know. Diners with allergies or aversions to shellfish and other seafood may want to consider packing with this in mind if a "set menu" is part of a package tour. Most lodgings provide a thermos of hot water and tea in every room, but for coffee you may have to call room service (which can be expensive), buy coffee in a can from a vending machine, buy instant coffee at a 24-hour convenience store, or find the nearest Starbucks or local equivalent, of which Tokyo has many. Why not bring along packets of instant coffee, as a precaution?

When it comes to medications, Japan can be a stickler. Even narcotic products sold over the counter in the U.S., such as a Vicks Inhaler, are technically not allowed through customs. And you may find that their counterparts in Japan are less than adequate. No more than a month's supply of prescription drugs, two months of non-prescription, and four months of vitamins and supplements are allowed per passenger. While Japan is no stranger to pornography, such media not meeting government standards are also forbidden. Sunglasses, sunscreen lotions, and hats are readily available, and these days they're not much more expensive in Japan. It's a good idea to carry a couple of plastic bags to protect your camera and clothes during sudden cloudbursts.

Take along small gift items, such as scarves or perfume sachets, to thank hosts (on both business and pleasure trips), whether you've been invited to their home or out to a restaurant.