Traveling to a new country can be scary. There are many things you might need to consider such as the traditions, customs, and language of the place that you're visiting. One of the other things that you might need to consider is what you need to bring based upon the weather, the environment, and other such circumstances.

Here we created a small list of things that may be useful to bring on your trip to Japan to make your trip a little less stressful, and we even offer a few of these things for purchase here at H.I.S.

1. A translation/phrase book

Although English is sometimes taught in Japanese school systems, not everyone can speak or understand English in Japan. When going to a foreign country, it is nice to acquaint oneself with a few key phrases in the language spoken beforehand. But for all other situations, this is probably one of the most useful things to bring to ensure that you can communicate a few basic phrases.

2. Passport and a copy of your passport

Whenever you travel to a foreign country, a passport is usually required (and sometimes a visa). However once you're in the country, you may not want to carry something so important around. So having a copy of your passport instead can be beneficial for situations where you may need to show identification. Keeping a couple extra copies of your passport in different places may be a good idea as well.

3. Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance is a very good idea because you never know what may happen while traveling abroad. This is especially true if you are staying an extended amount of time in a foreign country. HIS can help you with your travel insurance needs so please ask your agent.

4. Japan Rail Pass

In Japan, there is a huge subway and train culture, where the majority of the population rely on trains for transportation. Traveling by train in Japan helps you get around the whole country in a relatively shorter amount of time than by car and is convenient. Having a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) makes it a lot cheaper to do so. We sell these here at H.I.S., so please be sure to ask your agent!

5. Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is nice to have for quick access to the internet. You may need to look up pertinent information or figure out where you are, so having Wi-Fi with you at all times is beneficial. H.I.S. offers 3 different packages of Wi-Fi to ensure you get the Wi-Fi you need at your convenience. Please ask us about the different packages!

6. Map of Japan

This may be self-explanatory but this is something that you'll need to get around Japan. Sometimes it's nice to have a tangible, solid copy of a map as opposed to viewing it on your phone. Especially since phones are not always the most reliable! It may be useful to take note of the different train stations too, since the subway system is a main form of transportation in Japan.

7. Seasonal Goods

Because the weather and environment in Japan varies from intense heat to heavy rains depending upon the season and time of day, being prepared and packing for it is recommended. Japan gets heavy rainfall during June and also in the autumn season and snow in the winter, although that's dependent upon your location. Bug repellent during the summer is also useful to keep those mosquitoes at bay.

8. Guidebook

Guidebooks are useful to be informed on the highlights of what Japan has to offer and to know where to travel to. They're widely available so it shouldn't be too hard to find one. You can pick one up at bookstores or online-they really do come in handy, and hey, it's something to read while on those long train commutes! Of course, you can also read more of our blogs to get more information about Japan ;)

9. Bank Cards

Although cash in the country's currency is important to have, those can be obtained once you make it to your destination. But having a credit or debit card is useful and important for emergency situations. Japan usually accepts Visa and MasterCard, so those are the recommended cards to bring. Be sure to call your bank and let them know you're traveling out of country so your card doesn't get flagged and temporarily frozen.

10. Cash + Coin Purse

Although bank cards are useful to have, it's definitely a must to carry around some cash as well. Japan's main form of currency is cash and in some rural areas, cards are not even accepted! Bank cards are a good backup, but cash is definitely primary. 

It's also good to note that 500 Yen and smaller are all given in coins. To avoid weighing down your wallet, we recommend bringing along an extra coin purse to put all of the loose change you may obtain. These coins are also very handy for vending machines and also arcades, as well as gacha machines!

11. Handkerchief

It may sound old school, but a handkerchief is something you should definitely bring with you to Japan. Not only are they useful for wiping your eyes and sniffly noses, but also for wiping your hands after washing your hands. Japan doesn't usually provide paper towels in restrooms, so it's a good thing to carry with you. And hey, it's environmentally friendlier!

12. Portable Charger

With today's use of technology, this one is probably a given. Portable chargers are definitely handy when traveling. Keeping one close ensures that you're never in a pickle due to running out of charge, especially with all the picture taking and use of map guidance on your phone!

Happy Traveling!