Hello! I'll be studying in Japan from September to May, and I'm leaving in a week. I'm mostly at a loss of what to pack though. I'm allowed to bring 2 suitcases, but I dont want to take up too much space in either of them so I can bring stuff back.
I'm thinking of packing 1 or 2 weeks worth of clothes for the heat and then a few outfits and a coat for the winter time, then getting stuff sent to me while I'm there if I need it or buying it in Japan, but I dont know if that's a good idea
Could I get some advice on what to pack please?
by nmagoun
4 comments
1 suitcase, buy the rest in Japan. less is best.
You’re going to see the tail end of the heat. Then sweater/sweatshirt weather. Than an uncomfortable cold. Then the warming of spring and a fair amount of spring rain. There’s no real way to prepare for all of that in two suitcases.
Take your most versatile clothes. And try to travel light.
If you are not Japanese-sized, make sure to bring the harder things to get. In the pre-Amazon days, women would complain about not being able to find a comfortable bra, for example.
And this advice may change, depending on where you’re headed.
One suitcase. I went for a 6 month exchange semester. Packed 24kg. Went back home with 60kg. You’ll end up buying so much in Japan.
i studied abroad for a year and came over with 1 checked suitcase, 1 carry on suitcase, and a backpack. i ended up having to buy another large suitcase before i came back to fit all the stuff i bought. if you already have 2 large suitcases it might be nice to just go ahead and bring both but only fill them about halfway so you don’t have to worry about space on the way back. if you’re someone that doesn’t mind a small wardrobe, you could pack pretty light and just bring a couple weeks worth of clothes but make sure to cover all temperature ranges. just remember that in japan you probably won’t have a dryer, so you’ll have to wait for your clothes to dry and that can take a while in colder weather