r/HerOneBag • u/No-Yesterday9920 • 9h ago
Trip Report Trip report: 2-weeks Japan in October
It's my last day in Japan. Taking the time to reflect… on my packing.
My initial post can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/HerOneBag/s/bGuWwBhJbk
Two weeks in Tokyo, Kyoto and Hakone. Temperatures ranged from 20C to 30C, with three days of nonstop rain in Hakone. We did laundry twice at laundromats.
I traveled with a single carry-on: a small North Face Base Camp Duffel. The goal was to stay within the 8 kg limit. The scale at the airport said 5.5 kg, so there was some room for a few small souvenirs.
The most common advice I got was to pack a second pair of shoes, to give my feet a rest and in case one pair got wet. Controversially, I brought just one pair, and it was mostly fine. The only thing I missed in Hakone was rain boots. My shoes got soaked. But since I don't own any rainboots, I would never have packed them anyway. Catch-22.
Overall, my wardrobe worked very well. One of the most valuable comments was that at some point in October, temperatures drop. They did, from 30C to 20C overnight. Being able to layer made it easy to navigate.
I got the Uniqlo Easy Pants in cotton for the plane and wore tights underneath. I absolutely loved them and felt like the coolest bean on the planet wearing them almost every day.
The scarf and beanie were mostly for the flight, knowing I'd arrive back home to 10C.
What would I do differently next time?
The second light pair of pants wasn't needed. Two pairs of bottoms would have been enough for two weeks.
The button-down drop shirt wasn't ideal. I found plain T-shirts to be more versatile. It was also the only top that would have benefited from some ironing after washing.
I packed one top fewer than I needed, expecting to do some shopping, which I didn't end up doing. The overconsumption culture in Tokyo made me want to shop less, especially for brands I can also buy at home.
Image description:
3 pairs of black pants: Uniqlo Easy pants, Dariadeh Lyocell wide-leg pants, Closed Barrel Leg pants
Patagonia rain jacket
2 long-sleeve tops: H&M navy striped, Colorful Standard burgundy
3 short-sleeve tops: COS navy striped tee, COS white tee, Muji grey button-down
Princess Tam.Tam navy fleece vest
Burgundy beanie, colorful silk scarf, amber sunglasses
Salomon XT-6 trail runners
Not pictured: 6 pairs of socks and underwear, PJs and tights. Besides clothing, I brought toiletries, a small tech pouch and a neck pillow. Also packed a lightweight Patagonia daypack.