Disney Tokyo Packing List

Excited for Tokyo? Here’s my updated packing list in case it helps – a basic yet full Japan packing and travel preparation list…

IMPORTANT!!

• Before you go, check your passport’s expiry date. Make sure it is at least 6 months from your Japan holiday return time.
• Snap photos on your phone of anything important like PASSPORTS, Travel documents, Visa etc…
• US Passport holders can travel without a visa to Japan and almost 200 countries.
• Screenshot Travel Insurance Number (check cover for pre existing conditions, COVID and medical insurance if concern about accidents )

NO PASSPORT? Apply here or contact us.

Don’t forget to also do these in advance…
– Organize pet care if you have one. Drop off your pet wherever or ask neighbor to watch over your pet with food.
– Organize airport parking & consider if airport parking shuttle times are active or arrange a transfer to the airport.
– Right before you go, don’t forget to tell the post office you’ll be away. You can always Pause Mail Delivery Online
– Empty fridge, throw bread or milk, anything that will go bad.
– Water plants, put pot plants in water containers or get some plant watering devices to help your plants thrive while you’re away.

• Take your Passport!

IMMIGRATION OR CUSTOMS Essentials:

• Japanese QR Code for customs when you arrive – you can do it when you arrive but this will cost you time at the airport. Don’t do that if you can help it.
• The best way is to screenshot and favorite images of the barcodes for fast access at Customs.
• Take your medication including the original box, plus a valid script. flatten original medication boxes and peel stickers off jars and stick them on Ziplock bags with the medication to save space.
• I also recommend to pack equal full amounts of important medication in one checked bag and one carry on in case of loss.
• You may like to get a Doctor’s note or letter stating your medication.
• Take your normal headache or pain pills or any generic medication you may need or are used to.
• Some medication may be illegal in Japan and you’ll need to lodge an extra form – research before you go.
• Glasses/contact lenses (consider carrying a copy/photo of your eye prescription just in case)
• Any (original) proof of disability documentation such as Disability Access Service (DAS) at the Disney & Universal theme parks, and discounted concession entry tickets elsewhere.

MONEY:

At least three forms of money in case one fails:
– Ideally, two credit cards
– Apple Pay in your phone works in larger stores
– Some cash to exchange at the airport or elsewhere using machines in convenience stores etc.- you will need yen cash for sundries like train tickets or cards, vending machines, street shops, etc.
– Cash exchange machines and foreign/international credit card-friendly ATMs are in most convenience stores.
– Notify your bank before you leave so your credit cards or online accounts don’t get shut down.
– Retain some form of access to your US mobile number like roaming for bank confirmation codes. Check roaming is switched on in your phone settings. etc.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS:
Get some kind of app or make a document OR excel table to record your:
– Flight numbers – Airline apps installed in your phone for immediate access and flight information, including changes or delays
– Any bookings and contact information for hotels, activities, etc. -if possible a day to day chronological itinerary.

Before you go, or in Japan:
Get a mobile eSIM or  portable mobile hotspot router – buy from Klook for a cheap instant eSIM, or at the airport for modem-types when you arrive.

PACKING CLOTHES:
Winter – Tokyo gets cold, even snows occasionally. Take three pairs thick pants or jeans, leggings under dresses or skirts for warmth, three long sleeve t-shirt, enough clean underwear, socks, bras, layers, one heavy warm jacket and a heat tech undershirt to keep you warm. If you get cold easily hand warmers or shoe warmers might be necessary.
Comfortable shoes, refillable water bottle, body wipes, and hand towel.
Swimsuits or bikinis if going in hotel pools or Snow Monkey Onsen!
Consider wool gloves, neck warmer, beanie but keep the bulk down. You probably won’t need these for Autumn/Spring.
Summer – replace the heavy jacket with a medium thickness jacket. Short sleeves, shorts, skirts, lightweight pants or dresses. It gets very hot and humid. Bring a cooling towel, cooling pads, or a cooling spray.
Less is more but a lightweight tote bag for shopping would be useful.
Remember you will probably buy souvenir T-shirts and what else you get attracted while exploring- factor these in!

HOTELS:
All hotel rooms have a hot water jug and most have small fridges in the room. Ice in the hallway. A microwave somewhere accessible.
Better and mid hotels supply water in your room for free.
All have vending machines to buy water. You need cash. Water isn’t considered good for drinking in Tokyo so AVOID at most.
Budget hotels usually have laundries.
Better hotels like Disney, Hilton etc. only have a laundry service.
Hotels provide basic toiletries (and most, clean pajamas). You don’t need to pack: Slippers, hair dryers, toiletries including shampoo, conditioner, shower soap, face washers, cotton buds, hair bands, toothbrushes & toothpaste – usually these are supplied at each hotel, even the budget ones. Convenience stores sell everything cheap including. toiletries, pads and are everywhere like Daiso

FOOD FROM HOME:

If you have a favorite coffee or tea, consider taking a small amount along with a little sugar or coffee powder to hold you over until you can get to a convenience store. Larger convenience stores sell Nescafé Gold sachets, English tea, sugar sticks, sweeteners, fresh milk and small travel milks. Hotel rooms may only have as little as just coffee or green tea. All Tokyo Disney hotels have coffee/sugar/whitener packs.
Take some favorite snacks you can’t live without, or other foods you consider indispensable (if you or your kids love it!)
You can get chicken nuggets, pizzas, fries and other western fast foods all over Tokyo and in Iskpiari at Mahaima Station /Uraysu next to Tokyo Disneyland.

IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS:

• Avoid taking aerosols of any kind.
• Take travel size roll-ons or buy deodorant, hairspray etc when you are in Japan at a convenience store. Otherwise you may need to carry, individually, a ziplock bag and produce each one at security at the airport.
• Don’t take fresh food like meat or fruit. Consider if you may need to declare any food upon arrival. Ziplock anything that may break or leak in your luggage.
• Check you have your Passport!

TECHNOLOGY:
Charge pack or phone and watch chargers / laptop and other charge cords / cameras / GoPro & mounts / tripod / SD cards / earbuds with a cord for flight.
International power converters – take at least one.
Buy cheap power plugs in Japan for a faster charge experience. (Daiso stores carry these)
Don’t rely on USB ports anywhere – airports rarely work.
Disney hotels – only Toy Story Disney hotels had them and even they can be broken. There are usually plenty of power inlets in hotel rooms.
Japanese Shinkansens,  are longer distance trains from the airport etc. and often buses/coaches and some taxis have actual Japan power plug inlets.
To charge laptops or other three prong US devices,  plug that into USA to Japan.
Download Language Translation App for convenience. Google Translator is awesome!
Important: You must pack anything with batteries or charge packs in your carry on luggage (such as computers, iPads, rechargeable anything)

Extra tips you didn’t ask for:
Take an extra empty suitcase to bring back purchases.
Weigh your carry on bags BEFORE you check your main bags so you can shuffle your weight around if you are overweight – especially on the way home. All airports have scales for this.
Your carry-on bags may be weighed before boarding if the flight is full. Give yourself an extra kilo under weight to account for scale variations.
Wear slip on shoes to the airport rather than ankle boots/ankle height sneakers which you must take off at security.
Avoid metal hair clips, belts, wearing your Apple or Samsung watch which may set off metal detectors.
If you are sending your baggage from Disney hotel to Disney hotel or elsewhere, answer “no” to “is there anything valuable or fragile inside?” (such as jewelry, computers etc.) or they won’t transfer them for you. Obviously carry anything fragile with you anyhow!

Have you checked that you packed your passport?!

FLIGHT ESSENTIALS:

Travel pillows – also maybe one for your feet if you’re shorter! (plus something to do in flight like magazine/book/iPad with downloaded movies, games & snacks)
Don’t take inflatable cubes for kids to sleep on, on the plane – many airline policies ban them now as an obstruction.

That’s all I can think of for now… comment what I’ve missed!

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