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Kuroneko charges like 1300 yen for a suitcase, it's incredibly reasonable. Edit for new page: The biggest advantage of sending a suitcase is that rather than having to carry around large suitcases all day or struggle to find an appropriately sized coin locker at the train station, you can just collect your suitcase the next day at your next location without having to worry.
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Feb 14, 2024 17:37
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harperdc posted:Nobody puts poo poo on the luggage racks on non-Shinkansen trains. That explains why when I had my relatively small carry-on suitcase on the luggage rack above my head on one near empty train another passenger brought one of the train staff over to ask if it was my bag 
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Feb 14, 2024 19:08
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My advice for trips takes into account several posters concerns here. I recommend scheduling a trip to Japan where you land in Tokyo and stay there for some period of time. On the last day in Tokyo ship your bags to another Tokyo or Yokohama based hotel near the airport where you will spend the last night of your trip. Shipping multiple large bags after holding them for seven full days will be under 100 dollars. If you ship to Yokohama with Yamato it stays in a nice secure warehouse. After your last day in Tokyo, and after you've shipped your bags, travel for 6-7 days to somewhere else, usually this is Kyoto/Osaka/Nara/Kobe with a small carry on or two and a backpack and come back light with things you bought while traveling South. Shipping bags from Tokyo to Osaka/Kyoto is more irritating and costly. And if you're leaving from Tokyo anyway might not make sense, nor does using a storage locker versus delivery. I genuinely feel less secure doing so and I have to take my rear end back to the suitcase location to get it. Sometimes it's convenient and sometimes it's not. Also put an airtag in your luggages. Shammypants fucked around with this message at 20:02 on Feb 14, 2024 |
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Feb 14, 2024 19:59
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Quit packing so much poo poo. I bring a 40L pack for 3 weeks including full camping gear and you can too. (okay I have some friends in Tokyo so I cheated and also brought a small suitcase that I left at their apartment, shoutout to V&K you legends)
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Feb 14, 2024 20:05
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You bring large bags to buy poo poo to bring home, you don't pack a bunch of poo poo to bring with you. You can buy suitcases in Japan if you want buy the quality and prices are not great when finding a balance. Also some people have kids and families, it's not just two people traveling. Alternatively you can throw it in boxes, I guess, but that's kinda nasty.
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Feb 14, 2024 20:15
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My first trip I packed way too much stuff before I realized I was going to be in Tokyo, not the vast Saharan plains. If I'm missing something and I really need it, I'll just go buy it. I still bring two bags, I just throw the smaller carry-on into the big checked bag until I fill it with crap souvenirs.
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Feb 14, 2024 20:32
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Yea like my plan is to bring maybe a weekish worth of clothing and do laundry one day while we're there so I'll probably bring a large suit case and maybe a dufflebag just to put potential souvenirs in. I'll also bring my backpack for my laptop and some minor essentials like I always keep one change of clothes and some toiletries in it on the flight out just so I have some for sure in case my luggage is hosed up somehow in transit. Also update, contacted the hotel and they said they'd hold our bags (minus valuables/food which I wouldn't leave behind anyway) while we're gone so, problem solved~
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Feb 14, 2024 20:41
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I also bring a ton of poo poo over to Asia for relatives so I bring full bags and empty them out only to fill them with tourist junk to return. In other words theres reasons for big bags.
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Feb 14, 2024 20:54
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The only downside to travelling light is that, in my experience, hotels have like two washing machines and I've had to set my alarm for 3am and STILL wait for one to become available, once my rotation of clean clothes is exhausted. I mean I guess that's a problem with hotels, not packing light, in retrospect. When I did airbnbs I made sure to get one with a washer and never really had a reason to complain.
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Feb 14, 2024 21:04
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some kinda jackal posted:The only downside to travelling light is that, in my experience, hotels have like two washing machines and I've had to set my alarm for 3am and STILL wait for one to become available, once my rotation of clean clothes is exhausted. In the days of yore, people would wash things using their hands, the horror. But really, even packing light, I can usually skip ONE day of laundry if I needed to.
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Feb 14, 2024 21:16
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I had the worst of both worlds (and also best). Going from living in Yasugi for a month to traveling for a month was a bit of a nightmare when it came to clothes as I needed to pack work clothes and boots, but also shoes and clothes I can walk tons of miles in and look somewhat presentable, plus all the gifts given to us, the knives I bought in Yasugi for friends, and some nicer tea bowls I picked up along the way. We ended up buying a huge suitcase at the Tokyo flea market for like 2k yen and shipping a lot of stuff to Sendai, then repacking and shipping two suitcases to the airport. 2 months in a country with a 150:1 purchase ratio will get you a ton of poo poo.
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Feb 14, 2024 21:25
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totalnewbie posted:In the days of yore, people would wash things using their hands, the horror. Those people also have a place to hang wet clothes. quote:But really, even packing light, I can usually skip ONE day of laundry if I needed to. I mean I agree, but then I'm just getting up at 3am to wait for the washer a day later, so not much difference tbh 
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Feb 14, 2024 22:14
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My advice is to use a coin laundry instead of wasting hours waiting for/using the washer and dryer at the hotel. Those dryers take literal hours. Coin laundry is way faster and basically free.
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Feb 14, 2024 22:35
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Saladman posted:Then, uh, what is the point? Anyone with luggage in places that are not serviced by metros/trains should either use taxis, or use point-to-point shipping? I'd consider getting suitcases forwarded from the airport if you know you're going to make a lot of transfers on public transport. It absolutely is not $500 to do this.
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Feb 14, 2024 22:42
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^^^ Alright, yeah some people definitely absurdly overpack. I guess maybe that's more of an issue for people going to Japan than for those going to Europe; I can't remember the last time I saw someone in Zurich with more than 1x large suitcase, although the buses here are vastly more spacious than the 1990s-retro-styled buses they have in Kyoto which were memorably cramped. Point-to-point shipping if you're going from Kyoto back to Europe or North America for 2x30kg suitcases will easily be $500 though, so if you're going to/from Osaka airport it's not really a viable option.some kinda jackal posted:The only downside to travelling light is that, in my experience, hotels have like two washing machines and I've had to set my alarm for 3am and STILL wait for one to become available, once my rotation of clean clothes is exhausted. I switched to exclusively wearing merino wool undershirts and socks a few years ago, it made an absolute world of difference in terms of laundry on medium-length trips, i.e. basically not needing to do it. Just airing out a wool shirt overnight usually makes it smell completely fine. They're super expensive (e.g. Smartwool, Icebreaker) so don't buy a full set straight away, particularly as some people develop wool allergies if wearing them as base layers. I sweat a lot - in Japanese weather anyway - and anything I wear made out of cotton needs to be washed after every wear, and anything I wear that's in a synthetic sports fabric needs to be thrown in the fires of Mount Doom and destroyed after a single wear, but wool stuff I can easily wear two or three times on non-consecutive days. I haven't travelled with more than a carry-on suitcase full of luggage in ten years, except sometimes for weddings, where between my wife and I will we will have one checked bag and then one carry-on each. Fortunately for me I come from a culture where I don't have to bring everyone I see a bunch of gifts when I go to/from somewhere, except when we go to Tunisia and have to bring an extra suitcase full of random stuff for everyone. Saladman fucked around with this message at 22:54 on Feb 14, 2024 |
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Feb 14, 2024 22:47
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Saladman posted:Point-to-point shipping if you're going from Kyoto back to Europe or North America for 2x30kg suitcases will easily be $500 though, so if you're going to/from Osaka airport it's not really a viable option.
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Feb 14, 2024 23:00
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Hallo! Here is my itinerary and line by line packing situation for April because it is extremely relevant to this thread. I will be using a backpack and carry on. Apr 5 Fri SFO Apr 6 Sat Taipei Take airport line to hotel Apr 7 Sun Taipei Apr 8 Mon Kanazawa Take taxi to airport, rental car to hotel Apr 9 Tue Okuhida Rental car Apr 10 Wed Okuhida Rental car Apr 11 Thu Kanazawa Rental car Apr 12 Fri Tokyo Take luggage onto shinkansen Apr 13 Sat Ibusuki Take luggage to Haneda via monorail Apr 14 Sun Kirishima Rental car Apr 15 Mon Kumamoto Rental car Apr 16 Tue Kurokawa Rental car Apr 17 Wed Kurokawa Rental car Apr 18 Thu Tokyo Take luggage to Tokyo and carry to hotel via keikyu Apr 19 Fri Tokyo Luggage in Tokyo Apr 20 Sat Tokyo Luggage in Tokyo Apr 21 Sun Tokyo Taxi to airport Apr 22 Mon Taipei
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Feb 14, 2024 23:53
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Feb 15, 2024 00:03
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Me and the hubby are doing weeks in early June. We're not ones for buying lots of souvenirs, but what should we consider shopping for in Japan while there? We're from the bay area ca. jeans I've heard before, is there anything else we're not aware of?
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Feb 15, 2024 01:55
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Nail clippers Umbrellas Knives Stock up on masks, maybe. Stationery supplies. Used camera gear. I'm sure there is other stuff, but that's what sticks out to me as stuff you can get there that isn't as easy to get here. The umbrellas and nail clippers tend to be better there. More selection of masks. Knives are a kinda weird one because you can order Victoronix knives on Amazon that are as good as anything 95% of the population has. But for stationery, they have a ton of really nice stuff. And used items are well kept and usually well priced.
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Feb 15, 2024 02:00
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Walk through every floor of a Hands or Loft and you'll probably see something fun you want in your life.
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Feb 15, 2024 02:03
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Spikes32 posted:Me and the hubby are doing weeks in early June. We're not ones for buying lots of souvenirs, but what should we consider shopping for in Japan while there? We're from the bay area ca. jeans I've heard before, is there anything else we're not aware of? What do you like? What are your hobbies? Japan is the third-largest country in the world by GDP and is famous for having used items of various kinds in very good condition and the yen is super weak versus the dollar. Grand Fromage posted:Walk through every floor of a Hands or Loft and you'll probably see something fun you want in your life. Also adding in Book-Off and/or Hard-Off for this.
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Feb 15, 2024 02:20
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Spikes32 posted:Me and the hubby are doing weeks in early June. We're not ones for buying lots of souvenirs, but what should we consider shopping for in Japan while there? We're from the bay area ca. jeans I've heard before, is there anything else we're not aware of? flashlights
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Feb 15, 2024 02:41
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Tenga.
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Feb 15, 2024 02:42
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I bring one suitcase for clothes/alcohol and one suitcase for snacks/candy, in both directions.
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Feb 15, 2024 04:04
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peanut posted:I bring one suitcase for clothes/alcohol and one suitcase for snacks/candy, in both directions. Same, but for hanging out in my business hotel alone on business trips.
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Feb 15, 2024 04:23
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Pottery, hiking/ camping, diaries (stationary is perfect here), baking and cooking (but we love our vixtorinex), board games are our main hobbies.
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Feb 15, 2024 04:32
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Stationary stores in Japan are legendary, plenty of specialist places plus Hands/Loft have a lot of that stuff. A walk around Kappabashi is a good time, or Sennichimae Doguyasuji if you're in Osaka. Not sure if Japanese camping stores have anything different/interesting compared to ones in the US but there are plenty of them to take a peep into.
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Feb 15, 2024 04:39
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What kind of nails do y’all have where you need special Japanese ones to cut them They’re the same thing man
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Feb 15, 2024 06:41
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Japanese steel.
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Feb 15, 2024 06:47
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shita-kitae produces nail clippers that are far superior to anything available to gaijin
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Feb 15, 2024 07:26
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AHH F/UGH posted:What kind of nails do y’all have where you need special Japanese ones to cut them My fingernails are really bendy and flaky so I like to keep them short because otherwise they just catch on poo poo and bend backwards (ow) or tear. Got myself a nice pair of Japanese nail clippers from the knife shop I went to in Kyoto and they're way better than the lovely ones I got at the pharmacy at home. They just cut really nicely and the edge of the nail feels smooth.
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Feb 15, 2024 08:06
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My favorite nail clippers are Pigeon brand baby nail clippers. Big handles, rust proof, stays sharp. https://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/pigeon-shop/1026206.html
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Feb 15, 2024 08:09
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Grand Fromage posted:Not sure if Japanese camping stores have anything different/interesting compared to ones in the US but there are plenty of them to take a peep into. Montbell stuff is basically arcteryx but half the price
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Feb 15, 2024 08:44
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Columbia Sportswear has dedicated designers for Japan market, so if you can fit there’s a fair few jackets/shirts/etc that are Japan only.
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Feb 15, 2024 10:49
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harperdc posted:Japan is the third-largest country in the world by GDP and is famous for having used items of various kinds in very good condition and the yen is super weak versus the dollar. Not anymore!
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Feb 15, 2024 12:02
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Mister Chief posted:Not anymore! Huh! Overtaken by Germany in 2023. RIP Japan, although if you're going to have 30 years of economic stagnation, ending up like Japan is not a particularly bad outcome.
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Feb 15, 2024 12:35
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Mister Chief posted:Not anymore! Won't even be fourth by the end of next year. At least they have a complacent society that doesn't mind if life becomes harder and harder and harder so you won't have any of that there political trouble
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Feb 15, 2024 16:04
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Didn't the Nikkei just hit an all time high? Isn't it headed the opposite (better) direction?
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Feb 15, 2024 19:24
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The Nikkei index does not have to be more valuable just because it went up. If the currency it's valued in goes down in value, the number naturally goes up, just like food or other goods become more expensive in a devaluing currency.
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Feb 15, 2024 19:34
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