First of all, some introductions may be in order. I'm Kat, a rising sophomore in college and currently taking full advantage of being home with parents who want to stuff my face with delicious, mouth watering Chinese food. For more info on what this blog is all about or who the heck I am, feel free to check out the "About" section up in the dooblydoo.
Read More
Now let's get down to business
To be blunt, I'm terrible at packing (as my suitemates who just practically packed up my dorm for me can attest to), and I've never traveled by myself out of the country ever before. The mere thought of going to Japan by myself for 2 whole months (months!!) terrifies me just as much as it excites me. Really, without all of the help and guidance that the Light Fellowship has provided and put me in contact with (on top of paying for everything) I think I would be sitting in the corner panicking right about now.
So here I am, leaving the country in three days and recording all of these pre-departure preparations for posterity. Mostly just for me to look back on when I travel again.
I made sure to pack some colder weather options too and something business casual just in case. I've got plenty of shoes, a swimsuit (since Ishikawa is right next to the sea!!), and some exercise clothes so I can keep up with running in Japan!
I'm not bringing much else with me, and it's all going in my duffel bag. I'm planning on buying toiletries, an umbrella, and school supplies in Japan, and all the extra room in my duffel bag should be enough for souvenirs. I'm also bringing some omiyage for my host family. Most sources said that things from my college or hometown or chocolate were best, so I went with two mugs (for Mama and Papa) and Yale shirts (for the kids).
Now all that's left for me to do is to update my anime collection for the insanely longcat flight ahead of me.
Thanks for reading, and DFTBA!
So here I am, leaving the country in three days and recording all of these pre-departure preparations for posterity. Mostly just for me to look back on when I travel again.
Before we get to packing...
There were a couple things that I thought prudent to take care of a week(s) ahead of my departure. Since I'm traveling after PII, I bought the Japan Rail Pass. It's a great option for foreign travelers, and perfect for the college student on a budget! Just make sure you buy it before leaving the US. Just another thing, Hyperdia is a wonderfully useful website for planning trips and navigating Japan's train system.
No need to get a visa because I'm a US citizen, which I am thrilled about. And on the foreign currency exchange front, I'm changing a small amount of cash here in the US and bringing the rest in the form of USD/cashier's checks since exchange rates in Japan are a bit more favorable. There are also international ATMs in post offices, however, most banks will charge an international fee - Bank of America charges $5 per transaction.
The bulk of the issue
I plan on only bringing a duffel bag and a carry-on size suitcase to Japan with me, so I'm bringing as little clothing as possible. Because Japan from June-August goes from rainy season to full on summer heat and humidity, I'm packing plenty of T-shirts and shorts along with a raincoat. |
| Trying to pack light! |
I'm not bringing much else with me, and it's all going in my duffel bag. I'm planning on buying toiletries, an umbrella, and school supplies in Japan, and all the extra room in my duffel bag should be enough for souvenirs. I'm also bringing some omiyage for my host family. Most sources said that things from my college or hometown or chocolate were best, so I went with two mugs (for Mama and Papa) and Yale shirts (for the kids).
Now all that's left for me to do is to update my anime collection for the insanely longcat flight ahead of me.
Thanks for reading, and DFTBA!