What type of items to bring in a Dopp kit to Japan?

6 comments

1. I think it would make more sense to ask what exactly are the types of toiletries/hygiene products commonly available in Japanese accommodations?

   I’ve stayed at hotels (mostly business hotels) and minshuku (family-run inns) and they always have the same amenities you would expect from a proper hotel in other countries (soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothbrush & toothpaste, hairdryer). Generally hotels also provide these refreshing face masks, which work wonders after a long flight/day out.

   Seeing you plan to visit during winter, you’d probably want to bring moisturizer for face, lips, hands. Winters in Japan are very dry.

2. Bring your own antiperspirant as you can’t easily find it in Japan – stores typically only sell deodorant. If you have curly hair (really anything other than straight hair) you may want your own hair products as the ones at hotels and most sold in stores will be geared to the more common straight/thick hair many people in Japan have. But if your hair isn’t curly (or very picky about the products you use) the shampoo/conditioner in hotels should be fine. Most hotels in Japan provide free shampoo, conditioner, body wash, a disposable razor, a small 2-pack of q-tips, disposable tooth brush, and often a small disposable brush. Bring your own floss and any special facial/skincare products. Most hotel rooms will also have a kettle with green tea packets and sometimes instant coffee. But if you’re someone who must have coffee first thing when you wake up bring your own stash of individual instant coffee packets you can use with the tea kettle.

   Many hotels have coin washer/dryer in the building you can use or can direct you to a nearby coin laundromat. Some hotel machines automatically add laundry soap or you can buy packets of laundry soap from a vending machine. If you have sensitive skin or allergies you may prefer to bring a small bottle or pods of your preferred laundry soap.

   It’s also good to bring a small first aid kit with some basics like bandages/plasters, ointment, tweezers, headache medicine or other over the counter medications you frequently use. Just be aware of what medications are illegal to bring into Japan.

   – [What Medications You Can Bring Into Japan ](https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0002471/)

   But one fun part about Japan is that there are so many beauty/skincare and other products that are very high quality that you can buy at drugstores or places like Don Quiojte. If you run out or forget anything just head to your nearest drugstore and you’ll find lots of fun options to try.

   – [50 Medicines and Beauty Products at Drugstores in Japan ](https://www.tsunagujapan.com/50-medicines-and-beauty-products-from-drug-stores-in-japan-picked-by-japanese-pharmacists/)
   – [Suggested Japanese Self-care Products ](https://matcha-jp.com/en/1438)

   ETA:

   [Ultimate Guide to Best Beauty Products in Japan ](https://sundayspritz.com/blog/best-japanese-drugstore-beauty-skincare-products)

3. I usually pack light as I change city often and want to be able to carry my backpack all day long if needed.

   For clothing, Other than what I am wearing, get one extra pair of pants, 3-4 t-shirt and underwear and 5-6 pair of sock (if your shoes get wet, change sock when they are wet, it will help dry your shoes). Final clothing item is pajama pants (that I wear with the t-shirt for next day). You want a comfortable pair of shoes as you are likely going to walk a lot. If you want you can bring a couple of soap pod to wash your cloth if you end up going to coin laundry (soap is usually available in hotel/hostel) or just buy some in any konbini. December is still not that cold depending on where you are (I speak as a Canadian) but you should be good with a jacket and a fleece hoodie or something like that. You can always bring a beanie and gloves especially if you plan to spend a lot of time outside.

   For personal items, I’d bring things you will use for sure like antiperspirant or deodorant, toothpaste (like travel size as you likely can get better than what you can find in hotel) and toothbrush. I’m a guy with a beard and I would just shave it shorter and not shave for 2 weeks, but if going longer, I would likely bring a small electric trimmer. In any case, I do not want to use disposable toothbrush and razor that are probably shit quality (that would be true in accommodation all around the world), so regardless, would bring mine. In summer you want to have sunscreen. There is actually nothing you need that you cannot find in Japan. What people usually complain the most about is no antiperspirant and they say the deodorant is bad and toothpaste as they say they do not have fluorine (or not enough of it) or whatever, but I know a Japanese person who was only using Japanese toothpaste while living abroad…

   You can always bring a small first aid kid with band aid, but you can easily find if in drugstore in Japan. For medication, I do not often use it, so do not bring any. If you are concerned, you can search a bit before going what are the equivalent of your local products. Some people say Japanese medicine is weak, but they include the same active ingredients, like ibuprophen, acetaminophen or aspirin. Just be sure you have your phone with internet to translate whatever problem you have if you go to the drugstore. And as someone else said, if you have prescription medication, make sure it is legal to bring (some would need to fill some paperwork).

   As I am usually going to hostel, I would bring an small emergency soap as it happened once that there was no soap at the hostel. It could also be good if you go to small onsen, as sometimes they do not have soap. Same goes for towel. Hostel sometimes provide it, other would rent it. Onsen you have to bring one (but if you stay at a ryokan, you bring their towel to the onsen).

   Maybe the Japan specific thing would be bring a small handkerchief with you at all time, Japanese toilet often do not include a way to dry your hands, so either you dry your hands on your pants, or use your handkerchief. Some public toilet do not have soap, so some people prefer to bring something like a small sanitizing gel with them.

4. Don Quijote (Donki) is a gaijin’s best friend. Pretty much the Walmart/Target of Japan. Has a lot of American name brand toiletries and more.

   Been to Japan about 10 times, prefer to pack light and not bring a bunch of toiletries with me. so I usually like to head there after I’ve settled in my hotel, walk around there, decompress, and buy whatever I need.

5. Most hotels (not hostels / ryokan) tend to provide plenty of toiletries as others have said (more generous than most western hotels). I always pack toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, pomade and a comb. I pack plenty of band-aids (sticky plasters) as I walk non-stop when I’m in Japan and often get blisters. I generally don’t pack shaving supplies, as 3 weeks growth is fine by me, but if you do need to shave, a lot of hotels will provide a disposable single or two blade safety razor. Winters are dry and cold, but you can buy plenty of moisturizers and lip balms at any convenience store. My favorite is the menthol lip balm from ‘omi brotherhood menturm’. I buy a few and bring them back home with me! If you are carrying your dopp on-board the aircraft you won’t be able to bring nail clippers, but again if you need, you can buy at a convenience store (or Muji), relatively cheap and good quality.

6. Bring your regular shaped dildo because in Japan dildos are all tentacle shaped.. not! I mean.. bring whatever you normally bring on trips.. Japan is a modern society, you can get whatever you want there in shops if not provided by hotel, or bring your own if you prefer.. it doesn’t require much contemplation. Personally I can’t think of anything that is inferior in Japan. Either it’s just standard global brand products, or it is better made in Japan for the domestic market.