Packing List for Asia: What to Bring and What to Leave

Asia's cities are dense, its pavements uneven and its stations full of stairs. Nearly everyone packs too much for a first trip, then spends it hauling a suitcase up a subway staircase.

Pack for the walk between the station and the hotel, not for the flight.

Clothing

• Light layers. Air conditioning indoors is often aggressive, even where it's hot outside.
• A packable rain jacket rather than an umbrella — it survives wind and frees a hand.
• Comfortable shoes that slip off easily. You will remove them at temples, ryokan, some restaurants and many homes.
• Something covering shoulders and knees for temples, shrines and pagodas.
• Socks without holes, for exactly the same reason as the shoes.

Tech

• A universal adapter with built-in USB ports, so one plug serves several devices.
• A power bank — navigation and translation drain a phone fast.
• eSIM installed before departure, offline maps downloaded.
• A short charging cable for aeroplane and train seats.

Useful extras

• A small towel. Many Japanese public restrooms have no hand dryer or paper.
• A coin purse. Japan's coins accumulate quickly and matter for vending machines and small shops.
• A reusable shopping bag — plastic bags are charged for in much of the region.
• Basic medicine kit, plus any prescription medication in original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
• Hand sanitiser, for street-food days.

Leave behind

• The big suitcase. Trains, old-town streets and small hotel rooms all punish it.
• Heavy toiletries — everything is available on arrival, usually better and cheaper.
• More than one "just in case" outfit.
• Anything you'd be upset to lose.