- Exactly what to bring vs what to buy in Japan
- Items that are hard to find or expensive in Japan (especially for larger sizes)
- Documents you must bring — not optional
- Electronics compatibility in Japan
- The complete packing checklist for your move to Japan
Bring: documents (originals + copies), medications (3-month supply plus prescriptions), clothes in larger sizes, power adapters, and your debit card with no foreign transaction fees. Buy in Japan: most furniture, electronics, and daily goods — Japan has excellent quality at reasonable prices and shipping items from overseas costs far more than buying locally.
The instinct when moving to Japan is to bring as much as possible. Resist it. Shipping overseas is expensive, Japan’s retail selection is excellent, and apartments are small. Here’s what’s actually worth bringing.
Category 1: Bring — No Question
Documents (Non-Negotiable)
Originals AND certified copies of all of these:
- Passport (obviously)
- Visa / Certificate of Eligibility
- Birth certificate (apostilled)
- Marriage certificate (apostilled, if applicable)
- University degrees and transcripts (apostilled for work visa applications)
- Driver’s license from home country (for converting to Japanese license)
- Employment contract
- Proof of health insurance
- International vaccination record (if any)
- Tax documents from home country (last 2 years’ returns)
Apostille: Some countries require apostilled (officially certified) documents for Japanese immigration and employment. Check with the Japanese Embassy before you leave.
Medications
Japan has strict regulations on importing medications. Some common medications are banned (certain ADHD medications, some pain medications, antiallergy drugs with pseudoephedrine). Others can be imported in limited quantities.
Rules:
- Prescription medications: bring a 3-month supply plus the original prescription
- OTC medications: bring 2-month supply (some are restricted by quantity)
- Banned medications must NOT be brought regardless of prescription
- Declare all medications at customs
Japanese equivalents: Japan has excellent pharmacies (薬局 / yakkyoku) with local versions of most common medications. Your specific brand won’t exist, but the active ingredient usually does.
Check the MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) import rules before packing medications.
Clothing (Especially Large Sizes)
Japan’s clothing sizing is smaller than Western countries. If you’re:
- Men’s US/AUS 12+ shoe size
- Women’s US size 10+ (EU 42+) shoe size
- Men’s L or larger (especially for tall builds)
- Women’s 12+ (especially for plus sizes)
…bring as much clothing and footwear as you need. Japanese retail has limited selection in larger sizes, and international brands that carry them are expensive.
What’s available: Up to XL in most men’s clothing, standard Japanese women’s sizes up to L (though “large” varies significantly). H&M and Zara Japan carry Western sizing in major cities.
Debit and Credit Cards
- Bring at least 2 cards with no foreign transaction fees
- Notify your bank of your travel dates
- Open a Wise account before leaving for immediate JPY access at good rates
Category 2: Bring, But You Could Buy in Japan
Toiletries and Cosmetics
Japan has excellent toiletries, but:
- Specific international brands (certain sunscreens, deodorants, shampoos) may not be available
- Strong deodorants (clinical strength, aluminum-based) are rare in Japan — Japanese products are lighter
- Some makeup shades don’t match darker skin tones
- Natural hair products for textured/afro hair are very limited
Recommendation: Bring a 3-month supply of specific toiletries you can’t live without. Restock via Amazon Japan international import or iHerb Japan.
Electronics and Adapters
Japan uses 100V/50-60Hz electrical system (US is 110-120V, Europe is 220-240V). Most modern electronics (laptops, phones, chargers) are dual-voltage and work fine. Hair dryers, straighteners, and kitchen appliances from the US/Europe may not.
Bring:
- Universal power adapter or Type A (Japan uses flat two-pin, same as US)
- Your current smartphone (ensure it’s SIM-unlocked)
- Laptop (almost certainly dual-voltage)
Buy in Japan:
- Japanese-market electronics often have Japan-specific features
- Kitchen appliances — buy Japanese models (100V compatible)
- Hair care tools — Japan’s 100V is fine for Japanese tools; bring yours only if dual-voltage confirmed
Books and Reading Material
If you read extensively in a specific language, bring books — English-language books in Japan are limited and expensive at physical stores. Amazon Japan carries most titles but at slightly higher prices. Kindle is the practical solution for heavy readers.
Category 3: Don’t Bring — Buy in Japan
Furniture
Japan has excellent, affordable furniture:
- IKEA Japan — widespread in major cities
- Nitori — Japan’s equivalent of IKEA, quality improving rapidly
- Second-hand via Mercari — see our Mercari guide
- Hard Off — second-hand electronics and furniture at significant discounts
Shipping furniture from overseas costs more than buying new in Japan.
Kitchen Equipment
Japanese kitchens are typically smaller and have specific features. Buy:
- Rice cooker (電気炊飯器) — essential in Japan, various sizes available
- Kettle, pots, pans — widely available at reasonable prices
- Microwave and toaster oven — Japanese models include the features you need
The exception: If you have specialty cooking equipment you can’t live without (cast iron pans, specific knives), bring them.
Bedding and Linens
Japanese apartments come with no bedding. But:
- Mattresses/futons in Japan are reasonably priced (Nitori, MUJI)
- Bedding sets are affordable
- Japanese sizes differ slightly from Western sizes — buy locally for guaranteed fit
Electronics (General)
Japan has excellent electronics retail. Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera, and Yamada Denki carry everything at competitive prices. Buy in Japan to get Japanese-market products with Japanese warranties and specifications.
What’s Hard to Find in Japan (Stock Up or Bring)
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Large shoe sizes | Men’s 29cm+, women’s 25cm+ — limited availability |
| Plus-size Western clothing | Very limited outside ASOS online |
| Clinical-strength deodorant | Almost non-existent; bring Degree, Secret, etc. |
| Specific OTC medications | Active ingredients available but exact brands often not |
| Afro/textured hair products | Very limited; stock up or order from iHerb |
| Large bras (D+ cup) | Difficult to find; bring supply or order internationally |
| Foreign cheese | Available in Costco and specialty stores but expensive |
| Good olive oil | Available but expensive compared to home countries |
| Specific dietary items | Vegan products improving but limited; gluten-free limited |
Complete Moving-to-Japan Checklist
Documents
- Passport (6+ months validity)
- Visa/COE
- Birth certificate (apostilled)
- Educational degrees (apostilled)
- Driver’s license (home country)
- Marriage certificate if applicable
- 2 years of tax returns
- International health records/vaccinations
Health
- 3-month medication supply + prescriptions
- Eyeglasses/contacts (extra pair)
- Contraception supply (specific brands may differ in Japan)
- First aid kit
Electronics
- Unlocked smartphone
- Laptop
- Power adapters (US-style Type A plugs work in Japan)
- External hard drive (backups)
Finances
- 2 debit/credit cards (no foreign transaction fees)
- Wise account set up
- Enough local currency for first 2 weeks (or cash advance plan)
Clothing
- Work attire appropriate for Japan (conservative)
- Sized-up items if you’re on the larger side
- Comfortable walking shoes (Japan involves a lot of walking)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a power adapter for Japan? Japan uses Type A plugs (same flat two-pin as the US) at 100V. US devices work without an adapter. European and Australian devices need a plug adapter. High-powered appliances (hair dryers, straighteners) from 220V countries need a voltage converter too.
Can I bring my medications to Japan? Most prescription medications can be brought in 3-month supply with the original prescription. Some medications are banned (certain ADHD stimulants, some pain medications, pseudoephedrine-containing allergy medications). Check the Japanese Ministry of Health website before packing. Customs declaration is required.
Should I ship my belongings to Japan or buy in Japan? For most items, buy in Japan. Japan has excellent furniture (IKEA, Nitori), electronics, and daily goods at competitive prices. Ship only high-value items that are hard to replace (specific medications, custom clothing, sentimental items). International shipping is expensive and slow.