Updated October 2026 · By TripPack
For Japan, most US travelers need no plug adapter (Japan uses Type A/B plugs at 100 V), should carry some yen in cash, and can tap through train gates with a Suica IC card. TripPack’s Japan packing list adds these for your dates and checks the weather.
TripPack’s Japan packing list starts from a 7-night city trip to Tokyo and checks the weather for your dates. Change the city, dates or trip type above and the list updates. Below is what a checklist can’t tell you on its own.
| Topic | What to know | What to pack or do |
|---|---|---|
| Plugs | Type A/B at 100 V, the same plug shape as the US | A 3-to-2 prong adapter if your plug is grounded |
| Cash | Small restaurants, temples and rural shops are often cash-only | Some yen and a coin purse |
| Trains | IC cards (Suica, PASMO) work on trains, subways and buses | Welcome Suica Mobile on iPhone, or buy a card at a station |
| Arrival | Visit Japan Web gives one QR code for immigration and customs; paper forms still work | Register before you fly |
| Big suitcases | Over 160 cm (length + width + height) needs an oversized-baggage seat on the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu and Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen | Reserve that seat, or forward the bag |
| Tax-free shopping | From November 1, 2026: pay tax in the store, claim a refund at customs when you leave | Passport when shopping; keep goods with you |
Do I need a plug adapter in Japan?
Usually not. Japan uses Type A and Type B plugs at 100 V — the same shape as US plugs — so US two-prong chargers fit. Many Japanese sockets are two-prong only, though, so a three-prong (grounded) plug may not fit; a small 3-to-2 prong adapter solves that. Phone and laptop chargers are almost always rated 100–240 V and work fine. US hair dryers and straighteners also fit, but may run a little weaker at 100 V.
Do I need cash in Japan?
Yes, some. Cards work in most hotels, chain stores and city restaurants, but small restaurants, shrines and temples, market stalls and rural shops are still often cash-only. Bring a coin purse too — Japan uses coins up to ¥500, and they pile up fast. Seven Bank ATMs, found in 7-Eleven stores, accept many cards issued overseas; check with your bank about fees before you go.
How do I pay for trains in Japan?
With a rechargeable IC card such as Suica or PASMO. You tap it at ticket gates on trains, subways and buses, and can pay with it at convenience stores and vending machines. iPhone users can add one through JR East’s Welcome Suica Mobile app for overseas visitors, released on March 6, 2025, and top it up with a card in Apple Pay. Physical IC cards are sold at major stations and airports.
What is Visit Japan Web, and do I need it?
Visit Japan Web is the online arrival service run by Japan’s Digital Agency. You enter your immigration and customs details before you fly, and it gives you one QR code for both, which you scan at the airport. Japan Customs recommends it, but it isn’t required: the paper customs declaration form can still be used. Register well before landing, and check the official site for the current steps.
Tax-free shopping changes on November 1, 2026. Japan is moving to a refund system. You show your passport and pay the tax-inclusive price in the store, then claim the consumption tax back at customs when you leave Japan, before you check in for your flight. Keep the goods with you and unused, and allow extra time at the airport.
Can I bring a big suitcase on the Shinkansen?
Yes, with a reservation. On the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu and Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, bags whose length, width and height add up to more than 160 cm (and up to 250 cm) need a seat with an oversized-baggage area, booked when you buy your ticket. The seat costs the same as a regular reserved seat. Without a reservation, JR Central charges a ¥1,000 fee, and bags over 250 cm aren’t allowed on board. Luggage forwarding services (takkyubin) can send big bags between hotels instead.
Can I bring my medicine to Japan?
Most everyday medicines, yes, within limits: Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare allows up to a one-month supply of prescription drugs and a two-month supply of over-the-counter drugs for personal use. Some medicines common in the US are restricted, though. Amphetamine-based stimulants such as Adderall can’t be brought in, even for treatment. Medicines with more than 10% pseudoephedrine, found in some decongestants, count as stimulant raw materials and need permission in advance. Check the Narcotics Control Department’s list before you pack your medicine kit.
What shoes should I pack for Japan?
Shoes that slip on and off easily. You’ll take your shoes off at temples, traditional inns (ryokan), some restaurants and fitting rooms, so pack socks without holes too. Expect long walking days: comfortable, broken-in shoes matter more than a second fashionable pair.
What small things help in Japan?
- A small towel or handkerchief. Some public restrooms don’t have paper towels or hand dryers.
- A bag for your trash. Public trash cans can be hard to find, and many people carry trash back to their hotel.
- Light luggage. Trains have limited luggage space, and stations have a lot of stairs.
What is the weather like in Tokyo?
Tokyo summers are hot and humid; winters are cool and mostly dry. The table shows the Japan Meteorological Agency’s 1991–2020 averages for Tokyo. The rainy season in the Kanto region starts around June 7 and ends around July 19 on average, and typhoons come closest to the region from August to October, most often in September. Northern Japan is much colder: Sapporo’s average January high is −0.4°C (31°F). TripPack uses the actual forecast or last year’s weather for your dates, so the list follows the season.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.8°C / 50°F | 1.2°C / 34°F | 60 mm |
| April | 19.4°C / 67°F | 9.8°C / 50°F | 134 mm |
| July | 29.9°C / 86°F | 22.4°C / 72°F | 156 mm |
| August | 31.3°C / 88°F | 23.5°C / 74°F | 155 mm |
| October | 22.0°C / 72°F | 14.8°C / 59°F | 235 mm |
FAQ
Do I need a plug adapter in Japan?
Usually not. Japan uses Type A/B plugs like the US, at 100 V. Three-prong plugs may need a cheap 3-to-2 prong adapter because many sockets are two-prong.
Do I need cash in Japan?
Yes, some. Cards are widely accepted in cities, but small restaurants, temples and rural shops are often cash-only.
Is Visit Japan Web required?
No. It’s an optional online service for immigration and customs that gives you one QR code for both. Japan Customs recommends it, and the paper customs form can still be used.
Sources
- WorldStandards: plug, socket & voltage by country — updated Sep 7, 2025; checked Oct 16, 2026
- Japan Customs: declaration of accompanied articles (Visit Japan Web, paper form) — checked Oct 16, 2026
- Digital Agency, Japan: Visit Japan Web — checked Oct 16, 2026
- Japan National Tourism Organization: changes to tax-free shopping — published Aug 4, 2026; checked Oct 16, 2026
- JR East: Welcome Suica Mobile press release — Feb 18, 2025; checked Oct 16, 2026
- Welcome Suica Mobile on the App Store (East Japan Railway Company) — version 1.0.2 released Mar 6, 2025; checked Oct 16, 2026
- JR Central: oversized baggage on the Shinkansen — checked Oct 16, 2026
- Seven Bank: cards issued overseas — checked Oct 16, 2026
- MHLW: bringing medication into Japan for personal use — checked Oct 16, 2026
- MHLW Narcotics Control Department: carrying controlled medicines — controlled substances list dated Dec 12, 2024; checked Oct 16, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency: climatological normals 1991–2020 — checked Oct 16, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency: typhoon approaches by month (1991–2020) — checked Oct 16, 2026
- JMA Nagano Local Meteorological Office: Kanto-Koshin rainy season normals — Jul 18, 2025; checked Oct 16, 2026