Gakusei Travels

I will be studying in Japan from April through July. Since I’ll be gone for four months, there is a lot I need to bring, because the seasons will change during my time abroad. When I first arrive, it will be early spring with weather similar to my hometown of Indianapolis. Then Japan’s rainy season will begin in May, but by the time I leave, it will be in the middle of the summer heat. I’m flying out through Delta Airlines, so I get two free checked bags and two carry-ons. I have to essentially fit a closet’s worth of clothing in four bags without it becoming overweight. On top of that, I know that when I go to Japan I will do so much shopping and bring back souvenirs for friends and family. I will probably return home with more stuff than I left with, and I am a serial over packer to begin with when I travel, so this is how I packed:

1. Mix and Match

Admittedly, I bought new clothes (´∀｀*) Whenever I go on a trip, I always buy a new wardrobe, and that’s a problem haha. This time, I tried to be careful with the things I bought and made sure that I picked out items that could be worn with multiple things. If I had something that could be mixed and matched with another article of clothing, I had more options of things to wear. For example, a black skirt can be worn with several different shirts, and a pink blouse could be worn with a skirt or jeans. This cut down on some of the things I had to pack, because I planned by outfit.

2. Vacuum Seal Bags

I stole this from TikTok, and it has been the biggest life saver. I bought from Amazon Vaccum seal storage bags. The bags come in different sizes so that I can even pack a coat for the rain and my emotional support blanket ( ＾∀＾). The bag came with a pump, which you use to suck the air out until it’s flat. It creates more room in the suitcase for shoes and toiletries, and the bags are reusable! I just hope my clothes don’t end up too wrinkled.

3. Shop in Japan

Lastly, I plan to buy what I forget in Japan. I didn’t pack a lot of toiletries, because I know I can replace most of them once I get to the dormitory. I brought just enough to get me there and settled. I did, however, pack extra of items I thought would be difficult to come across, such as oils and products for my hair.

NOTE: I over packed regardless so take this advice with a grain of salt T^T

What I ended up packing and I perhaps overdid it just a bit (￣▽￣)

8 T-shirts
6 Shorts
1 Jacket
10 Blouses/Sweaters
2 Dresses
2 Sweatshirts
6 Tank Tops/Camis
2 Pairs of Pajamas
4 Skirts
6 Pants
2 Shawls
2 Pairs of Leggings
4 Jeans
2 Towel + Washcloth sets
6 Pairs of Shoes
1 Emotional Support Blanket