The Japan Travel Series Index

• Part 1: Planning, Packing & Booking Our Dream Japan Trip (You are here)
• Part 2: 5 Days in Tokyo: Shibuya Sky, TeamLab Planets & ASMR Head Spa
• Part 3: Coastal Kamakura: Bamboo Forests, Mt. Fuji & Traditional Onsens
• Part 4: Kyoto & Nara Realities: Bullet Trains, Deer Parks & Cultural Sights
• Part 5: Tropical Okinawa & The 26-Hour Journey Home: Is It Worth Visiting?

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Introduction

Mike and I talked about visiting Japan for years. We spent countless evenings watching YouTubers like Abroad in Japan, fantasising about everything we would do and see if we ever made it there. To us, it always felt like an impossibility – too costly, too far, and far too complicated to organize. It was one of those “once-in-a-lifetime” trips we assumed would be strictly reserved for after retirement or a lucky lottery win.

Everything changed in late 2025. Through a combination of personal milestones, increased income from this blog, and a work promotion, our finances finally moved beyond simply surviving. We could finally look at what we wanted out of life: repairing parts of our home, making smart investments for our busy lives (hello, robot hoover!), and asking ourselves which parts of the world we were desperate to see.

We were also in a completely different place emotionally. Having married in the summer of 2025, navigated tight finances for years, experienced family losses in 2024, and managed stressful periods at work, our perspective shifted. Did we want to wait forever to chase our goals, or was it time to knuckle down on our bucket list and really start living?

Booking the Trip: Hays Travel & Links Travel & Tours

In September 2025, we pulled the trigger. We visited our local Hays Travel store, who had been fantastic with our honeymoon, knowing we could trust them with such a major trip. They partnered with Links Travel & Tours, who built a custom itinerary around our exact specifications. We knew where we wanted to go from all our YouTube research, but we needed expert help with the how. The travel agents were incredible at ironing out the complex logistics.

To put this in perspective:

• Mike had never flown long-haul before – his previous trips were short European flights with family and me.
• My furthest flight was to Canada – this was on a heavily structured school trip where I didn’t have to plan a thing.
• Japan was a completely different beast – 4 hotels, 4 flights, and endless train, bus, and car journeys to coordinate.

Entry Requirements & Pre-Trip Prep

Preparing for Japan is quite different from packing for a quick European getaway. Here are the essential steps and packing choices we made before flying out:

1. Check Visa & Passport Rules: British passport holders can visit Japan visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism. Your passport just needs to be valid for the duration of your stay, though it’s important to remember that Japanese law requires tourists to carry their physical passport on them at all times while exploring. This was just our experience for our trip, always check up to date information in case things change.
2. Visit Japan Web (Digital Immigration): Registering your immigration and customs details on the official Visit Japan Web portal prior to departure generates your entry QR codes. It’s optional – you can still fill out the paper landing cards – but sorting it online beforehand makes passing through immigration at the airport much smoother.
3. Double-Check Medications: Japan has strict laws regarding over-the-counter medicines, prescription drugs, and supplements. Some common Western items aren’t permitted at all, while others require specific certification documents. Always check the latest government regulations before packing.
4. Minimal Toiletries: Don’t waste precious luggage space carrying heavy skincare or toiletries from home. Japanese convenience stores (konbini) and drugstores carry fantastic products that are incredibly easy to find. The only thing I would recommend packing is a trusted sunscreen from home – you’ll learn why later in this series.
5. Smart Layering & Breathable Clothes: For European holidays, I usually pack a very specific wardrobe, but for Japan, I was conscious of the sun, heat, humidity, and mosquitoes. I packed long, lightweight cotton/linen trousers and thin tops that were easy to layer. This was to protect my skin outdoors while staying comfortable when stepping into cold air conditioning.
6. Gore-Tex Trainers: Travelling during the rainy season meant waterproof trainers were an absolute must for long walking days in sudden downpours. I usually go for ASICS as they’ve never failed me for staying comfortable all day.
7. Manageable Luggage: Sturdy, smooth-rolling suitcases are essential. We knew we’d be travelling on foot at times, so our bags needed to be easily manageable.

Our 13-Night Itinerary

Here is the hotel list for our journey around Japan:

Stop	Destination	Hotel Stay
Stop 1	Tokyo	Daiwa Roynet Hotel Nishi-Shinjuku PREMIER
Stop 2	Kamakura	Kamakura Prince Hotel
Stop 3	Kyoto	Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo
Stop 4	Okinawa	Hotel Moon Beach

Part 1 Summary: Leaving the Comfort Zone

Setting off on a trip like this felt equal parts thrilling and terrifying. Going from short-haul European holidays to a multi-stop itinerary across East Asia was a massive leap for us, but having our route, flights, and initial hotel stays locked in gave us the foundation we needed.

Of course, no amount of YouTube videos or travel agency blueprints can fully prepare you for the reality of landing in Tokyo for the first time. The real learning curve was about to begin the moment we stepped off the plane.

Ready for Part 2?

In the next post, we land in Tokyo, figure out our first steps on the ground, explore Shibuya Sky, experience our first earthquake, and test out an ASMR head spa!