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Leaving for Japan soon....Which bag should I use?

 
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nfairchild



Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Posts: 6
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:23 pm    Post subject: Leaving for Japan soon....Which bag should I use? Reply with quote
Hello everyone,

Pretty simple question........Should I include a hiker's back pack in my traveling, or should I stick to the good ol' classic suitcase with wheels. I spent a good deal of time in Europe, and over there it was more useful to have a hiker bag because I skipped around from place to place. However, I have a feeling that travel in Japan is much different. I envision less hostels and more typical hotels. I feel a little silly for asking, but what the hell. That's what blogs are for!

Also, I have never been to Japan and I am planning on being there for a year. Will this year just absolutely fly by?

And I will be living in Hirashi. Is that a decent area?
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elkarlo



Joined: 08 Dec 2008
Posts: 240
Location: Maryland
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:43 pm    Post subject: Re: Leaving for Japan soon....Which bag should I use? Reply with quote
nfairchild wrote:
Hello everyone,

Pretty simple question........Should I include a hiker's back pack in my traveling, or should I stick to the good ol' classic suitcase with wheels. I spent a good deal of time in Europe, and over there it was more useful to have a hiker bag because I skipped around from place to place. However, I have a feeling that travel in Japan is much different. I envision less hostels and more typical hotels. I feel a little silly for asking, but what the hell. That's what blogs are for!

Also, I have never been to Japan and I am planning on being there for a year. Will this year just absolutely fly by?

And I will be living in Hirashi. Is that a decent area?


Well I'm going to be going soon as well. Was there as an exchange student.

Heres my plan/scheme; Take the super huge suitcase with rollers. One small one with rollers, and a backpack. All this is about what one can cram on a plane, and carry around to their placement.
I plan on taking as much clothes as I can take, also some food as gifts. My laptop in my backpack. I'm also taking a few language books that i may need.

For my second phase, I'm putting summer clothes in boxes to be mailed. That way I don't have to worry about buying clothes, or taking them with me. By boat is takes 6 weeks orso, so they should get there in time for the heat.

There are some Hostels, though prolly less common than in Europe.

I have not heard of Hirashi. Have you wiki'ed it? At least you can find out some major routes, and population size.
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:12 pm    Post subject: Re: Leaving for Japan soon....Which bag should I use? Reply with quote
Take elkarlo's advice on bags.

nfairchild wrote:
Also, I have never been to Japan and I am planning on being there for a year. Will this year just absolutely fly by?
There is no way to answer this question accurately or even close. The best advice I can give is try to be as prepared as possible about:

what to expect in your job,
what daily life is like,
what will be expected of you

Keep a lifeline to home. Write or phone or use things like Skype. However, realize that after a month or so, people back home will not respond as quickly because you are "out of sight, out of mind", and their own lives take precedence. Live goes on for them as usual, and you are not going to be nearly as much a part of that or your homeland's doings. Accept that, and you're halfway home to surviving culture shock.
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mimimimi



Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Posts: 53
PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I would suggest bringing as much as you are allowed (weight- and volume-wise) on the airplane. You'll find that a few comforts from home will go a long way over here. I had one giant roller luggage, a carry-on-size backpack, a handbag, and a 4 cubic foot cardboard box (that JUST fit.) When I arrived in Japan, I had the luggage and box sent to my address from the airport. It cost about 2000 yen per item and they came the next day.
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