Japan Trip - What to Pack?

Soldato
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Location
SE England
I'm heading to Japan later this year and I know we have a few people here that have visited. So, I'm looking for some advice on what to pack.

I will be bringing my Canon R5 and am currently using 100% adapted EF lenses. EF 4 LIFE! Y'ALL! ;)..... yeah... We won't talk about how they are worth peanuts now :D

This is what currently has the potential to be packed:

Sigma 35mm 1.4
Canon EF 70-300L
Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 135mm f/2 L USM
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

I'm thinking to try and not to go overboard with packing.... :cry:

I think I have sold myself on upgrading my EF 24-105 to the RF 24-105 before I leave for the trip. As it's pretty much a staple for walkaround due to its versatility. Also, my EF version is an older MK1 and upgrading will see multiple benefits to IQ and performance.

Instead of upgrading my EF 24-105 to the RF model, I've also thought about renting a lens specifically for this trip, such as the RF 24-70 2.8. However, weight reminds me that this is probably not a good idea. So, I do keep coming back to upgrading to the RF 24-105 as it's more versitile and cheaper (I'll own it!).

As to what else to put in the bag... I'm conflicted. I want a fast lenses for low light settings. Am toying with bringing my Sigma EF 35mm 1.4, but it is weighty and that is putting me off bringing it. Beinging with Canon during these days is a love hate relaltionship until they open up 3rd party AF lens support. I am thinking instead to leave it at home and purchase a RF 28 2.8. It's not mega bucks, is tiny as it's a pancake, is sharp enough and reviews very well, whilst not 35mm, it can do the job. I think that it being a pancake will just open up a lot of weight and handling freedom where I can leave other lenses back at the hotel and go out with a relatively lightweight R5 setup, I think the lens weighs like 120g.

Then maybe bring the 135mm 2.0, as it's very nice for street portraits and the 70-300 for the times where some reach, especially for any wildlife (hoping for some birds on blossom).

That would put me at 4 lenses. I wouldn't have an ultra wide with me.

Thoughts?
 
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You are mad to carry all that gear!

I’ve been 4 times now and now..I want to say.

Day time 24-70 is fantastic.
At night, 35/1.4

That’s all you really need, but if you have specific shots in mind…then carry a lens for that. Like being a 70-200 for a compressed shot of Mt Fuji. Or a super wide angle like a 16-35 if you have an idea but 24-70 really would work most of the shots.
 
You are mad to carry all that gear!

I’ve been 4 times now and now..I want to say.

Day time 24-70 is fantastic.
At night, 35/1.4

That’s all you really need, but if you have specific shots in mind…then carry a lens for that. Like being a 70-200 for a compressed shot of Mt Fuji. Or a super wide angle like a 16-35 if you have an idea but 24-70 really would work most of the shots.
I know, I always take too much. It's a problem I have!

If I was to take a 24-70, I would have to rent it. I'm not against renting, but kinda think the 24-105 would be more vertitle.

The Sigma 35 1.4 I do enjoy using but it is heavy. This is why the RF 28 2.8 pancake caught my eye, whilst not as fast is a simular focal length and will allow me to travel very light on the days where I want to keep it simple.

Definitely take the 35/1.4, super useful at night.

Also, where are you going?

Not sure yet lol.. the flights were booked completely out the blue. So I have some research and planning to do. It's a 2.5 week trip, so will start at Tokyo, re-locate a couple of times and then back to Tokyo for the later part of the trip. Any advice you have on what to see or where to stay what would be great!
 
I know, I always take too much. It's a problem I have!

If I was to take a 24-70, I would have to rent it. I'm not against renting, but kinda think the 24-105 would be more vertitle.

The Sigma 35 1.4 I do enjoy using but it is heavy. This is why the RF 28 2.8 pancake caught my eye, whilst not as fast is a simular focal length and will allow me to travel very light on the days where I want to keep it simple.



Not sure yet lol.. the flights were booked completely out the blue. So I have some research and planning to do. It's a 2.5 week trip, so will start at Tokyo, re-locate a couple of times and then back to Tokyo for the later part of the trip. Any advice you have on what to see or where to stay what would be great!

It all depends what month, what you want to see, how much you are willing to spend on trains, how far you are willing to travel the country.
 
It all depends what month, what you want to see, how much you are willing to spend on trains, how far you are willing to travel the country.
It'll be early April, so will be hopefully in cherry blossom season, so some good spots to see the cherry blossom would be good. I'm thinking not a crazy amount of traveling, but enough for perhaps stay at two or three different plances outside of Tokyo. I do need to do some research on areas to see what might peak my interest.
 
It'll be early April, so will be hopefully in cherry blossom season, so some good spots to see the cherry blossom would be good. I'm thinking not a crazy amount of traveling, but enough for perhaps stay at two or three different plances outside of Tokyo. I do need to do some research on areas to see what might peak my interest.

Tokyo isn’t great for Cherry blossoms, early April…if climate change continues to happen then it could bloom peak by last week of March. I went in late March (landed on 27th) last year and the day I landed in Tokyo it was kinda ending, the peak was over. So anywhere south of Tokyo would have already bloomed. You have to travel up north or west towards Matsumoto, Kanazawa.

Anyway, Sakura spots....at least the ones I went to.

In tokyo, one of the best spot is Nakameguro, about 1 mile of trees by the river. It is VERY popular and busy.

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View from the station by it looking down
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Shinjuku Goen Garden (there is a £3 fee)
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Then I went to Matsumoto, which is in Nagano, a colder part of the country and bloom about 2 weeks or so after Tokyo and Kyoto.

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I then went to Kanazawa, which is by the coast and was in full bloom when I went.

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Kyoto bloom similar time as tokyo.

Trees were almost finished when I got there
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Closer to the time, they released a "prediction" of Sakura blooming around the country.

If I were you....to make sure you see something....I would be inclined to head to either Kanazawa in the first week, catch Sakura there, and then once you've get your fixed, then you can relax. It is quite difficult to recommend because in my mind I am thinking...Tokyo - Matsumoto - Kanazawa - Kyoto - Osaka - back to Tokyo.

This could be your 2.5 weeks trip. It's doable. Leave Osaka and Tokyo at the end because I can almost guarantee at that point, the Sakura season would be over, it would be late into April. To see them at that point you would need to head up to Sendai or Aomori, Hokkaido would be nearer late April, early May. Fukuoka would be early March to late Feb.

The alternative is to....stay in Tokyo and Osaka, use these 2 places as a base, just 2 hotels and do day trips. But your travel would be quite limited with this. it is possible to do a day trip from Tokyo to Kanazawa and Osaka to Hiroshima / Miyajima but it's long Travel days.

So you can either do a loop or use cities as base. What do you prefer?
 
Thanks @Raymond Lin, really useful info and great captures.

It sounds like you are right. that heading else where to capture the Sakura first might have to be the thing to do. Although, I wanted to try and avoid travel so soon after arriving, as jet lag will kill me.

I need to have a think about what's going to be realistically possible and the moblity of the party I'm going with. I do want to spend quite a bit of time in Tokyo as others I have spoken to have said there is so much to do and see there that when theye visited they felt like they didn't spend enough time there.

This is quite a big trip but I don't think it's going to be once in a lifetime thing, so, if I enjoy it, there will be scope to come back and visit other areas later down the line.

I'll have a look at the areas you have recommended and see what peaks our interest and prioritise what we think we'd like to see the most.
 
Thanks @Raymond Lin, really useful info and great captures.

It sounds like you are right. that heading else where to capture the Sakura first might have to be the thing to do. Although, I wanted to try and avoid travel so soon after arriving, as jet lag will kill me.

I need to have a think about what's going to be realistically possible and the moblity of the party I'm going with. I do want to spend quite a bit of time in Tokyo as others I have spoken to have said there is so much to do and see there that when theye visited they felt like they didn't spend enough time there.

This is quite a big trip but I don't think it's going to be once in a lifetime thing, so, if I enjoy it, there will be scope to come back and visit other areas later down the line.

I'll have a look at the areas you have recommended and see what peaks our interest and prioritise what we think we'd like to see the most.

First and most important piece of advice is - do not try to squeeze too much in.

Because no matter how much you try, you will leave something out, there will always be regret of not going to X, Y, Z places. So let that go, and concentrate on a few places and explore those and enjoy the moments.

The best moments of Japan is when I explore a place with no plan. I generally know where I want to go, but I would dedicate a whole day there usually now. My first trip I planned it by the hour, I no long do that.

I will say, in Kyoto, some places are beneficial to get up at the crack of dawn to avoid the crowds. It makes such a difference to the experience, like Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama. These places open 24/7 and by 9am, it’s packed. Go there by 7am if you want the serene experience.
 
Actually…if you don’t want to travel too much…may be then do a loop like I did.

Tokyo to Kanazawa to Kyoto.

10 days in Tokyo, 3 days in Kanazawa (2 nights), rest of the time in Kyoto. There back to Tokyo the night before your flight.

This will limit to just 3 long train journeys, although that’s only 3hrs long each and all direct.

If you want to use Tokyo and Kyoto to do day trips, you can. But if you don’t, both places have enough to do for their duration. I thrown Kanazawa there because it’s your best chance to catch Sakura as it’s cooler climate.

Another place that is cooler climate is Lake Kawaguchi, it’s normally like 2 weeks after Tokyo has peaked, it was barely started when I was there. It could be even 3 weeks after. It’s cooler around there and it’s a day trip from Tokyo (train or bus).
 
Actually…if you don’t want to travel too much…may be then do a loop like I did.

Tokyo to Kanazawa to Kyoto.

10 days in Tokyo, 3 days in Kanazawa (2 nights), rest of the time in Kyoto. There back to Tokyo the night before your flight.

This will limit to just 3 long train journeys, although that’s only 3hrs long each and all direct.

If you want to use Tokyo and Kyoto to do day trips, you can. But if you don’t, both places have enough to do for their duration. I thrown Kanazawa there because it’s your best chance to catch Sakura as it’s cooler climate.

Another place that is cooler climate is Lake Kawaguchi, it’s normally like 2 weeks after Tokyo has peaked, it was barely started when I was there. It could be even 3 weeks after. It’s cooler around there and it’s a day trip from Tokyo (train or bus).
It's been a bit rocky with the planning and a bit late in the day, but we have booked accommodation for the first two bases in Tokyo and Kanazawa. It's funny you mentioned Kanazawa, it came up quite a few times in researching places. Looks fascinating and has some very nice looking traditional villages nearby, which I plan to visit.

Plan is from start to finish

Tokyo: 5 nights (accommodation booked)
Kanazawa: 2 nights (accommodation booked)
Osaka: 2 nights
Kyoto: 4 nights
Tokyo: 3 nights

Kinda still deciding on how long to stay in Osaka and if enough time is spent at Kyoto. From what I've looked at it, seems about right?
 
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It's been a bit rocky with the planning and a bit late in the day, but we have booked accommodation for the first two bases in Tokyo and Kanazawa. It's funny you mentioned Kanazawa, it came up quite a few times in researching places. Looks fascinating and has some very nice looking traditional villages nearby, which I plan to visit.

Plan is from start to finish

Tokyo: 5 nights (accommodation booked)
Kanazawa: 2 nights (accommodation booked)
Osaka: 2 nights
Kyoto: 4 nights
Tokyo: 3 nights

Kinda still deciding on how long to stay in Osaka and if enough time is spent at Kyoto. From what I've looked at it, seems about right?

Is that the order?

Which direction do you plan to go from Kanazawa to Osaka? I am just wondering as if you do Tokyo then Kanazawa, the train from Kanazawa goes past Kyoto first before going to Osaka.

But if you are heading back to Tokyo anyway you have to double back to Kyoto on the train I guess.

Some people love Osaka, there are definitely enough things to do for 2 nights, there is the castle, Shin Seikei, eat some okinomiyaki, food in dotonburi. but I wouldn't stay more than 3 nights. The headline stuff can be done in 2 full days. btw, Nara is a great day trip from either Kyoto or Osaka. Go there from like 10am to like sun set. Start at the station, walk towards the park, everything you want to see is in between or around that area, very compact.

p.s. get a wise card and buy some Yen now, it's almost 2 to 1 at the moment! as in 190yen to £1. Yen is like 1p, but now almost 2 yen to 1p. Things will feel like half price.
 
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Is that the order?

Which direction do you plan to go from Kanazawa to Osaka? I am just wondering as if you do Tokyo then Kanazawa, the train from Kanazawa goes past Kyoto first before going to Osaka.

But if you are heading back to Tokyo anyway you have to double back to Kyoto on the train I guess.

Some people love Osaka, there are definitely enough things to do for 2 nights, there is the castle, Shin Seikei, eat some okinomiyaki, food in dotonburi. but I wouldn't stay more than 3 nights. The headline stuff can be done in 2 full days.
Ah yes, it would likely be Kanazawa then to Kyoto, then on to Osaka. But as you say, I guess it doesn't matter which order it's done in, as we will be heading back in the same direction.

We do want to visit Hiroshima whilst we are likely staying at Osaka, and also Nara. Both of those locations look like they are closer to Osaka. Also, the 'romantic train' looks interesting.

Osaka does look interesting, I'm mostly interested in the nightlife and as you say the food! Seems like 2 nights is about right then.

We could always cut a day out of the end of the trip in Tokyo to extend time in either Osaka or Kyoto, but I'm leaning towards keeping the schedule as it is, as it'll give a good amount of time to do things in Tokyo that we didn't get a change to do at the start of the trip as well as to mentally prepare for the journey back! :D
 
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Ah yes, it would likely be Kanazawa then to Kyoto, then on to Osaka. But as you say, I guess it doesn't matter which order it's done in, as we will be heading back in the same direction.

We do want to visit Hiroshima whilst we are likely staying at Osaka, and also Nara. Both of those locations look like they are closer to Osaka. Also, the 'romantic train' looks interesting.

Osaka does look interesting, I'm mostly interested in the nightlife and as you say the food! Seems like 2 nights is about right then.

We could always cut a day out of the end of the trip in Tokyo to extend time in either Osaka or Kyoto, but I'm leaning towards keeping the schedule as it is, as it'll give a good amount of time to do things in Tokyo that we didn't get a change to do at the start of the trip as well as to mentally prepare for the journey back! :D

Yeah, you can just do 2 nights in Tokyo at the end.

Hiroshima is a day trip, Nara is a day trip. I actually did Nara in between moving from my Osaka hotel to Kyoto hotel. I got up in the crack of dawn and went to Osaka Castle in the morning, checked out by like 10:30am and was in Nara before lunch time. Then stayed there to around 6pm. Saw everything that is to see really. No rush even. Went to Kyoto by 7pm and checked in. I always stay in a hotel near the main station.

If you do that then it does feel like a bonus day, no wasted day getting out of hotel from either Osaka or Kyoto to go to Nara and then back again.

(I used the lockers in Nara station to store my stuff)
 
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As everyone's already said, travel packing is pretty simple.

You take one walkabout zoom. 24-70 or something. I go for the Sony 24-240 personally, great lens. Then a fast prime for night time. Job done.
 
Thought I'd come back to this thread and share some of what I captured. I had an amazing time out there, extremely tiring but just so much to see and do, almost a visual overload!

I really want to go back, thoroughly recommend it.


1E2A9979 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


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Geisha Building by Steve Rix, on Flickr


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1E2A0465 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A2734 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A9910-Enhanced-NR by Steve Rix, on Flickr


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by Steve Rix, on Flickr


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1E2A0465 by Steve Rix, on Flickr
 
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