Japan Trip - What to Pack?

Soldato
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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.
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!
 
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.
 
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.
 
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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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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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


1E2A9258 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A0886 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A9870 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A1286 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


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1E2A4016 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A9784 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A3819 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A3860-Enhanced-NR by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A0247 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


Geisha Building by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A9407 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A0696 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A9727 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A9583 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A9810 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A9243 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A9376 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A1095 by Steve Rix, on Flickr



1E2A1372 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A1048-HDR by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A9187 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A0344 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A0465 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A2734 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


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


1E2A2944 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A0476-Enhanced-NR by Steve Rix, on Flickr


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by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A2565 by Steve Rix, on Flickr


1E2A0465 by Steve Rix, on Flickr
 
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