Tokyo Cruisin' Part 1

I just recently got back to Malaysia from a lovely two-week trip to Tokyo, and I’m already missing the place (especially the weather). Tokyo is a beautiful city – a perfect fusion of the hustle and bustle of the city and the quietness and calmness of a small town. I would definitely recommend this destination to anyone who is looking for a quiet getaway, but don’t want to lose touch with social media and technology.

There are plenty of things to see and do in Tokyo, and plenty of places to explore. My trip was devoid of boredom and homesickness because the place felt cozy enough to live in, and interesting enough to keep exploring. Technology in Tokyo is top notch – almost everything there is automatic. You can find the most interesting things in the most unexpected of places! Tokyo can easily be called the “safest place on Earth” because the people there are disciplined and law abiding citizens. There’s a saying that “It’s impossible to lose anything in Tokyo”, and that statement rang true for multiple incidents during my stay. With that said, don’t be afraid to navigate the outskirts of the place you’re staying in, and don’t be shy to communicate with the locals, even if it means having to explain everything using hand gestures. Some people may advise you to beware of the triads while in Japan, but according to locals, the triads throw Halloween parties for the children there and they mean well.

Before I start talking about my trip, I thought I might share some tips with those of you planning to visit the city soon. My family and I did our research prior to the big day in order to snag the most budgeted prices and make the most out of our trip.

WHAT TO BRING:

CLOTHES

I departed for Japan mid-December, at the peak of the winter season. The weather in Tokyo ranged from 3-12 degrees Celsius during my stay, which was much hotter than it usually is in the winter, a result of global warming. It’s best to check weekly weather forecasts so that you can pack accordingly before the trip, and check daily weather forecasts while you’re there to decide on what to wear before heading out. The weather can be rather unpredictable at times. It rained for a few days while I was there, and it became very cold very quickly. It’s best to keep a small umbrella and a raincoat/poncho in your purse if you plan to be outdoors the whole day. The umbrella proved quite useful for me because when it wasn’t raining, the sun was frying my skin.

When packing for a long trip, I pick garments from my wardrobe that are versatile and switch up the same look every now and then. A different scarf or a small accessory goes a long way. The easiest way to plan your packing is to lay out all of the clothes that you wish to bring based on looks. This helps you to visualize what you wear every day so you don’t end up bringing too much. Instead of making a checklist, I take down the things that I’ve put into my luggage on my phone so I can review it every now and then.

When packing, I try to restrict my clothing to the bottom half of my luggage. Any more than that and I’ve overpacked. I try to keep at least 1/3 of my luggage empty when I travel to a different country so that there will still be space to load up on other items such as souvenirs and gifts for the trip back.

Uniqlo Heattech

These are not only really useful but also really easy to lug into your bag. I would recommend buying at least one of this to anyone who hasn’t yet and is planning a trip to somewhere cold. From my experience, these garments really did the job at keeping me warm and toasty. One or two of these is enough as you can re-wear them most of the time. Uniqlo just recently launched the Extra Warm Heattech collection, and I believe that those may be a better investment than the old ones, mainly because it doesn’t become sheer when you put it on, and also because you can wear that as both innerwear or just as a shirt. Versatile!

Comfortable Socks and Shoes

I cannot stress enough how important a pair of comfortable socks is, especially if you’re planning to walk a lot. The most comfortable pair of shoes wouldn’t be of much justice if you wore a pair of socks that are too tight, too loose, or simply non-absorbent. Good and comfortable socks are a must! Comfortable shoes will most definitely make walking around and exploring a whole lot enjoyable, especially since you don’t have to whimper out in pain whenever you have to take a flight of stairs or walk around. I wore my sports shoes and Uggs for most of the trip.

Winter Coat

I only brought one winter coat with me to Tokyo, but realized that I didn’t really need it; other than the time when it was raining really heavily in Tokyo Disneyland. If you don’t already have a winter coat, you can purchase one while you’re there. Some stores have really big winter sales and sell fashionable coats for very reasonable prices.

Bag 

I brought along my pink gym bag because it’s almost impossible to pickpocket or steal from without me noticing. It’s also very easy to carry around, my hands are free to explore and I don’t have to lug on a weighty handbag.

SELF CARE

Body Butter or Lotion

The weather is very very dry in the winter, so bring along your most hydrating body butter or body lotion. If you have travel sized ones, bring those with you always. The most painful thing is when your skin cracks because of the dryness, so be prepared! I use the Rohto AD Mentholatum Medicated cream that I bought from Tokyo, and it makes my skin feel as soft as a baby’s even after one use. It is recommended that you shower briefly, and without using body shampoo because it strips off the moisture from your skin. If you have the Nivea in shower hydrating body lotion, use it. Most importantly, be clean!

Vaseline/Lip Balm

Keep your lips hydrated at all times too! You can also use Vaseline for your skin.

Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, body shampoo, ……

Self-explanatory

TECH

Handphone

Pretty self-explanatory. It may be a good idea to get a Japan SIM card while you’re there because it is rather difficult to find free wifi outside of the Metro stations.

That's all for Part 1 of Tokyo Cruisin', stay tuned for Part 2 where I discuss do's and dont's, as well as what to do or what to see while in Tokyo.

Have you been to Tokyo before? What was your experience like? Leave your comments or questions below!