Gearing up for Japan – Packing

I have traveled and lived in different places for periods of time before but moving to a foreign country is a whole different ball of wax! The last time I moved to Japan was back in 1994 and I have forgotten all of the little things that I missed from home.

What do I need to take with me? What comforts of home will I miss most? My experience has taught me that these are questions that can’t be easily answered and that the answers don’t become apparent until you’ve been living somewhere for a while. I am very fortunate in that my husbands’ company will be providing a fully furnished apartment for us so I don’t need to worry about furniture, house wares, etc.

So I’m off to Japan for most of next two years and here are a few things that I know. As an average size Caucasian woman with size 81/2 feet I will have a hard time finding clothes and shoes in Japan, books are expensive (I love to read!) and if the foods that my husband and I crave from home are even available I will likely have to travel some distance, and pay a lot of Yen, to get them.

Also, most of the places where I have lived have had very moderate climates. I have very few winter clothes and Japan has cold weather! The first snow this year was yesterday in Chiba….

Here is my short list of must haves (definitely not in order of importance):

Computer for Internet surfing & chatting, email, blogging and just general sanity…

My new D-SLR digital camera to capture all of the wonderful sights I will get to see…

Some photos of people who are dear to me…

Clothes – I’ve been shopping and scored some pretty good deals on winter clothes and splurged on a beautiful leather coat that I can’t wait to wear!

Comfortable, yet stylish shoes – is that even possible? I will also need to cover both warm and cold weather, dressy and casual situations and a lot of walking.

A small stash of comfort foods from home?

Toiletries that I can’t live without that I’m not sure I can get in Japan…

Japanese travel guide, language books & dictionary…

Electricity/plug converters for hi-tech devices. Other devices, like my blow dryer, will work fine with Japanese electricity…

Books – as many as will fit in my suitcase without putting me over the airline weight limits! I will also have to check out Amazon in Japan.

Playing cards/cribbage board/board games – maybe?

Now I just have to control myself and not over pack! I’ve done that before only to have to bring something home without having used it at all. This is my conundrum given that I won’t be able to buy clothes it Japan. I guess there is always mail order to friends and family in the states….

Am I missing anything important? What would you bring?