Luggage
Please limit your luggage to three pieces: one checked item and two carry-on's (one larger one and one purse - see details below).

1) Check-in item (small suitcase or garment bag): The length + height + width must not exceed 62 inches. Your luggage must be easily handled and maneuvered because you'll need to walk with it in crowded airports and hotels. You will be responsible for loading your suitcase onto buses, so please practice lifting it to make sure you can handle it. If you purchase too many things during the trip and they won't fit in your luggage, you must ship those to your home (info on how to ship items from Japan will be posted at the website later).

2) Carry-on item #1 (day pack, overnight bag, etc.): The length + height + width must not exceed 45 inches. Important note: At a few points on the trip, you'll need to carry two days worth of clothes in your carryon after we ship all suitcases ahead to the next location. Ideally, this bag can be attached to your checked luggage, leaving your hands free. Roll-on suitcases are not permitted as a carryon

3) Carryon item #2: Purse, camera bag, book backpack, small totebag or equivalent.

What We'll Be Carrying
I'll be taking a small roll-on suitcase, an attachable small overnight bag, and a book backpack. Mayumi will be taking a bigger (but super light) roll-on suitcase, a day pack, and a fanny pack.

Dress Code
In spite of the rigors of traveling we'll encounter, we still need to look professional and at least to some degree try to conform to Japanese standard of dress. Not only are we representing the teaching profession, but we are acting as representatives of Indiana University. During all of our group functions, please wear slacks or khakis (no shorts or jeans) and collared shirts (short-sleeved dress shirts or golf shirts). Women may also wear modest skirts or dresses and modest sleeveless blouses (no spaghetti straps or low cut shirts). For school visits, men should wear ties; jackets are recommended but not required. Women should wear nice slacks/skirts and blouses, or dresses. You may wear nice sandals or open-toed shoes at any time on the trip; however, please use discretion: no flip-flops or sloppy sandals! We will be doing a lot of walking, so make sure your shoes are comfortable! If you do wear sandals, you should carry a pair of socks to put on if you enter a temple, restaurant, etc. where you're required to take off your shoes. Finally, a rule of thumb: If it isn't acceptable to wear at school, I wouldn't bring it on this trip. For more details, see below.

"Is This OK to Wear?" Q&As

Our Personal Experiences with Packing and Clothes
Because you will need clothes for two weeks, and because we will be traveling light, you should plan on doing a fair amount of laundry while in country. Last summer, although coin laundries were available near out hotels, it was our evening ritual to wash out our clothes in the sink. Both Mayumi and I had about three sets of outfits for two weeks. We both use clothes that are synthetic, light weight and for the most part wrinkle free. In most cases, the clothes dried overnight. I especially recommend wicking underwear and socks. There are several sources for these kinds of clothes (see list below). They tend to be more expensive, but in my opinion they're worth it. If anyone's interested, we can do a clothing show and tell at orientation. If you need to buy some additional items of clothing, I would start shopping, ordering, trying on, washing by hand to test, returning, etc. NOW! You will hate doing this at the last minute.

Other Items to Definitely Bring

Laundry
As I mentioned before, Mayumi and I washed our clothes out every night at the hotel. Coin laundries are available near most of the hotels (get the direction at the front desk of each hotel). Hotels offer an overnight laundry and dry cleaning service, but these can be quite expensive. I would bring some compact hangers to hang wet laundry on. I found that the key to getting things to dry was rolling wet clothes in a dry towel. Note: You should NOT hang wet clothes over tatami mats or carpet!

Suggested Retailers

Tips (some from participants of the tour 2002)

Mayumi: "If you ever get run out of something to wear (or sick of what you're wearing!) in Japan, try one of the UNIQLO stores across the country (note: this link is to their UK website since the company haven't 'invaded' US). They sell good-quality clothes at reasonable prices. For instance, I saw a lot of nice items on sale: men's short-sleeved dress shirts (1000 yen), women's capri pants (1500 yen), men's & women's t-shirts (500 yen), and more! They also had quick-drying clothes as well as bags and shoes. Muji is another company that is famous for selling simple but high-quality products at reasonable prices, which include not only clothes but also almost everything you can find in a regular department store. It 's so much fun to walk around one of their nationwide stores."

Libby (2002): "When I have traveled in Asia before, I found that the hotels provided laundry service. It was a little expensive but it was cheaper than buying a lot of new travel clothes and nice to have a 'real' clothes cleaning after a few washes done in the sink."

Katheleen (2002): "I have been doing some of my trip shopping on line on e-Bay, buying never-worn Travelsmith and Ex Officio for much less. For example, I bought a Travelsmith 'Indispensable Black Travel Dress,' which is $79 in their catalogue, for $47.49. Check measurements carefully, as there are usually no returns. I am waiting delivery on some Ex Officio 'Adventure' skirts and a fold-up Panama hat. If you have never used e-bay, you need to read descriptions very carefully to make sure it's what you want. Don't be afraid to try it! My husband and I have bought many, many items with very good results."

Definitions | Luggage | What We'll Be Carrying | Dress Code | Packing & Clothes
Other Items to Bring | Laundry | Suggested Retailers | Tips
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