Essential Items to Pack When Arriving in Japan
Your Updated Survival Kit
LIFE IN JAPAN
1/14/20264 min read
Arriving in Japan brings a mix of emotions: excitement, anxiety, and that practical question — "What do I really need to buy NOW?". With stores full of unknown products, the rush to get settled, and a limited initial budget, it's easy to waste money on unnecessary things or buy items that don't meet your real needs.
This updated guide from Manual do Japão lists the truly essential items for your first weeks, with practical tips from veterans so you can survive with minimal comfort while you better understand what you need, without wasting your precious initial capital.
Crucial Warning: Plan Your Initial Financial Reserve
Before talking about shopping, let's address the most important thing: the money to survive. Your first full salary in Japan usually only comes at the end of the second or third month. Therefore:
For a couple: It is recommended to come with at least ¥300,000 to cover rent, deposits, initial purchases, and living expenses until the first paycheck. This amount allows you to buy essential items of better quality without desperation.
Emergency minimum: If not possible, do not come with less than ¥120,000 per person just for basic food and transportation for the first 30 days.
(Stay tuned: we will have a future post detailing everything you need to do BEFORE coming to Japan, including detailed financial planning).
Smart Shopping List (First Weeks)
Goal: Spend as little as possible on essentials, avoiding regrets.
1. For Body and Personal Hygiene
Body Soap and Shampoo (ボディソープ / シャンプー):
Premium Option: Dove Body Soap, Peach & Sweet Pea (Body Wash), Refill, Large Capacity, 44.8 oz (1,270 g). Creamy, mild fragrance, and lasts a long time.
Budget Option: Leivy (レイヴィー) Body Shampoo Body Soap Goat Milk. Good value for money with goat's milk.
Toothpaste and Toothbrush (歯磨き粉 / 歯ブラシ): ⚠️ Attention: Japanese toothpastes are very different. For a more familiar, potent clean feeling, we recommend: Clear Clean Natural Mint 4.2 oz (120 g) [Quasi-drug]. If you are very sensitive, it's worth bringing at least one tube from Brazil.
Towels (タオル): Buy a pack with several face towels and one bath towel. Japanese towels are smaller and dry quickly.
Deodorant (デオドラント): If you have a preference for a specific brand, BRING IT FROM BRAZIL. If not, look for:
2. For Your New Home: The Basics of the Basics
Futon and Sleeping Support (布団): The biggest initial doubt. Yes, buy a cheap futon at Nitori, Ikea or check local home centers for better prices. Golden tip: If you find it too hard to sleep directly on the floor or tatami, consider an inflatable mattress like the Air Bed with Built-in Electric Pump Load Capacity 300kg 200×150×25cm to put under the futon for immense temporary comfort.
Medium-Term Goal - Western Mattress: Plan an initial savings to buy a Western-style bed or mattress as soon as possible. Sleeping well is an absolute priority to handle the work routine. It's an investment in your health.
Contractor's Welcome Kit: ASK your contractor (or company) if they provide a "welcome kit" for new employees. Many provide basic items, which can mean significant savings.
Trash Can and Bags (ゴミ箱 / ゴミ袋): CRITICAL. Buy bags SPECIFIC TO YOUR MUNICIPALITY (指定ゴミ袋 - shitei gomibukuro). Ask your landlord.
3. For the Kitchen: Brazilian Flavors at the Start
Initial Seasonings (forget dashi for now): Instead of mirin and dashi, start with good quality salt: Japan Salt Gotoshima Salt 2.2 lbs (1 kg) or MC Cooking Salt, 28.2 oz (800 g), 2 Pack. Complement with black pepper (コショウ), garlic (ニンニク), onion (タマネギ), and cooking oil (サラダ油).
Rice, Pasta, and Canned Beans: A bag of rice, spaghetti, and some canned beans (豆の缶詰) are great for homesickness.
Basic Utensils: A frying pan, a pot, a spatula, and a set of cutlery from 100 yen shops (Daiso, Seria) are more than enough.
4. Documents and Technology (Absolute Priority)
ID Documents: Your Residence Card (在留カード) and passport ALWAYS with you.
Cell Phone with Plan: Solving a prepaid or postpaid SIM from a cheap MVNO carrier (like IIJmio, LINE Mobile) in the first few days is vital.
5. Clothing: Prepare for the Real Cold
Cold Weather Clothes from Brazil: ⚠️ Attention: The coats and sweaters from Brazil are mostly NOT sufficient for the intense, dry Japanese winter. Don't take up suitcase space with them.
Where to Buy Cheap Winter Clothes: The best tip is second-hand stores (リサイクルショップ, like Book Off, Hard Off, Mode Off). You can find excellent quality coats and clothes for a fraction of the price.
Comfortable Shoes and Umbrella: Sneakers for walking and a cheap compact umbrella are first-need items.
Where to Buy All This? Strategic Summary
Everything in one place (and cheap): Don Quijote (ドン・キホーテ).
Home, Futons, Towels: Nitori (good cost) and Local Home Centers (to compare futon prices).
Everything for ¥100: Daiso, Seria, Can Do (utensils, organizers).
Cheap Food: Gyomu Super (業務スーパー).
Cheap Winter Clothes: Second-hand Stores (リサイクルショップ).
Correct Mindset: Survival, then Comfort
Your goal in the first 8 weeks is to function and become financially stable. Buy only the strictly necessary. Use your support network (contractor, colleagues, Brazilian community) for tips and perhaps donated items. Once your first salary arrives and you better understand your needs in Japan, then make more targeted purchases for your long-term comfort.
Remember: almost everyone who is here started simply. Little by little, with planning, you build your life in Japan.
#EssentialItemsJapan #ArrivingInJapan #SurvivalKit #FirstDaysJapan #BraziliansInJapan #JapanTips #ManualDoJapao #DonQuijote #Nitori #EconomyInJapan