What to pack for a hot, humid, occasionally rainy week; how to move through Japan politely; practical tips; and where to shop for souvenirs along your route.
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Documents & Money
Pack first, check twice
Passport — valid well beyond your travel datesRequest an entry stamp at immigration if using an automated gate — needed for tax-free shopping
Visit Japan Web registration completed before arrivalSpeeds up immigration and customs — register online ahead of time
Flight, hotel & ticket confirmations — digital and one printed backupInclude Disney park tickets/reservations and the Warner Bros Studio Tour timed entry
Travel insurance details, printed or saved offline
Japanese yen cash — small shops, temples, and some food stalls are cash-onlyWithdraw more from 7-Eleven ATMs once there — reliable for foreign cards
Credit/debit card (Visa/Mastercard widely accepted; carry a backup card)
Suica or PASMO set up on your phone (Apple Pay/Google Wallet) before landing, or plan to buy a physical card at the airport
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Clothing
Hot, humid, sudden rain — pack for both
Lightweight, breathable, quick-dry clothing — you'll sweat through the day; quick-dry fabric actually dries overnight
Broken-in walking shoes — you'll easily hit 15,000+ steps on park days
A light cardigan or thin jacket — indoor A/C runs cold, and it doubles as sun protection
Hat or cap, and sunglasses
One modest outfit for temple visits (shoulders/knees covered is respectful, not required at Senso-ji or Meiji Jingu but appreciated)
Swimwear — for the onsen visit, note: swimsuits are not worn in the baths themselves, but useful if your hotel has a pool
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Rain & Heat Gear
September is Tokyo's wettest month
Compact umbrella Or buy a ¥500 one at any convenience store the moment it starts raining — genuinely easier than packing one
Portable handheld fan Sold everywhere in Japan in summer for a reason — genuinely worth having
Sunscreen, reapplied through the day
Cooling towel or neck fan for park days
Reusable water bottle — convenience stores and vending machines sell cold drinks everywhere
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Electronics & Health
Small things that save the day
Portable power bank — a full day of navigation apps + the Disney app will drain your phone fast
Charging cables (Japan uses the same Type A plug as the Philippines — no adapter needed for most devices)
Pocket wifi or a local eSIM arranged before or on arrival
Prescription medication in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription Some common decongestants (e.g. pseudoephedrine) are restricted in Japan — check before packing OTC cold medicine
Hand sanitizer / wet wipes — handy since public restroom soap isn't guaranteed
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Park-Day Extras
For your two Disney days
Small daypack or crossbody bag — lockers/bag storage exist but a light bag is easiest
Ponchos Cheap ones are sold in-park, but bringing your own saves money for a family
Snacks for the train ride over (30–45 min each way)
A foldable tote bag for souvenirs and shopping bags — you will end each day with more bags than you started with
Hotel note: your new base is Hotel Plus Hostel TOKYO ASAKUSA 1 at 2-13-1 Kaminarimon. Confirm laundry availability directly with the property before relying on it.
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On Trains & in Stations
You'll be riding often — these matter daily
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Put your phone on silent ("manner mode")
Loud calls and notification sounds on trains are considered quite rude. Step near the doors if you must take a call, and keep it brief.
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Queue in the marked lines on the platform
Let passengers exit before boarding — this is taken seriously and lines form naturally even during rush hour.
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Stand on the left side of escalators in Tokyo
The right side stays clear for people walking up. (This flips in Osaka, but you won't need to worry about that on this trip.)
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Don't eat or drink on local/subway trains
It's fine on long-distance trains like the Shinkansen, but not on the city subway and JR lines you'll be using daily.
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Don't block doors or stand in the priority seat area
Priority seats near the ends of cars are reserved for elderly, pregnant, disabled, or injured passengers — even if the car looks empty.
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Eating & Public Spaces
Different norms than back home
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Avoid eating while walking
Especially in Asakusa and around Disney — find a bench or designated eating area first. Street-food vendors usually have a small standing area for exactly this reason.
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Carry your trash
Public bins are genuinely rare. Keep a small bag for wrappers and bottles until you reach a convenience store or your hotel — this is completely normal practice, not an inconvenience unique to you.
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Don't tip
Tipping isn't customary and can cause confusion or be politely refused. Excellent service is simply the standard, not something extra to reward with cash.
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A slight bow is a fine, appreciated greeting or thank-you
A handshake isn't expected — a nod or small bow when greeting staff or leaving a shop goes a long way.
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Temples & Shrines
Senso-ji (Day 1) and Meiji Jingu (Day 5)
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Purify your hands at the water basin (chozuya) before entering
Rinse the left hand, then the right, then cup water to rinse your mouth (optional) — don't drink directly from the ladle.
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Walk to the side of the shrine's central path, not down the middle
At Meiji Jingu especially, the center of the approach path is traditionally reserved for the kami (spirits) passing through.
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A small bow before and after praying at the main hall is customary
Two bows, two claps, one prayer, one final bow is the standard Shinto shrine sequence, if you'd like to try it — nobody expects visitors to do this perfectly.
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Keep voices low and be mindful during any ceremony in progress
These remain active places of worship, not just photo backdrops.
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Public Bath Etiquette
Hotel bath & sauna — Day 3
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Wash and rinse thoroughly at the shower stations before entering the bath
This is the single most important rule — the communal bath water is for soaking, not washing.
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No swimsuits — bathing is nude, separated by gender
This surprises a lot of first-timers, but it's completely standard practice and nobody pays it any mind once inside.
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Tie up long hair so it doesn't touch the water
Your small modesty towel can be kept out of the water — many people rest it on their head or the bath edge.
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Do not assume tattoo or family-use policies
Policies vary by property. Confirm the hotel’s current public-bath rules directly before the trip.
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At the Disney Parks
A few Tokyo-specific quirks
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Find a seat before eating any park snack
Same "no eating while walking" norm applies inside the parks — designated benches and eating zones are everywhere.
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Queue lines are calm, quiet, and orderly
Cutting or crowding is very much not the local norm — match the pace around you.
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Selfie sticks, tripods, and drones are restricted or banned in the parks
Leave them at the hotel — they'll likely be confiscated at bag check or asked to be put away.
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Money & Connectivity
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Set up Suica or PASMO on your phone before you land
Add it to Apple Pay or Google Wallet and top up with a card — this skips the ticket-machine queue entirely on arrival at Narita.
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7-Eleven ATMs are the most reliable for foreign cards
Not every Japanese ATM accepts international cards — 7-Eleven (and most convenience stores) are the safe bet, and they're everywhere.
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Tax-free shopping still works the "old" way for your exact dates
Japan's tax-free system switches to a pay-first-refund-later model on Nov 1, 2026 — after your trip. For Sep 1–7, you still get the 10% consumption tax deducted instantly at the register. Spend at least ¥5,000 pre-tax at one store on one day and show your passport at checkout.
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Arrange a pocket wifi or eSIM before landing
You'll lean on maps and the Tokyo Disney Resort app constantly — don't rely on hotel wifi alone.
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Getting Around
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Cross-check routes with Google Maps or NAVITIME on the day
Timetables and platform assignments occasionally shift — a live check the morning of takes 10 seconds and avoids surprises.
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Coin lockers at major stations are a good release valve
If you're shopping-heavy on a given day, a station locker (¥300–¥700) can save you from lugging bags around for hours.
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Avoid the 7:30–9:00 AM commuter rush if you can
Your rope-drop mornings mostly dodge this, but if you're ever moving through central stations mid-morning on a weekday, expect it to be tight.
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Weather & Comfort
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Check typhoon updates via the Japan Meteorological Agency or NHK World
Both publish English-language forecasts and warnings — worth a daily glance given you're traveling in peak typhoon season.
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Duck into a convenience store or department store for free A/C relief
No purchase pressure — it's completely normal to pop in just to cool down for a few minutes.
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Hydrate more than feels necessary
Between the heat and the walking, it's easy to underestimate how much water you need — vending machines are on nearly every block.
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Food & Convenience Stores
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Don't underrate convenience store food
7-Eleven, Family Mart, and Lawson all sell genuinely good, cheap onigiri, sandwiches, and hot food — a reliable backup on days when you don't want a sit-down meal.
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Some restaurants are cash-only, especially small local spots
Carry enough cash for a meal even if you're planning to pay by card elsewhere.
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Asakusa
Day 1 — traditional souvenirs
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Nakamise Street
The classic first stop — a roofed arcade of stalls leading up to Senso-ji.
Buy here: folding fans, tenugui (cloth towels), yukata, chopsticks, traditional snacks and sweets
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Tokyo Solamachi (base of Skytree)
A large indoor mall with a broad general-souvenir selection — good rain-day option too.
Buy here: Skytree-branded goods, regional snack boxes, general Tokyo souvenirs
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Disney Resort
Days 2–3 — park-exclusive merchandise
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World Bazaar shops (Disneyland) & port shops (DisneySea)
Tokyo Disney Resort merchandise is famously different from the US parks, with region-exclusive designs.
Buy here: Tokyo-exclusive plush & pins, Duffy and Friends merchandise (a Japan-only Disney bear line), popcorn buckets
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Ikspiari (Maihama Station)
Shopping mall just outside the resort gates — same-day return trip friendly if you want to browse without paying park admission again.
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Shibuya & Harajuku
Day 5 — character goods & discount finds
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Don Quijote
Multi-floor discount store — chaotic but rewarding, open late.
Buy here: snacks, cosmetics, quirky novelty items, souvenirs at lower prices than tourist shops
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Pokémon Center Shibuya
Official Pokémon store — exclusive plushies and collectibles not sold outside Japan.
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Kiddy Land, Harajuku
Multi-floor character store — Hello Kitty, Snoopy, Studio Ghibli, Rilakkuma and more.
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Akihabara
Day 6 — anime, figures & electronics
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Animate
Japan's largest anime store.
Buy here: manga, anime merchandise, figures
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Radio Kaikan
Multi-floor hobby and collectible building.
Buy here: figures, trading cards, model kits, specialty collectibles
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Yodobashi Camera
Large electronics complex with a tax-free counter.
Buy here: cameras, electronics, toys — good for tech-focused souvenirs
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Last-Minute, Day 7
Before heading to Narita
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Narita Airport terminal shops
Solid last-chance spot for boxed sweets (Tokyo Banana, KitKat Japan-exclusive flavors, Royce' chocolate) if you're short on time elsewhere — prices are comparable to in-town shops.
Remember the tax-free minimum: ¥5,000 pre-tax at a single store, same day, passport required at checkout. Ask for the tax-free counter if it isn't obvious — most department stores and Don Quijote handle it right at a dedicated register.