Written by Kevin Lew -- 'The Lai-Lai Boy' kasumi@eden.com
Last updated: 21 October 1996
In my opinion, you should bring the biggest that you can get. If you plan to haul many things home, carry-on luggage is useless. It is very, very important to get one with wheels. You will end up carrying your luggage longer than you think. You will regret it when you have to walk around with it for several blocks.
There is no stigma if you wear one. They are quite handy, and you can stick an umbrella, pocket dictionary, etc. in it. Plus, when you go shopping, your smaller goodies quickly go into it.
These are zipper pouches that go around your waist. They are also called other things, including butt bags and bum bags. There is also no stigma for anybody to wear one in Japan. They can hold important things such as your wallet, passport, etc. (Of course, it's best to just keep your passport and stuff in a safe deposit box, if available).
Bring as much as possible. You will suffer horribly if you run out of money. Please note that cash exchanges for less money, so if you're from the U.S., traveler's checks are best. Remember, Japan is a cash society, and credit cards are only accepted in only a few places. Please note that anime stores usually do not accept credit cards.
You will still need this for large expenses, such as paying your hotel bill. I've been told that it's more difficult to get cash from ATM machines if you use a VISA or Mastercard. In Shinjuku, there is a JCB bank machine that will allow you to use any major International card for cash advances.