It is close now.
We will be flying out of Australia on the 11th November.

Spending our first night at an airport hotel in Tokyo before beginning our anti-clockwise route, staying in Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Hakone before closing the loop back in Tokyo. Trip time: 25 days.

Here is a map of our route.

Just in case you are really interested (which would only probably be my mum) here is a link to our full travel itinerary.

We are pretty much ready to go. My biggest stress right now is whether or not to take 2 prime lenses for my camera. I know, 1st world problems.

Here are some random things that may be of interst from my planning brainstorms:

ICE (in case of emergency) sheet:

Today I made each of us a medical sheet that incudes:

• Personal details.
• Emergency contacts.
• Travel insurance details.
• Medical history and current medications.
• Allergies.
• List of advance care directives (in case of catastrophic scenario).

Using Google translate I formatted these one page info sheets in English AND Japanese.

eSim:

Having reliable internet connectivity whilst in Japan is a happiness multiplier. Using google maps to navigate the big cities, booking tickets in advance for popular activities…and of course uploading my photos and travel stories to share with you.

Last year we used a different provider. This time we are going to try Saily. It a pretty popular app with global coverage plans.

I will be using their 25 day unlimited GB plan (because I usually use a lot of data) which will cost about 106 bucks AUD. There are cheaper teirs available.

Powerbank:

This will be our first time taking a powerbank whilst travelling. On our last trip to Japan we noticed that we were draining our phones with all the google map, and google translate etc usage. Plus Kelly uses her phone as her primary camera.

Airlines are getting pretty strict with any sort of lithium battery luggage (and rightly so). Powerbanks are strictly carry on only.

We chose a Cygnett power bank 10K (claims to be able to recharge 2 iPhones on a single charge) for no other reason than it was on special.

Rubbish bag:

A small thing. Rubbish bins are notoriously hard to find in many places in Japan. And the plastic container to food content ratio is high when out and about. This trip we will be packing a small re-usable bag specifically to haul out our trash.

Grab bag list:

Just stuff I must remember NOT to forget!

• Spare glasses
• Masks (it is early winter cold and flu season over there).
• Headphones.
• Converter power plugs.
• Journal. And rollerball pen (my felt tip pen of choice invariably leaks on the flight).
• iPad mini.
• Cheat sheet of Japanese phrases I will need. The most important being Sumimasen (excuse me or I’m sorry), because I am socially uber-clumsy, and a faux pas meta-gimboid.
• Camera (God forbid I forget this).
• Cucumber flavoured, fluorescent, low calorie massage oil (is anybody still reading this far down the list?).

Well, if you have made it this far down the page (wow)…..like sorry to disappoint there is no climactic twist at the end.

Just this.

Feeling the stoke for the trip now.
Fair warning, I will be boring you to death with my photos and their backstories.

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