I have been doing single-bag travel domestically in Japan for two years now, and I thought I should write about it.
First thing first, I wanted to state that a single-bag travel setup is a very personal situation, and it took me 1.5 years until I arrived at the solution I liked.
Also note that I believe my setup is TSA-compliant, which mean I should be able to use my bag as a carry-on for international flights, but I have not tested it. I also do a “no-compromise” packing, which mean I will bring everything I wanted.
I initially planned this post with images, but I was too lazy to take picture of everything so it’s text-only, which make it pretty useless but…
The bag
- Samsonite Biz2Go 15.6″. This is a 22.5L backpack with a clam-shell main compartment. I used this for most of a year. It’s good for up to two night (or more if you do laundry) but I find that while I could pack everything, it lacks the space to bring something back. This leads me to using the postal service to send souvenir back. I still use it for 1-day trip or 1-2 day business trip.
- Peak Design Travel 30L. This was a recent addition and I have been using it for a couple of month. I love it. I initially couldn’t decide whether I wanted the 45L or the 30L, as I think 45L silhouette is too big but 30L quick-access pocket is very small, but the very nice stuff at Peak Design Tokyo Shop helped me repack my Samsonite into their showcase 30L bag to see if it would work for me.
- I was also using 25L Herschel Supply Little American bag for a couple of months when I first started doing single-bag travel, but quickly find that the lack of side pocket (I required 2 — one for water bottle and another for umbrella) is very, very annoying. Also, it cannot be open clam-shell.
Packing cubes
I actually learned about packing cubes pretty late into my game, just half a year ago. The compression packing cube literally change my travel style as I could bring more clothes. Previously I need to do laundry even on a 2-day trip as a cotton shirt won’t last long on hot summer days.
I have CIPWAY packing cubes (small and medium), mainly used for 1-3 nights. The CIPWAY packing cubes are pretty small and also can be compressed to be even smaller, so it’s good when I don’t have a lot of clothes.
I also have Peak Design Packing Cube, Medium. It’s great for large amount of clothes for like 4-6 nights, but it can’t be compressed very small so it ended up taking a lot of space if you are not bringing a lot.
Tech
Apart from my phone (currently a Sony Xperia 1 Mark II, which have fantastic cameras. I will probably upgrade to Mark VI next year), I always, always carry 3 other tech items:
- My laptop, currently a ThinkPad X1 Carbon. It’s 14″ monitor offer plenty of real estate, and it’s just 1.1kg.
- Supernote A6X, an e-ink digital notebook. I use it as a notebook and also a planner.
- Either Kindle Paperwhite, or BOOX Leaf 2, an e-reader.
The laptop fits into laptop sleeve, and the Supernote fits into the tablet sleeve. The Kindle goes into the quick access pocket.
I also carry two power bank: a beefy 19,200mAh Anker with 65W output capable of powering my laptop. I store this deep in my backpack and run a 1.8m USB-C cable outside for quick access. Another power bank is a Anker Powercore Fusion 5000mAh which double as a phone charger too, and with it 0.9m USB-C cable.
I use the MUJI Gadget Pouch as my tech pouch. Inside, I have a 3m Anker USB-C cable (capable of 60W) in case I need a long power cord for my laptop, an Anker 65W GaN charger for my laptop (and phone in case I couldn’t plug in the Powercore Fusion), a USB-LAN dongle, a USB3.2 USB-C cable, wired headphone with microphone (in case I need to hop on a meeting), Microsoft Modern Mobile Mouse, a small tape measure, travel outlet adapter (both from MUJI), and SanDisk external SSDs.
Wash
I don’t have a specific wash pouch, as I find the idea pretty counter-intuitive, as I don’t think all items are being used at the same time as with the tech pouch.
All my wash item are from MUJI. I have their clear bag for a case (to be TSA compliant), filled with 2 50ml refillable bottle that I bring my body soap and shampoo. Another 50ml tube carry my face wash, and a small container with my all-in-one moisturising cream, along with disposable razors (I could use one of those for a year or more — don’t ask my how, I don’t know, but I could) and a foldable comb. I also carry gel ball laundry detergent (the only thing not from MUJI) and film-type soap.
(I have another, smaller clear bag that have 25ml refillable bottles instead for shorter trip, as toiletries are quite heavy)
Two items can fit in the bag but are generally not unless at the airport: sanitising alcohol and small atomizer for my perfume. Those live in my quick access pocket of my bag.
My toothbrush and toothpaste are not in my clear bag as I use them outside too, so I place them in a more accessible location. They also have its own container (I bought them as a package with container, brush, and paste from drugstore in Japan). I know toothpaste should be in the clear bag too, but I have been packing toothpaste outside of clear bag for a long time and never have problem at airport security.
I also have PackTowl Personal Body towel, but I only bring it on a selected trip. Most of the time I always stay in hotel with a towel, so I don’t usually bring it.
Accessories
I use two small MUJI Two-zipper cases for my other accessories. One container first-aid kit with band-aids, dressing pads, and sanitising wipes, along with some basic medicine and cottons. Another contains sewing kits, small scissors, a nail clipper (Swiss Army Victorinox, highly recommended), and glasses and shoes cleaning wipes (from MUJI again).
Depend on the trip, I may also carry my pen cases with pens in multiple colours (Uni One), mechanical pencil along with the lead, correction tape/liquid, eraser, and a small ruler.
I also bring Peak Design Packable Tote or other packable bags in case I need to expand, as long with some sore throat candy just in case (it also help when I am starved but cannot find something to eat yet).
A MUJI travel clothes roller are also stored separately in case I need it during the day.
Wallet
When travelling domestically I always carry my main wallet (an m-piu millefoglie wallet). I also carry a travel wallet (MUJI travel wallet) which will hold my room key and train tickets, etc. It also has space for bank notes and coins so it became my main wallet when travelling internationally.
I use Bellroy Passport Case for my passport. In there are also my emergency cash.
I have a separated coin case full of 5 yen coin specifically for Japan domestic travel. They are used for praying at shrines and temples.
Water bottle
I do have Eclipse Vapor 1L water bottle, but in Japan it’s just easier to buy water from vending machine.
Clothes
I wear a lot of clothes. My standard outfit is a shirt with inner t-shirt, a boxer, and a jean, along with socks and leather shoes. I also wear hat all the time. This result in quite a lot of clothes, so I just bring one jean (that I was wearing) and a few more shirt (which is reusable for 2 days). I bring day-count of boxer and inner t-shirt, along with handkerchief and socks (the latter two may be reused for another day, though).
I also bring a short and an oversize t-shirt mainly as a nightwear, but those can also double as day clothes in emergency.
If I were to bring jacket, it goes with me.
Misc
I have a prescription sunglass, which double as my emergency glass too.
I have a microfibre cloth and several pack of tissue in easy reach in my bag.
I also carry a small, powerful flashlight.
I think that’s pretty much it.