Towels are handy when it rains suddenly, not enough towels at your lodging facility, or on a hot day. At 7-Eleven they sell various size towels such as hand towels (face towel) to bath towels. Hand towels won’t get in your way and you can keep a few in your travel bags.

Japanese hotels and inns often provide toothbrush kits as amenity. However if you stay outside a hotel or inn, such as your friend’s house, this may not be the case. If you do stay at a facility without amenities, you can purchase dental goods at the convenience store. They also have disposable razors for men.

Japan’s weather can be unpredictable at times, especially in the recent years there has been cloudbursts where extreme rain happens suddenly. In that case, you can always run into a convenience store and purchase an umbrella. If you worry that it will be too cumbersome, you can always get a raincoat. There are many tourists who wear raincoats and enjoy sightseeing in the rain. Be prepared to overcome the unfortunate rain during your travels.

Going into winter from autumn, warm clothes like gloves and knit caps are sold. There are cases where it gets much colder than expected and it’s nice to have a quick solution. For people heading to Japan’s northern regions of Tohoku or Hokkaido, make sure to stay warm. Even if you do forget warm clothes, you can always stop by the convenience store.

Various kinds of clothing are sold in Japanese convenience stores. They mainly have undershirts and underwear, but it is always nice being able to acquire these items close by. 7-Eleven also has a lineup of their own private brand. They are well made just like apparel brands and have a great comfort to them. This crew neck T shirt comes in M, L, and LL sizes. However these are made in Japanese standards. The largest LL size has a 104cm ~ 112cm chest size. Make sure to check the size before you purchase the items.

Just like undershirts, socks are another item that can be easily forgotten. 7-Eleven has a lineup of 2 colors of socks for men (black and charcoal) and 3 colors for ladies (black, charcoal, grey). Men’s sizes come in 25cm~27cm and ladies’ come in 23cm ~ 25 cm. They do stretch a little.

Most contact users may know this, but cleaning solution and cases are easily forgettable. If you have a 1-day type contact lenses it’s not an issue, however for the 2-week type or hard lenses it can be a problem. Make sure to purchase some before you reach your hotel.

During your travels skincare is a something you can’t forget, especially for women. If you forget your skincare products or run out, you can always purchase more at the convenience store. The stores have various skincare products such as skin toner, milky lotion and cleansing cream. It is also nice that they come in compact sizes which don’t take up much space in your travel bags.

The travel set for 7 days use is extremely convenient. This will fulfill your skincare needs during your stay. There are also one day use sets so you can purchase as many as you need.

If you forget your makeup pouch, you can always purchase a makeup set at the convenience store. It includes foundation, eyebrow liner and foundation primer, which are handy in a pinch. Since it includes the fundamental items, it always good to have on hand.

It can be extremely daunting if you forget your smartphone charger, without your smartphone it will be difficult to search for places to eat and where your accommodations are. If you forgot your charger you can quickly purchase one at the convenience store. There are different type of chargers such as one that uses batteries or power plug types, also the packages have “iPhone” and “Android” marks to easily figure out which one to get. The convenience store also has different battery sizes too.

If you need to charge your phone immediately, we recommend the battery type. As long you replace the batteries, you can keep using it. With the power plug type you can charge it in your hotel room. One thing to note is Japan’s voltage is 100V and your charger may not properly work. For recently released smartphones the charger can work between 100V~240V, and you can technically use them anywhere without a power converter. Although it is always good to remember that you can grab a charger at the convenience store in a pinch.

It is possible that your earphones can break of go missing during your travel. In that case the convenience store sells some that you can use for an emergency. They have audio brands and their own private brand earphones.

I’m sure there are plenty of people who carry around adhesive bandages to deal with blisters on your feet. For people planning to walk a lot during their travels, it is always nice to have some on hand. If you forget to pack them, you can always easily grab some at the store and put it in your travel bag.

Throwing away your cigarette butts is prohibited. With more restrictions on smokers these days, it is common to see more people carrying around portable ashtrays. In recent years, the number of ashtrays have decreased, and it is common to go to a designated smoking area near the station. If you don’t have one, you might want to grab one at the convenience store.

Not a must, but something that is extremely handy is a sewing kit. You never know when a button might pop off from your favorite shirt, with a handy sewing kit you will be good to go.

Most essential items can be purchased at a convince store during your trip to Japan. In a way as long you have money and your passport, you can travel freely in Japan, and purchase what you need from a convince store. Even though convenience stores have pretty much all the essentials, it is much better to double check your bags before your trip and make sure you have everything to ensure a smooth trip.

*Top image credit: Ned Snowman / Shutterstock.com