I consider myself a well-traveled guy, so I am glad to have the chance to share a few things I've learned on my trips. I hope you will find these useful, and that they will help you enjoy your trip more. After you read them, be sure to respond and share your own tips with me!.

1. Fold then Roll - When you are packing your luggage, be sure to roll your shirts and pants after folding them. They will take up less space, so you can use that space for souvenirs (おみやげ）for your friends and family. Also, rolling your shirts neatly helps you avoid getting as many wrinkles in them.

2. Bring Your Own Toiletries - I don't know about you, but I hate the taste of hotel toothpaste. Also, those little one-use tubes are not good for the environment. With that in mind, I usually bring my own toiletries. I bring my toothpaste from home, and I have a reusable travel bottle for shampoo. In addition, I bring my own bar of soap, because it is bigger, and smells better, than hotel soap. I keep the cardboard box the soap is in, and reuse it to bring my soap back home. Yes, it is more to carry, but since you will be rolling your clothes in your luggage, you will have extra space in your luggage for your tolietries. :) 

3. Map the Attractions Around Subway Stops - When you are planning what to see and do, check the nearby subway stops and subway lines. Then, group the attractions together by subway line, then subway station. This will help you organize your itinerary, and save you a lot of travel time. This is how I am able to maximize what I see and do when I travel.

4. What Do the Locals Eat?- Tourists have a bad habit... they often eat at expensive, touristy places and waste a lot of money. This is sad, because it really isn't an authentic taste of where you are. Go on Yelp, or Google Maps, and find the local, cheap places that have good reviews. This is the real taste of the country, and it's how I discovered まつのや, which is my absolute favorite place to eat whenever I am in Japan. (Try their special sauce.)

5. Cancel Your Diet - A lot of us diet... but is traveling really the time to diet? Will you enjoy the full experience of your trip? Enjoy the food, and try as much as you can, because you might not get another chance. If I was worried about calories, I would never have tried Skal or Teleets Coffee (SO GOOD!).

6. Leave Your Embarrassment at Home - You are in a different place, so fully enjoy it. Do the things you want to do, and don't let shyness or embarrassment stop you. The truth is, no one knows you there, and the locals will not remember you. So, why worry about what other people think? It won't affect them, but it will affect you, and give you a lot of regrets if you miss opportunities.



Have a great trip, and make sure you fully enjoy the opportunities you meet there.