Originally Posted by Oreto

Re: #1

IME, Immigration and Customs are on par with other places in the region so you probably won't have any issue beyond the normal processes. However, on one trip, one of my friends got the business from both Immigration and Customs. We figured that it might be related to the fact that he is Korean but we have no proof of that. That instance only added about 20 minutes to our journey.

Re: #4

It can snow but you should be fine with your normal winter garb unless you just can't handle the chill. I went to Hokkaido 2 years ago and there were Japanese women in mini skirts and heels on snow-covered streets. It all depends on your comfort level. Living in SoCal probably won't help you in that regard, so you may be wise to have and not need than need and not have.

Originally Posted by ksandness

My one piece of advice is to wear thick socks. You have to take off your shoes to go inside temples, and I once made the mistake of wearing thin socks to visit a temple in February. I was chilled through and could not warm up until I got into the bath that evening.

Originally Posted by joejones

(1) Customs is generally pretty easy. The only major caveat is their broad definition of stimulants and narcotics, which you have already apparently heard about.

I have only been stopped at customs once, and that was coming in from a few days in China with a small bag, which I guess might have triggered a smuggling profile somehow. I have never been stopped when coming in from the US.

One of my co-workers came back from South Africa carrying several pounds of meat and was stopped -- the customs inspector looked at the meat inside the suitcase, asked "Is this food?" and after he said "Yes," waved him right through.

(2) Probably OK if you're sticking to cities. You should have no trouble finding extra clothes, etc. if necessary, though it may be a challenge if you are particularly tall or big-boned.

(3) Given the fact that it could trip you up at customs, and that the public rules are not very clear, I wouldn't bring any potentially troublesome medication to Japan unless you need it in order to survive. Based on what I have read online, you CAN get deported or even end up in jail for possession of the wrong kind of Sudafed -- and if you have a cold or another condition, you can get OTC medicine from a drug store when you get here. That said, Tylenol is definitely OK (they sell it here, same brand name and everything).

(4) Comments on weather above are generally spot on. Kyoto is a bit colder and snowier than Tokyo IME. One thing to keep in mind is that you'll want warm inner wear as well as warm outer wear, because Japanese buildings can often have really crappy insulation.

Originally Posted by abmj-jr

I never take more than a rollaboard plus a small laptop backpack for up to 3 weeks in Japan. To make that work, I book at least one hotel during the trip that has a coin laundry on site. For 6 days, I'd think you could rinse out a few things in the sink if no laundromat is available. The one kicker here is that you are traveling in the dead of winter and will likely need heavier clothing. Check hotels for laundry facilities and plan on a laundry night and you will be fine.

In addition to prescription meds, I always take small quantities of cold-related OTC medications and have never been questioned. Perhaps I just look trustworthy but in many trips to Japan, I have never even had my luggage opened for inspection. They just wave me through. Of course, I look like someone's grandfather and it might be a bit different for college aged girls but probably not much. However it goes, they will be polite. Expect more unpleasantness from the US folks when you return.

It will likely be colder in Kyoto than Tokyo but neither will be arctic. Whoever has been telling you "unbelievably cold" has been exaggerating.