I have traveled to Japan many times, nearly always for photography, some freelance-paid and some not. I have never declared my gear but do take receipts for anything that "looks new." Of course, I have never taken 7 lenses and 2 full-sized tripods, which seems excessive but whatever floats your boat. My gear tends to be more along the lines of 2 mirrorless bodies, 2 pro zooms and 2 other lenses, 1 tripod and 1 RRS Pocket Pod. When traveling strictly for leisure, the big tripod and one of the bodies stay home. Everything except the tripod goes in a bag insert in a medium-small backpack along with laptop, electronics, other valuables, meds and miscellaneous stuff. The tripod goes in my roll-aboard carry-on bag. I've never had any of it questioned.