[Sangetsu]

How long do you intend to stay in Japan? If you are coming here for only one year, I recommend as MMM says, and bring only a few things. Several tubes of toothpaste and a year's worth of deodorant.

If you plan to stay longer, I would say the opposite, bring everything you can. I say that because many items in Japan are much more expensive than they are in North America and Europe, particularly clothes, shoes, and computers.

When I moved here, I shipped out four large boxes of items via USPS priority mail. I had planned to ship them by regular post, but USPS does not offer that service anymore, so each box cost about $120 to ship. I also carried 2 extra bags with me to the airport, the cost for extra bags was $150 each. The airport will deliver your bags to your hotel or apartment for about $40, and it usually takes about 24 hours to get there. You can select the time you want your bags to arrive so you can be present when they show up.