How I Survived a Long-Haul Flight to Japan (and Actually Had Fun!)
When you’re staring down the barrel of a 12‑hour flight, it’s easy to imagine boredom setting in fast. I haven’t taken many long‑haul flights, but the few I have taught me that with a little planning, those hours can fly by—literally. On my recent trip to Japan, I packed a mix of games, shows, and creative projects that kept me busy (and sane!) from takeoff to landing.
Here’s exactly what I brought, what I actually used, and what I’d recommend if you’ve got a long-haul flight ahead.
Nintendo Switch – My Go-To Distraction
I knew my Nintendo Switch would be a lifesaver, and it was. I even bought a tablet holder from Amazon that clips to the seat back so I could play with my controller hands-free. Honestly? In economy/comfort plus it didn’t work as well as I hoped. The angles felt awkward, but if you’re in Premium Select or a bigger seat, it might be worth it. I ended up just propping my Switch on its little built-in stand or holding it in my case.
What I Played:
- Borderlands (Nintendo had a special—3 games for $10!)
If you haven’t played Borderlands, you’re missing out, it’s hands-down my favorite video game. This first-person shooter blends in RPG elements, making it both fast-paced and surprisingly strategic.
Other Switch Games I’ve Loved:
- Animal Crossing
- Luigi’s Mansion 3
- Any Mario game
- Hollow Knight
- Overcooked
- Spyro
On My To-Play List:
- Hades
- Link’s Awakening
- Triangle Strategy
- Battle Chasers: Nightwar
- Ori and the Blind Forest
Movies & Series – Binge Without Guilt
There’s something magical about having nowhere to be and nothing else to do except binge-watch TV. I made myself a watchlist ahead of time so I didn’t waste precious Wi-Fi-free minutes deciding.
Side Note: Always do your own research before watching to make sure nothing’s triggering for you—these picks are from my perspective as a 29-year-old traveler, so no kids’ shows included.
What I Ended Up Watching:
- Four Seasons – A sweet, easy-to-watch drama that follows the lives of three couples as their stories intertwine.
- Poker Face – Love a good murder mystery? This one will hook you from the very first case.
- Kaos – If Greek mythology is your thing, you’ll have a blast with this modern, twisty take.
- Fyre Festival Documentary – A must-watch. It left quite an impression on me (and not in a “pack your bags” way).
- Trainwreck: Poop Cruise – Let’s just say… I will never look at cruises the same way again.
More Recommendations
Animated Series:
- Castlevania
- Devil May Cry
- Arcane
- Blue Eye Samurai
Series:
- Justified
- The Witcher
- What We Do in the Shadows
- Grace and Frankie
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine
- Community
- Parks and Recreation
- Abbott Elementary
- Derry Girls
- Peaky Blinders
- Warrior
- House of Ninjas
- The Story of Pearl Girl
Games Off the Screen
While I didn’t end up playing it on the plane, I brought one small card game that was perfect for the Shinkansen (bullet train) once we landed in Japan.
- PNW
- Tik Tak Trek
- Kiri-AI: The Duel Card Game (Wallet Edition)
- Paper App Dungeon
- Bandida Card Game
- Toasty Toasts
I brought PNW on this trip, and honestly, it’s the perfect travel game. All you need is a standard deck of cards and the booklet for the rules. It comes with six different game types, ranging from solo play to up to six players.
Books for the Bookworm Hours
Long flights are the perfect time to tackle your ever-growing TBR (to-be-read) pile.
Biographies:
- Without You, There Is No Us by Suki Kim
- Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations by Alton Brown
- When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Random Reads:
- Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs by Jamie Loftus
- Before The Coffee Gets Cold – A favorite Japanese book translated to English
- We’ll Prescribe You A Cat – Another Japanese author whose book has been translated to English
- As Long As The Lemon Tree Grows -Maybe make sure you have a tissue or two nearby, but it’s soooo worth it.
Creative Projects to Pass the Time
If you like hands-on activities, bring something that’s easy to pack and won’t make a mess. I brought my junk journaling items but I didn’t do it on the plane, I saved it for when I was in Japan.
- Embroidery: I’ve taken small embroidery projects on previous flights, and they’re perfect. Compact, calming, and time-consuming in the best way.
- Watercolor: One day I’ll actually bring this; it’s always on my “maybe” list but gets swapped for something else.
- Junk Journaling: Great for capturing trip memories in real time.
- Coloring Book: Relaxing and portable.
- Procreate App: If you have an iPad, it’s perfect for sketching or digital journaling.
My Biggest Tip: Don’t Overpack Activities
It’s tempting to bring all the things, but remember you’ll be carrying them for your entire trip. Plus, you might surprise yourself with how much you sleep on a long flight.
In the end, the only things I truly used were my phone (for movies), my Switch, small Beats headphones, and on the outbound flight I used my neck pillow and eye mask. Even with just those few items, the flight went by surprisingly fast.
What I packed in my backpack for the flight
I brought a small backpack on the flight that contained my activities, snacks and bathroom necessitates
- Computer / Charger
- Junk Journal with some stickers, pens, small scissors, double-sided sticky tape
- Switch / Charger*
- Battery Pack
- Beats Headphones*
- Phone Charger*
- Tablet Holder
- Card Game
- Little bag with bathroom necessitates*
- Neck Pillow / Eye Mask *
- Snacks *
*What I ended up using on the flight
Before You Fly Tips:
- Download your content the day before – Trust me, trying to download movies or shows at the airport almost never works. Save yourself the frustration and do it at home on good Wi‑Fi.
- Pack a reliable portable charger – Choose one that’s safe and airline‑approved (no questionable knockoffs that could overheat).
- Bring both wired and wireless headphones – Wireless for comfort, wired as backup. If you forget, most flight attendants can give you a pair of the basic wired ones.
- Dress in comfortable layers – You never know if you’ll be roasting or freezing. On our last flight, it was so cold I was grateful for my hoodie.
