This article was translated from Japanese by Claude Code.
I attended Google I/O 2017 in person for the first time. This article covers what I personally did in preparation, a summary from leaving Japan to arrival, and a list of items I brought to America. I hope this becomes a helpful reference for those planning to travel to the US or attend Google I/O in the future.
Personal Preparation for Attending Google I/O for the First Time#
Reading Helpful Articles#
I skimmed through this article.
Asking Participants What to Bring#
I asked people who had previously attended Google I/O what items they’d recommend bringing. I got advice like “Light down jacket is essential at night as it gets cold,” “Sunscreen is essential,” etc.
For those attending for the first time in the future, I recommend asking people who’ve actually attended what you should bring.
ESTA Application#
The article above has detailed information about this. I remembered a few days before departure (ﾟдﾟ)ﾊｯ! and rushed to apply. My application was approved within minutes. Since you can get caught up in luggage preparation as your departure date approaches and forget things, I recommend applying as soon as your travel is confirmed if you need ESTA.
Time Difference#
The time difference between Japan and San Francisco is:
During Daylight Saving Time (mid-March to early November): 16 hours
Outside Daylight Saving Time (winter time): 17 hours
Since Japan is ahead of America timewise, if you leave Japan on 5/5 in the evening, you’ll arrive at roughly 5/5 in the early morning local time.
From Leaving Japan to Arrival#
The flight departure was 17:10, with arrival expected at 10:35 local time. Since 17:00 Japan time is 25:00 local time, I aimed to sleep soon after takeoff and wake toward the end of the flight to minimize jet lag. I immediately switched from shoes to sandals after takeoff, put on an eye mask and a moisturizing mask, and tried to fall asleep quickly after the lights went out following the meal service. (Though I didn’t sleep as much as intended,) by staying awake until night after arrival, I managed to avoid severe jet lag.
Items Brought to America#
E-ticket (essential)
Passport (essential)
US Dollars ($500 or so) (Google I/O and souvenirs were mostly credit card payments so I had leftover money.) (Credit card was usually the only accepted payment.)
Google I/O ticket QR code, passport, airline ticket, ESTA printouts (brought per the recommended article’s suggestion. Not essential but provided peace of mind.)
Daily Essentials#
Toothbrush (Hotels didn’t have them)
Sunscreen (Distributed to Google I/O participants; also available locally)
Hat (Barely used.) (Available locally)
Towel
Change of clothes
Light down jacket (Very helpful on cool evenings and nights.) (Available at Uniqlo in the area)
Room wear
Sandals
Umbrella (Rarely rained so didn’t use.)
Contact lenses and solution
Razor
Nail clippers
Medicine#
Benzablock (Used when I felt unwell; having it provides peace of mind)
Mentholatum
Electronics#
MacBook Pro and charger
Kindle Paperwhite and charger
iPhone and charger
Pixel Phone and charger
In-Flight Items#
Moisturizing mask
Travel pillow (Purchased at Muji in Narita Airport)
Summary#
In summary, I’ve covered what I personally did preparing for my first Google I/O, a recap from leaving Japan to arrival, and a list of items I brought to America. If you’re planning to attend Google I/O or traveling to America and have any questions, feel free to reach out.
That’s all!
