Setup for extended travel?

Hi everyone, I don't post here much; there's so much to read already!

I will be studying abroad this next school year, living with a family in Kyoto, Japan from September to May, and I was thinking about the shaving situation. I don't want to be another unkempt, unshaven gaijin so of course, I'd like to bring a straight along.

However, I want to travel light, both for practical and symbolic reasons; I've lived in the same place all my life, and I'd like to bring as little "baggage" as possible with me. So I was planning on either a) getting an upscale shavette, or b) a small barber hone. How many blades would I have to buy were I to take the first route? I shave every other day and have pretty thick hair. That said, I have a cheap, 5$ shavette that can survive 3-5 shaves before I have to get a new blade.

Were I to bring a real straight and hone, can you get a razor "shaving sharp" straight off a hone? Again, I want to bring as little as possible, I have proven to myself time and time again how easily distracted I am. I figure I could strop it on my belt, or on my skin, or something like that. What would make a good travel hone? I'm willing to sacrifice time honing over having to buy multiple hones.

I look forward to any and all suggestions :)

-David Arroyo

Hello David! Why do you need to bring anything? There are lots of straight shaving options available in Japan. If I were you, I would take the opportunity to try out the local products. What better way to learn to get around and communicate than by focusing on something you're interested in and need?

The first time I travelled abroad, I brought everything with me, as if there were no drugstores, clothing stores, etc. From what I've heard, Japan has everything: streets, sidewalks and even stores with shaving products.

If you decide to bring your own, I'd bring a Feather razor (they are Japanese) and use the Super pro blades. They last a long time.

The alternative is a strop, hone, and 2 or 3 straights -> worry about moisture, loss, travel damage, ...

Or you could explore the native shaving options, but in that case bringing a shavette or feather is still a good idea to carry you over until you've found your way.

I've got some experience getting by with minimal kit. Try this:


Couple o' straights.

Sheets of 150 lb cardstock impregnated with different grades of strop paste.

Tube of Neutrogena shaving cream.

A wide belt made of strop quality leather.


PM TM to see if he'll make a you belt.