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