Bedbug prevention AND Japan travel tips?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Obviously, the two are related. I’ll start with the second, since it’s the foundation for all that will come.

If things go right, I’ll be accompanying the rest of my family to Japan in the near future. We’ll mostly be staying in Shinjuku, with day trips to Kofu and Matsumoto (one of which is where my dad is from). The trip’s a little over a week total.

Any tips on stuff to see/do? Anything a very young kid will enjoy that we should know about? Any tips on what I’ll need, hardware-wise, if I bring my laptop?

To the second: thanks to Time magazine, several threads here, and a coworker I mentioned a couple of months ago, I’m a little paranoid about bedbugs. What are the best tips to make sure I don’t bring them home? I’ll be spending some time at my family’s home both before and after the trip, before returning to my own apartment in another state (the apartment is attached to others - thus I have even more impetus to avoid bedbugs, because I’m considerate like that).

I’ll be taking one suitcase (as small as I can get it for the length of the trip) and my laptop backpack, which has a single large “pocket” in front that only closes with a snap; everything else has zippers. As I said, I’m also strongly considering taking the laptop itself, if bedbugs can hide out in electronics themselves.

Thanks in advance for thoughts on either (or, hopefully both!).

2

Here is a copy of my advice that I routinely give in my professional capacity. I apologize for the ALL CAPS, but I am too lazy to re-type it. :slight_smile:

IF YOU ARE TRAVELING, I WOULD TAKE MEASURES TO MINIMIZE THE CHANCE OF PICKING THEM UP. ANY HOTEL CAN HAVE BEDBUGS, EVEN NICE ONES.  YOU CAN PICK UP BEDBUGS ANYWHERE, BUT YOU ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO GET THEM FROM A HOTEL THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

CHECK YOUR HOTEL ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY BEDBUG COMPLAINTS.  IN THE STATES, YOU CAN LOOK UP ON BEDBUGREGISTRY.COM, I ALSO USE THE VARIOUS TRAVEL RATING SITES.  AS OFTEN AS NOT, IF YOU TYPE THE HOTEL NAME AND "BEDBUG" INTO GOOGLE, IF THERE ARE COMPLAINTS THEY WILL COME UP.

DON'T USE A REGULAR SUITCASE.  I USE A CANVAS DUFFEL BAG.  WHEN I GET HOME, ALL MY CLOTHES AND THE BAG ARE THROWN IMMEDIATELY IN THE DRYER FOR AN HOUR ON HIGH TO KILL BUGS AND EGGS.

IF YOU MUST USE A SUITCASE,  BRING A BAG OF FOOD-GRADE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH WITH YOU (IT MUST BE FOOD-GRADE, NOT FROM A SWIMMING POOL SUPPLY STORE - OTHER KINDS ARE INHALATION DANGERS, AND DON'T INHALE IT IN IN ANY EVENT!).  WHEN YOU PACK TO GO HOME, SPRINKLE THIS LIBERALLY IN THE SUITCASE (AND POCKETS) TO HELP KILL ANY HITCHHIKERS (NOT GUARANTEED, BUT ITS SOMETHING).  SEAL YOUR SUITCASE IN A PLASTIC GARBAGE BAG ON YOUR WAY HOME.  WHEN YOU GET HOME, UNPACK THE BAG DIRECTLY INTO THE DRYER (SEE ABOVE) THEN IMMEDIATELY VACUUM OUT THE BAG.  IT HELPS TO SCRUB THE BAG WITH A BRUSH TO DISLODGE ANY EGGS THAT MAY BE IN THERE. 

WHEN YOU CHECK INTO YOUR HOTEL ROOM, PUT THE BAGS IN THE TUB UNTIL THE ROOM HAS BEEN INSPECTED. BRING ALONG A FLASHLIGHT AND A MAGNIFYING GLASS.  STRIP THE BED.  USING THE LIGHT AND MAGNIFIER, CHECK THE MATTRESS AND BOXSPRING CAREFULLY FOR BUGS, SKINS, FECES AND EGGS.  REMOVE THE HEADBOARD IF POSSIBLE AND CHECK BEHIND IT - THIS IS A FAVORITE SPOT.  IF YOU CAN'T REMOVE THE HEADBOARD, AT LEAST USE THE FLASHLIGHT TO SEE IF ANYTHING IS THERE.  CHECK THE JUNCTION OF THE WALLS AND CEILINGS FOR BUGS.  CHECK BEHIND PICTURES, MIRRORS ETC...  DON'T SIT ON COUCHES ETC... (OR AT LEAST CHECK THEM).

DO NOT UNPACK YOUR BAGS INTO THE DRESSERS.  KEEP YOUR BAG ELEVATED ON THE RACK AND LIVE OUT OF THE BAG.  EVEN BETTER, IF YOU ARE USING A DUFFEL BAG, KEEP IT HUNG ON  THE BATHROOM DOOR HOOK.  IF I HAVE TO HANG MY CLOTHES, I USE MY OWN WIRE HANGERS AND HANG THEM ON THE SHOWER ROD.

IF YOU FIND BUGS, MAKE THEM MOVE YOU.  NOT ON THE SAME FLOOR!  BUGS CAN MOVE BETWEEN ROOMS, OR EVEN UP OR DOWN.  I WOULD DEMAND TO ME MOVED TO A DIFFERENT FLOOR, AT LEAST 2 FLOORS  AWAY (I.E., IF I WAS ON THE 3RD FLOOR, I WOULD DEMAND TO BE MOVED TO THE 1ST OR 5TH - NOT THE 2ND OR 4TH).
3

Woo, that’s a lot… Frankly, I don’t own a duffel bag and I’m not sure I can get the other four members of my family to obey all this.

Still, the more the better; I can at least present to the rest of my family and figure out what’s practical and what they’re willing to do. Thanks!

More on both subjects, please!

4

If you check the room, don’t unpack your luggage and keep it off the floor and furniture, you will be reasonably well protected. I would still bring the diatomaceous earth for the trip home.

As for the rest, I am paranoid. Years of working with the bastards will do that to you.

5

If I did (the earth part, I mean), would I get any suspicion from the TSA? Would it do anything to the clothes inside? And would I do it BOTH between Japan and family home AND between family home and home?

ETA: We’ll see what can be done… As this is Japan, and there are up to three hotels involved, I have no idea if any involve bedding on the floor or minimal places to put stuff other than the floor or other unusual arrangements like that. :slight_smile:

6

I lived in Japan for 3 years, traveled extensively around most of the main island, and never heard or saw anything about any bedbugs. If anything, Japanese hotels are probably cleaner and more well maintained than any American hotels. But yes, I know it is technically possible to catch bedbugs anywhere–of course, it’s also possible you may get run over when you step out the door to go to the airport.

So I don’t have any constructive advice regarding your fears, but yes, you probably are a little bit paranoid–but you knew that.

If you have a normal two prong laptop plug, you shouldn’t need anything else. Almost all laptops are equipped to convert between Japanese and American power levels. With the exception of my hair dryer, I’ve used all my electronics (laptop, DS charger, iPod charger, hair straightener, cell phone charger) in both countries with no problems.

As for the kids, there is always Sanrio Puroland and of course two Disney parks. Your kid might also enjoy the Ghibli Museum. It’s fun for adults, too, if you have any interest in the movies at all.

7

DE is a great weapon but it only works if the bugs crawl over it. In a suit case it’ll just fall to the bottom.

Bedlam Bug Spray is one of the better ones on the market. It kills adults and about 90% of the eggs. It lasts about a week.

Heat is the enemy of bed bugs and their eggs. You can also use an iron kill the eggs. A steam cleaner, like the Shark, will decontaminate your luggage as well. It should be a “dry steam” to avoid mold.

The idea is not to bring them back. To be really safe, simply do not take anything into your home on your return. Immediately wash all your clothes, (including the ones you wore home) in HOT water and dry in a drier for an hour. This effectively kills the eggs and adults.

Then use a steamer to decontaminate your luggage.

Actually adult bed bugs are pretty easy to kill. A spray of water and rubbing alcohol will wipe out the adults. It’s the eggs that are the problem.

Unfortunately this is going to become more and more an issue in the coming years. As bed bugs are being found in movie theatres, public libraries, subways and such.

8

I wouldn’t want to retype it either.

As it tursn out, you don’t have to. I copied/pasted into MS Word, selected all, and then from the format menu, clicked on “Change case…” and selected "sentence case.

Got this much-easier-to-read version:

============================
If you are traveling, i would take measures to minimize the chance of picking them up. Any hotel can have bedbugs, even nice ones. You can pick up bedbugs anywhere, but you are far more likely to get them from a hotel than anywhere else.

Check your hotel online to see if there are any bedbug complaints. In the states, you can look up on bedbugregistry.com, i also use the various travel rating sites. As often as not, if you type the hotel name and “bedbug” into google, if there are complaints they will come up.

Don’t use a regular suitcase. I use a canvas duffel bag. When i get home, all my clothes and the bag are thrown immediately in the dryer for an hour on high to kill bugs and eggs.

If you must use a suitcase, bring a bag of food-grade diatomaceous earth with you (it must be food-grade, not from a swimming pool supply store - other kinds are inhalation dangers, and don’t inhale it in in any event!). When you pack to go home, sprinkle this liberally in the suitcase (and pockets) to help kill any hitchhikers (not guaranteed, but its something). Seal your suitcase in a plastic garbage bag on your way home. When you get home, unpack the bag directly into the dryer (see above) then immediately vacuum out the bag. It helps to scrub the bag with a brush to dislodge any eggs that may be in there.

When you check into your hotel room, put the bags in the tub until the room has been inspected. Bring along a flashlight and a magnifying glass. Strip the bed. Using the light and magnifier, check the mattress and boxspring carefully for bugs, skins, feces and eggs. Remove the headboard if possible and check behind it - this is a favorite spot. If you can’t remove the headboard, at least use the flashlight to see if anything is there. Check the junction of the walls and ceilings for bugs. Check behind pictures, mirrors etc… Don’t sit on couches etc… (or at least check them).

Do not unpack your bags into the dressers. Keep your bag elevated on the rack and live out of the bag. Even better, if you are using a duffel bag, keep it hung on the bathroom door hook. If i have to hang my clothes, i use my own wire hangers and hang them on the shower rod.

If you find bugs, make them move you. Not on the same floor! Bugs can move between rooms, or even up or down. I would demand to me moved to a different floor, at least 2 floors away (i.e., if i was on the 3rd floor, i would demand to be moved to the 1st or 5th - not the 2nd or 4th).

9

Hope no one minds me bumping; I would like to gather as many tips and opinions as possible, especially since, as I said, I have no idea what the rest of my family is willing to do to avoid bedbugs.

Any restaurant/general food suggestions in addition?

10

Well, I really AM concerned here… Perhaps this bedbug-related question will help:

As I mentioned in the OP, I will be traveling with my parents and my sister’s family, which includes very young children. None of them do the international travel thing a lot, and, as far as I know, bedbugs aren’t a problem that have entered their radar much. As such, I’m not very sure that I’d be able to convince them to do a lot of what mozchron suggests, even if it were possible (i.e. I don’t know if we own even one duffel bag, and I don’t know if I’d be able to convince the family to buy four or five between them for this purpose).

What are the simplest suggestions that are the most effective? I mean, all the prevention tips in the world aren’t going to help if I can’t get a family group already overworked and stressed from having to watch over very young kids to actually follow them. I can’t exactly march into their rooms and watch them put suitcases in the bathtub while trying to juggle the kids and travel/meal plans AND all the rest. Not to mention the fact that I have no idea how Westernized the places we’ll be staying at are… We might not HAVE places to put suitcases that aren’t on the floor, or if we’ll even have mattresses!

So… Simplest/most effective prevention tactics?

And good food suggestions? :slight_smile:

11

I recommend you just relax and enjoy your vacation. You sound a bit uptight. Has the media where you live been making a lot of noise about bedbugs in Japan? It sure sounds like it. I didn’t know there was a problem. I’ve yet to encounter them though I often stay at hotels.

Not much you can do about the rest of your traveling companions, other than bring the issue to their attention and pass on the recommendations advised above. Micro-managing their vacation experience could be a real buzzkill for them. I’m not going to go so far as to say you won’t encounter bedbugs, but I’m not going to say your plane won’t explode mid-air either.

But you do seem worried, so may I suggest sturdy zip-lock plastic bags for your clothes? Instead of just throwing them in your suitcase, have them divided into several zip-lock bags. Also, a solid suitcase rather than a fabric one. (Not sure if these ideas will work because I’m not sure how bedbugs transport themselves from one place to another, or how easily they infiltrate locks and seals)

Or you could even take with you only old clothes that you were considering throwing out anyway, then on your last day buy a brand new comfy sweatsuit for the flight and trashcan everything else. Depends on how paranoid you are (but I would be pleased to be your neighbor :p)

12

At minimum, check the room thoroughly before you settle in.

The rest of the stuff is what I would do, but as I said, I am paranoid.

13

Not in Japan in particular, but in general. There is a LOT of talk about them these days in the media, about them being an infestation that’s potentially EVERYWHERE and hideously expensive, not to mention near impossible, to get rid of. To be fair, in certain places, like NYC, they certainly seem to be (but that’s again according to the media).

14

Never seen any bedbugs in Japan till now, and I have stayed in some cheap places (The worst was a dormitory in Kyoto). If you stay in a semi-decent hotel you should be fine. Most places have regular extermination, and are quite clean. Isamus suggestion regarding the zip lock bags sounds great!

Matsumoto, if it is the one in Nagoya, is a fine place. Might be a good idea to try an onsen there. Also, if you like the taste of Wasabi, they have a lot of food with wasabi used in strange and unusual ways. Like, wasabi ice cream!

Shinjuku: You could check out the tokyo metropolitan tower. The other places I know would be bars, which are probably not very child-friendly.

Have a nice trip!

15

Bumping once to see if there are any other recommendations, especially for stuff that I’ll have the best chance of actually get my family to go along with (e.g. I’m not certain if I can get them to leave the suitcases outside and wash seven peoples’ worth of clothes for an hour each - I’ll certainly discuss this with them, though).

Anyone else been to Japan recently who can speak to the bedbug situation? Or stuff to do/eat/see?

ETA: Oh, and I believe my laptop plug is three-pronged… Anything special I need to do/get for that? Easy to do or hard?

16

Just curious: what are you checking for: bugs crawling around, or something else?

17

See my above post. You are looking for live bugs, dead bugs, shed bug skins, eggs and/or blood/fecal spots.

Actually, here:

18

For what it’s worth, I checked the Japanese language wikipedia page on bedbugs. It says bedbugs are now rare in Japan, but outbreaks in the USA and Australia have increased, impacting their tourism industries.

19

Also remember about a third of people never show symptoms. They get bit and live with the bugs and can spread them and never know it.

You can’t tell by the bite if it’s a bed bug so you’re screwed there.

The only comfort you can take is that outside of the itching and possible scaring (some people who are senstive get scars), the bites aren’t going to harm you. Bed Bugs do not spread disease, this is one of the reasons why governments are slow to act.

So even if you get bed bugs in Japan, as long as you don’t bring them back with you, at worst you’ll have an itchy time. As I stated, bringing them back is easy. So just make sure none of your luggage or clothes goes anywhere near your home. Just bag the suitcases up in a garbage bag and wash all your clothes upon going home. Use hot water. A hot dryer for an hour will kill any eggs or bugs as will dry cleaning.

I live in a crummy building and am just waiting for the bed bugs to strike. I’ve had everything else so I’m sure it’ll just be a matter of time before I wake up bitten. But what can you do? Just live with it.

20

Uh, how? They’re being brought back to Japan by tourists going to the US and Australia? Or does “their” mean “the US and Australia,” and you’re saying that fewer Japanese are going there because of it?

And I still want to know how to wash my clothes without bringing them into the house! :slight_smile: (And won’t hot water harm/shrink various fabrics? Does that mean that bedbugs mean I can NEVER take certain pieces of clothing on vacation? As I said, I’m staying at home for a while after we return from Japan, so this is a possible issue.)

I’m also trying to work out the best way to clean out the suitcases. None of us own a steamer as far as I recall, and if the diatomaceous earth doesn’t help (as a previous post implied), I’ll have to think of something else.

Oh, and it just occurred to me that even if I did “check for bedbugs,” would I know them when I saw them? Especially when it comes to eggs and non-bug signs? I suppose that there aren’t many other things I’d find in such locations, but still.