Flights to Mikuni Onsen, Awara from NT$5,019

If you're not prepared, airports and flying can be overwhelming. But there's no need to panic. Follow these useful tips for a trouble-free start to your vacation in Mikuni Onsen. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a great travel experience is to pack in advance. Start with the essentials: passport, travel documents, cash and any vital medications. Next, take on board items that'll help keep you entertained, like some electronic devices or a magazine. You'll also want to bring your chargers, a neck pillow and a pair of earphones. Finally, be sure to toss in toiletries like a toothbrush, cleansing wipes and a clean T-shirt.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of banned items differs between airlines, the general rule to follow is avoid carrying anything sharp, flammable or explosive. This includes things like box cutters, razor blades, fuels and bleaching agents. Sports equipment like ice skates, and objects that could injure passengers, such as pepper spray and firearms, are also banned from the cabin.

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of a plane aren't the place for a fashion parade. Wear layers and pick shoes that are flat, enclosed and easy to pull on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clotting condition caused by prolonged inactivity, can be a risk on long-haul flights. Try to walk around the cabin and stretch your legs or do some simple exercises in your seat to improve your circulation.

The simple answer is — be prepared. We've compiled some handy tips and tricks for a speedy trip through security. Look out Mikuni Onsen, here you come:

• Security personnel first need to make sure that you have a valid passport and matching boarding pass before anything else. Have them in your hand, ready for inspection.
• Time to strip down. Well sort of. Your jacket, belt, keys and other contents of your pockets, like your earphones, will be required to go through the X-ray machine. Make your life easier by removing them before your turn.
• All electronic devices, including your phone and tablet, must also be separately scanned.
• Remove all gels and liquids from your hand luggage. They often need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each product should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit in a single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• There's a chance you'll be required to remove your shoes to be X-rayed, so wearing slip-on shoes is always a smart idea.
• Sharp or pointed objects (like knives and scissors) can't be taken on board. They'll be seized at security, so pack them safely away in your checked luggage.