Flights to Nakagawa, Nagano Prefecture from NT$6,074

Depending on where you're coming from, your flight to Nakagawa could be a piece of cake or it could drag on forever. Below are some useful travel tips that will help you start your next great adventure on the right foot. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• It's easy — first, pack in your passport, travel docs, bank cards and vital medications. Next, you'll need some extra in-flight entertainment to while away the hours. A juicy book and a tablet crammed with your favorite shows are always good options. If you intend to catch more than just forty winks, a quality neck pillow and a pair of earplugs will also be useful. Finally, leave space for a toothbrush and some deodorant to ensure you arrive at your destination feeling fresh and ready to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Leave all your full-sized bottles of shampoo and hair gel in your checked luggage. Any liquids in your carry-on suitcase larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) will be confiscated by authorities. Sharp or pointed objects, like your precious Swiss Army knife, and products which are flammable or explosive, such as flares, chemicals agents and fireworks, are also banned.

What to wear on a flight:

• You'll want to go for comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes in the cabin by layering up, and pick closed-toe, flat shoes like sneakers.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-haul flights. It results from blood clots forming due to poor circulation and inactivity, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks.

As seasoned travelers know, the secret is to be well prepared before you arrive at airport security. That way, you'll be boarding that plane to Nakagawa before you know it. Follow these tips and get your vacation off to a terrific start:

• Airport security personnel first need to verify that you have a valid ID and travel documents before anything else. Have them ready to show.
• After that, both you and your hand luggage must be X-rayed. To speed things up, take off anything that is likely to trigger the alarm. Items such as your belt, coat and earphones will be required to go through the machine.
• Your electronic devices like laptops and phones will also have to go on a tray to be scanned. Don't worry though, you'll be back online in no time.
• Don't forget to remove gels and liquids from your carry-on bag. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray scanner separately. Each product should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit inside a single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• The right choice of footwear can save you several precious minutes. Hiking or heavy-style boots are often required to be removed and separately scanned. Slip-on sneakers usually aren't.
• Take all prohibited items out of your carry-on bag. If you have any sharp objects like a pocket knife or tools, pack them in your checked luggage. They won't be allowed in the cabin.