Budget travel in Japan - tips and info thread

[Zichar]

Just came back this morning, thought I'd update this thread
econnect was great
I chose the unlimited data mifi for ~550yen per day
Also the option to collect the package from the airport post office (showed my passport)
Came with an extra battery pack and a self-addressed envelope; just drop it off before one leaves the country

Wife and I shared usage, though I must say we usually travel without internet access so it was kinda wasted on us
Got lost, wandered around and asked the locals in simple English while gesticulating wildly
Usually tapped onto the accommodation wifi at the end of the day

 

[B3nji16]

Hi all, just curious to ask if our local debit card can be used in japan?

 

[Lawrence Quek]

Hi all, just curious to ask if our local debit card can be used in japan?

Yes it can be used.

 

[petetherock]

Any issues with radiation and also with food ?

BTW is it confirmed that the fish market will close this year?

 

[Zichar]

I ate everything
Though when I was in Kyushu, I favored local produce

The last I read was that the government tender to build the new fish market fell through

 

[Exposure]

Any issues with radiation and also with food ?

BTW is it confirmed that the fish market will close this year?

we will never know whether the food got radiation or not.. unless you carry a radiation detector around all the time, point and scan the food before you eat, scan the hotel bedsheets, scan the gardens pathways.. but when if you see how the local people lived, i guess you will not think much on this area.

The fish market is scheduled to move around March 2014 onwards according to the news. I bet it will affect big on tourism in Tokyo. Who wants to see shopping malls and gardens all the time? most countries have those, most people come to Tokyo to see the fish market auction.

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/worlds-biggest-fish-market-to-move-20140102-306pa.html

 

[petetherock]

Looks like we still have a couple of years more to visit Tsukiji...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan/1509191-tsukiji-closing-end-2013-a.html

 

[Exposure]

Looks like we still have a couple of years more to visit Tsukiji...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan/1509191-tsukiji-closing-end-2013-a.html

the major issue preventing the move is the toxic pollution, previously it was a gas plant operated by Tokyo Gas, and they detected toxic stuff when making preparations, personally i think this move is not easy to implement given the pollution issue

 

[Exposure]

saw this news about the fishes caught near the nuclear disaster plant.

http://rt.com/news/fukushima-fish-cesium-radiation-548/

 

[cks2k2]

hi guys, need some opinions on a solo ~7-10 days trip around end may/entire june.

area: attractions around kansai (osaka, kyoto, nara) + gifu (mostly takayama)
focus: culture, old japan, nature, scenery
budget: slightly above refugee
want to experience: culture, onsens, ryokans, shinkansen

rough itinerary:
1. SG -> KIX -> osaka
2. osaka (1 day)
3. osaka -> kyoto (2 day)
4. kyoto <-> nara (daytrip) (or return to osaka then daytrip to nara)
5. osaka/kyoto -> takayama (2 day)
6. takayama -> osaka (1 day)
7. osaka -> KIX -> SG

Q1: should i take the "haruka & icoca" set? it's 4000Y for return tickets. gets me a 2-way haruka limited express from/to KIX + icoca for travel in kansai.

Q2: for "haruka", is it necessary to enter/exit from the same city/station?
i.e.
KIX -> haruka -> kyoto
<travel around and end in osaka>
osaka -> haruka -> KIX ?

Q3: any good ryokan to recommend in kyoto/takayama? most likely i'll go toyoko inn for osaka but splurge more in kyoto/takayama.

for osaka/kyoto <-> takayama i'll be taking the tokaido shinkansen to nagoya, then transfer to hida limited express.
i know i'm not going to get max value for JR rail pass, but really want to try their famed shinkansens.

 

[macVince]

Once, for a week or more, I based my family & I in Osaka. We set off after breakfast each day by train and return after dinner. We did that for Kyoto & Kobe which are near enough. Nara could be reached the same way. The advantage is no need to pack & unpack, check in & out and lug luggages around. There is much to see in Osaka itself. In the Namba shopping belt, there is a Bic Camera store which is large. In Kyoto, from the central station (after arrival), a loop service hop-on hop-off bus ticket takes you to nearly all of the places of interests: golden temple, castles, etc. & a separate short bus ride could take you to the geisha district for an interesting look & photography. And the central station itself houses many levels of Isetan for food and shopping, with a roof garden on top to watch the sunset. I got an experience seeing a really glowing red sky there at sunset. In Kobe, we visited the outdoor Kobe earthquake memorial and of course, have Kobe beef dinner before returning to Osaka. We find traveling by train this way on day trips and for moving within Osaka both convenient and economical.

 

[shierwin]

hi guys, need some opinions on a solo ~7-10 days trip around end may/entire june.

area: attractions around kansai (osaka, kyoto, nara) + gifu (mostly takayama)
focus: culture, old japan, nature, scenery
budget: slightly above refugee
want to experience: culture, onsens, ryokans, shinkansen

rough itinerary:
1. SG -> KIX -> osaka
2. osaka (1 day)
3. osaka -> kyoto (2 day)
4. kyoto <-> nara (daytrip) (or return to osaka then daytrip to nara)
5. osaka/kyoto -> takayama (2 day)
6. takayama -> osaka (1 day)
7. osaka -> KIX -> SG

Q1: should i take the "haruka & icoca" set? it's 4000Y for return tickets. gets me a 2-way haruka limited express from/to KIX + icoca for travel in kansai.

Q2: for "haruka", is it necessary to enter/exit from the same city/station?
i.e.
KIX -> haruka -> kyoto
<travel around and end in osaka>
osaka -> haruka -> KIX ?

Q3: any good ryokan to recommend in kyoto/takayama? most likely i'll go toyoko inn for osaka but splurge more in kyoto/takayama.

for osaka/kyoto <-> takayama i'll be taking the tokaido shinkansen to nagoya, then transfer to hida limited express.
i know i'm not going to get max value for JR rail pass, but really want to try their famed shinkansens.

Your travel plan has too many relocations. Hotels are rather strict in check-in time. So you will be packing and checking in many times.

Suggest:
Airport direct to Takayama 3-4N > Maybe 3N in Kyoto > Rest of time in Osaka. 2 relocations
Nagoya, Takayama lie outside of Kansai Region. Buying individual tickets will be expensive, especially trains that require reserve seat payment.

Use this weblink to work out your costing and I'm sure you will save money.

http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html

eg Osaka Airport to Takayama will cost you Y20,000 return.
Buy your 7D JR pass Y28,300 and the final trip to the airport pay "cash" Short trip > cheap

While in Takayama take a bus trip to Shiragawago, beautiful place
On way back from Takayama, break journey and visit the Nagoya castle

While in Kyoto, can visit Nara and Biwa
While in Osaka, can make day trip (90min one way Y18,000+ return) to Hiroshima/Miyajima. If time permit stop at Himeji on the way back.

Most Ryokan single occupancy at least Y10,000 per night
All "onsen" towns, the hotel will levy onsen tax Y150 per stay or per day (cannot remember)
If you use credit cars to pay bills, usually there is a service charge.

In Takayama Ryokan suggestion:

Exp: http://www.hanaougi.co.jp/

Cheap: http://www.ryokan-seiryu.co.jp/english/index.htm

Good luck and have fun

 

[cks2k2]

Your travel plan has too many relocations. Hotels are rather strict in check-in time. So you will be packing and checking in many times.
Good luck and have fun

thanks for the insights.

after some thought i think for my 1st trip i'll be less adventurous and limit myself to the kansai region: kyoto, osaka, nara, okayama
always next time to explore.

Rough itinerary
Get JR Kansai Wide pass 4-day (Y 7,000) in SG.

Day 1: SG -> KIX
Get the Haruka & Icoca return (Y 4,000).
Take Haruka limited express to Kyoto.

Day 2, 3: Kyoto
Visit gion, arashiyama, fushimi inari etc etc
Start using JR Kansai Wide pass

Day 4: Kyoto -> Osaka (JR Kyoto line)

Day 5: Osaka <-> Nara daytrip

Day 6: Osaka <-> Okayama daytrip

Day 7: Osaka -> KIX (use return Haruka) -> SG

Looks ok?

 

[shierwin]

It is nearer to go to Nara from Kyoto. On last day at Kyoto, check out and leave bag in Rail station locker, go Nara and return to collect your luggage to move on to Osaka.

 

[-120-]

thanks for the insights.

after some thought i think for my 1st trip i'll be less adventurous and limit myself to the kansai region: kyoto, osaka, nara, okayama
always next time to explore.

Rough itinerary
Get JR Kansai Wide pass 4-day (Y 7,000) in SG.

Day 1: SG -> KIX
Get the Haruka & Icoca return (Y 4,000).
Take Haruka limited express to Kyoto.

Day 2, 3: Kyoto
Visit gion, arashiyama, fushimi inari etc etc
Start using JR Kansai Wide pass

Day 4: Kyoto -> Osaka (JR Kyoto line)

Day 5: Osaka <-> Nara daytrip

Day 6: Osaka <-> Okayama daytrip

Day 7: Osaka -> KIX (use return Haruka) -> SG

Looks ok?

Plan looks good to me.

 

[-120-]

Kansai region is actually east of Osaka. A little peninsula with mount Koyasan in the centre. It is beautiful region with towns like Shirahama, Kushimoto, Owase, Kumano and Mie.
As for Takayama, it is actually nearer to Nagoya than Osaka.
With 7-8 days, visiting Kyoto and Nara would be sufficient. Hilight being Kyoto.

 

[cks2k2]

It is nearer to go to Nara from Kyoto. On last day at Kyoto, check out and leave bag in Rail station locker, go Nara and return to collect your luggage to move on to Osaka.

good idea. :thumbsup:

 

[cks2k2]

Kansai region is actually east of Osaka. A little peninsula with mount Koyasan in the centre. It is beautiful region with towns like Shirahama, Kushimoto, Owase, Kumano and Mie.
As for Takayama, it is actually nearer to Nagoya than Osaka.
With 7-8 days, visiting Kyoto and Nara would be sufficient. Hilight being Kyoto.

will look into those towns you mentioned, thanks.

 

[eleveninth]

Hey guys, my trip is next week and was wondering if anyone has bought gear from Tokyo, my friend gave me a store in Osaka but I would like to get the lens preferably during my first few days there before i head to Osaka kyoto etc.

Tia!

 

[ortega]

calculate your train tickets before you buy the pass, sometimes it is not worth it