Budget travel in Japan - tips and info thread


i am going during the 2nd week of December for 7 days

Will reach Narita Airport at 730am and like to travel to Kyoto directly. Spend 1st and 2nd day at Kyoto before travelling back to Tokyo on the 2nd day evening time. The rest of the days will be at Tokyo itself.

Is it recommended to buy the JR pass? The price stated in the website, are those return tickets?
unless you're gonna be using the JR line alot,

if in tokyo often just use the metro and buy day tickets if you're using it alot for the entire day.
 

i am going during the 2nd week of December for 7 days

Will reach Narita Airport at 730am and like to travel to Kyoto directly. Spend 1st and 2nd day at Kyoto before travelling back to Tokyo on the 2nd day evening time. The rest of the days will be at Tokyo itself.

Is it recommended to buy the JR pass? The price stated in the website, are those return tickets?

Refer #80 on JR pass
 

thanks for this thread..i am planning for a Japan next year.maybe after CNY.
What is the season in Japan during Feb to March?
 

The 7D JR Pass @Y28.300 is still good value. From Narita airport via Tokyo and Shinkansen to Kyoto return will cost you somthing like Y32,000. An you still got the use of the other 5 days; unless your visit is confined to Tokyo and vicinity.

Always take japanese map if you can read kanji; allow you to refer to the names as used by the locals and easier to relate to the ground. Don't feel intimidated in Japan. You will get a good feel in a day.

Good to learn 3 simple japanese phrases:
1. Doko desuka? (Where's this place while pointing at some words on paper)
2. Wakarimasen! ( I don't understand)
3. Arigato (Thank you)

Nono! I realised from my trip that "nihongo wakarmasen - i cant speak jap" is the most important. There was once i asked doko desuka, what i got was replies in jap. In the end i ended with a sodesuka and arigatou without knowing where it is! Lol. Btw quite many locals noe english these days. So its quite ok!
 

hi... been researching japan for about 3 months now and brain is going to burst... too much to see and do and not enough time and money!

my trip with wife and 2 kids is 20th nov to 2nd december.

was hoping to catch some snow albeit only for a day trip but cannot seem to find any means to do so.

closest i have is man-made snow at Yuzawa and Naeba... and it seems these 2 places will be packed with tourist during that time.. so no point trying...

thought of flying a domestic from narita where cathay pacific is landing us but again... factoring in the cost to go to New Chitose airport and back makes the whole exercise an exercise of throwing away alot of money...

any options left? on the cheap if possible of course. thanks so much...

the idea is: already spend so much to go all the way there... the snow is just a few more hours away... need to give it a shot...
 

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Planning to go second week of December this year and may get one of those cheap GV2 (two persons to travel) air tickets. May need to find someone to buy the GV2 tickets together.

Anybody interested? Fly in and out of Narita.
 

hi... been researching japan for about 3 months now and brain is going to burst... too much to see and do and not enough time and money!

my trip with wife and 2 kids is 20th nov to 2nd december.

was hoping to catch some snow albeit only for a day trip but cannot seem to find any means to do so.

closest i have is man-made snow at Yuzawa and Naeba... and it seems these 2 places will be packed with tourist during that time.. so no point trying...

thought of flying a domestic from narita where cathay pacific is landing us but again... factoring in the cost to go to New Chitose airport and back makes the whole exercise an exercise of throwing away alot of money...

any options left? on the cheap if possible of course. thanks so much...

the idea is: already spend so much to go all the way there... the snow is just a few more hours away... need to give it a shot...

i guess for a sure shot at snow it would be hokkaido... :P

you can try heading to a ski-resort up North. not too sure a day trip can cover. you could do a night-bus to a ski-resort but can be tiring.

alternatively the special shinkansen line to the snow resorts.
 

anyone stayed in Oak Hotel before? Looks a like nice and cheap place.
 

Well if you are going to large bustling cities, do research for hostels in the area. Usually a more affordable option and internet access is usually free, unlike for example, the Yoko Hotel at Akasaka which charged me 100 yen(around $1.70 when i was there) for 30 minutes of usage. Ouch.

Worst come to worst, 24 hours Mcdonald's are your best bet. Some stores have plugs and wifi for your internet needs. Though you have to solve your bathing needs at the nearest onsen...
 

if anyone is on a budget esp for tokyo and hokkaido,

you can PM me and i can reply you personally...

questions here are too many and messy to reply...

thanks!
 

oh and including chiba-shi, (disneyland)
 

anyone stayed in Oak Hotel before? Looks a like nice and cheap place.

quite ok although private room abit small...only thing i don't like is got to walk quite a distance from Ueno station...still prefer Toyoko inn.
 

Have been satisfied by my stays at Villa-Fontaine at Shiodome. Rooms start at 11,000 or 12,000Y, clean, non-smoking, business hotel.
http://www.hvf.jp/eng/shiodome.php
Find it's pretty conveniently located, trains and within walking distance to Tsukiji fish market if you are so inclined.
Only drawback is that it's quiet at night, being in an office district, so late night wandering out probably no-go.
 

i stayed there before when with aunt and uncle and cousins,

when we couldn't all fit at my house back at roppongi and my parents weren't with us.

it's relatively near ginza/roppongi and is easily accessible by metro.

rooms are not big but beautifully furnished, interent room available and has a good complimentry breakfast.

i like this one. good choice!
 

for those looking for lodging in japan and understand some chinese characters
, try www.jalan.net (all in jap though).

you can search lodging by area (prefecture (kanto) then city(tokyo)), price, with or w/o breakfast/dinner, with or with onsen, tatami bed or single or twin or double.
no credit card reservation needed, only online confirmation. japan is all abt TRUST. do inform them if you are cancelling your stay.

here is a english that can help you make register and make booking.
you might not be able to see picture unless you register yourself.
http://www.secret-japan.com/forum/how-to-use-jalannet-online-reservation-for-hotels-ryokan-t439.html

a bit of hassle but i think it is worth it. there are many hotels and ryokan that don't appear on websites.

PM me if you need any help on jalan.net. i will try to use my agar-tation to help.
 

oh and including chiba-shi, (disneyland)

TDL is in Urayasu-shi not Chiba-shi, though they are both in Chiba-ken.

Anyone here climbed the other 100 famous mountains in Japan (besides Fuji)?
 

hey guys, im planning to visit japan, tokyo next year some time around 20 march to early/mid april. planning to stay for approx 2 weeks.

Would be really helpful if you guys can share how much is daily budget in japan so i can save up for it and plan(if i should go work part time or something lol :sweat:). Lodgings and airplane tickets aside, cause I've a friend's place to stay in at tokyo. Mainly just the spending on food and attractions i guess.

Probably planning to go see some main attractions(havent researched yet) then half the time would probably be 'free and easy' and just walk around and shoot. Going as a part holiday, part photography trip.

I know its very vague right now, but i just got the green light from my parents, so trying to find out more first, just a rough estimate on how much i should at least have per day would be really useful thanks. ;)
 

pm me if you have any questions will try to reply.
 

Big storm in Japan now, take care if you are headed over there.
 

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