Japan on a budget.
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- dasohr
Seems like a bunch of QBNers have been to Japan. I'm going for the first time in September and was wondering if anyone has some enlightening tips on how to save a wad in the land of the raising sun.
Cheers
- scarabin0
keep it in a jar?
- digdre0
never been there.
- TheBlueOne0
How long are you going for, what cities are you going to hit and what's your budget?
- TheBlueOne0
For Tokyo, this isn't too bad - about $82 a night, but you'll need to share a bathroom. Cool place though and you get wifi:
- that looks good. cheap food too.dasohr
- It's a little north of the usual Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Akihabara area...TheBlueOne
- ..but it is near Asakusa, which is a cool place to check out...TheBlueOne
- This is a sweet deal!
s133pycat
- dasohr0
going for 14 days. tokyo, osaka, hiroshima, okinawa... possibly sapporo. Considering getting a train ticket and a tent? Hostels? budget about 2500 usdollars.
- Definitely get a train ticket, but they're not all that cheap...TheBlueOne
- And that's ALOT of territory for 14 days...especially Okinawa..TheBlueOne
- ~400 $ i hear. Similar to the Eurorail. I'm guessing trainticket and flight are going to eat most of my budget.dasohr
- TheBlueOne0
I'd probably replace Kyoto with Okinawa, at least for your first trip there..
- I'd pick three cities and go with those..you could EASILY spend four, five days in Tokyo alone...TheBlueOne
- aye -thanks. good to know.dasohr
- dasohr0
Also wondering if there are any art galleries that are a must to see?
- cuke4260
i lived there for 2 years, then went back for a month but tried to do it on a budget.
rt from l.a. was $420.
stayed out of the main cities, stayed up north and in the mtns. so rad. hitchhiked around, camped, stayed in onsens; i spoke japanese so i met people and stayed with them, etc.
FYI DO NOT stay in anything called a SAUNA even though it's cheap!!! it's where the yakuza and the perverts hang out. YOU"VE BEEN WARNED!
- TheBlueOne0
But you should definitely hit an Onsen (hot bath) but check first if they allow gaijin, they're very, very picky. And if you have tattoos, forget it, unless you're with someone who speaks Japanese and can negotiate your entrance even in a gaijin friendly place.
- gaijin. outside person.dasohr
- Gaijin = white dudes who's into little japanese girls.ok_not_ok
- um, no
http://en.wikipedia.…version3
- DrBombay0
Have fun.
- DrBombay0
I'll be heading back for Hanami again in late march-april 2010.
- DrBombay0
If you are starting in Tokyo take a bus to the city from Narita Airport. It is cheaper and allows you to see a lot of crazy shit on your way into the city. Doesn't take much longer than the train. If you are staying in Shinjuku/Shibuya you will cruise through a lot of the city. I would especially recommend this if you are a first timer. It will blow your mind.
- cuke4260
i just realized you're going in september. that's near the matsuri(festival) season - DEFINITELY go somewhere where you will have time to party at one of the matsuris, the are crazy. so so rad. many places have them, some places are known for rad ones, look it up. nebuta/neputa in aomori/hirosaki was so rad.
- I'd love to go back in September, not enough vacation time left :(DrBombay
- instrmntl0
eat takoyaki from street vendors (only 100Y!)
- s133pycat0
Lucky~ wish I can go again... ( ̄~ ̄)Takashimaya (basement floor = all dessert!!!) O(≧∇≦)O
My friend got us the Japan Rail Pass for a week while we were there. Very convenient to travel from place to place. http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng…
Take lots of pictures and share with us!
Tsukiji Fish Market
- neandersthal0
I grew up in Tokyo. Seriously hard to save money. Too much to see and do and buy. But if you want to do it on the cheap some things to keep in mind are:
As s133pycat said, if you're going to travel, buy the JR railpass before you leave for Japan. You pick it up at Narita and it allows you travel on all Shinkansen (excluding the fastest one, which is merely 20 minutes faster to Kyoto) and all JR lines like the Yamanote line and the NEX that takes you from Narita to the centre of town. You can buy a 7 day ticket or a 14 day ticket.
If you're going from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and back to Tokyo it's well worth the money.In Tokyo buy the Pasmo card for the metro (something the railpass doesn't cover unless the specific line is run by JR) and bus. It's the equivalent of the Oyster Card here in London. Makes travel a bit easier. And you don't look like a tard when trying to figure out how to buy a ticket. When running low on cash just charge it up at any station. You can also use it in some vending machines.
When it comes to food and you want to save cash money, eat as instrmntl mentioned Takoyaki, Ramen, Udon, Yakisoba and Curry rice. Cheap and tasty.
Also, if you'll be calling people consider renting a phone at the airport. Cheaper than using your own. You can also rent cell phones at Softbank (where you buy phones etc..) but when I went all the rentals were taken. Lame.
There's a tonne of galleries and one off things to do in Tokyo. Send word what you want to do and I'll send some shit your way. Was also in Kyoto a month ago so can help there as well.
- ramen in japan is NOT ramen in the US. it's so good, but here it's just fratboy food.cuke426
- dinnum0
japan is even more expensive than usual with the strength of the yen compared to other currencies since the economic downturn. i've been here nearly 2 yrs now, and since i arrived it shifted from 240 yen / 1 gbp, down to 120 yen / 1 gbp. recently has recovered to around 150 yen, but still it makes a huge difference.
all the above advice is great. definitely take the bus from the airport. much cheaper, and easier in my opinion. http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en…
maybe check out travelling on night bus to some your destinations. i've never done it, but heard it's much cheaper and not so bad.
i imagine 2500 usd will disappear very fast tho!
- Douglas0
14days, you might only be able to squeeze Tokyo, Osaka/Kyoto, and maybe Hiroshima/Miyajima. That's a lot of travel.
- Peter0
Throw your bags, valueables and yourself into the giant lockers in Shinjuku station. Live by mere coins per day.