planning on going to Japan..Any suggestions?

Question

on how much it would cost, where to go and what to do.
thanks!

Answer 1

Japan can be extremely expensive, but there are a lot of ways that any traveler can get by without completely breaking the bank. There are a lot of ways to make traveling to Japan more affordable, but it will mean abandoning some of the Western comforts that most of us are accustomed to and doing things more as the Japanese do.

The Japanese Inn Group (http://www.jpinn.com) is an organization of small family owned hotels and traditional inns all over Japan that welcome foreign tourists and cost far less than any of the major hotels. All of them are clean, well run establishments with ammenities that range from positively spartan (which is great if you don't plan to spend any time in your room except sleeping) to borderline luxurious. Many are closely located to major tourist points.

One thing to remember is that when staying in traditional inns, there is a curfew (usually around 11pm) and prices are per person. But I found them an extremely economical place to stay while I was visiting. While some do offer western-style rooms, the fun is staying in a tatami room and sleeping on futons and wearing yukatas. Most of these inns have traditional baths so you might have to forgo a private bath, but there is something wonderful about soaking in a Japanese tub after a long day of sightseeing. Many do offer at least breakfast (for a small additional cost) and some offer dinner. If they do offer dinner, it's a nice splurge as many inns serve very high-caliber Japanese cusuine that would cost more than twice as much as a good resturant. Inexpensive hotel chains like Holiday Inn and Comfort Inn maintain hotels is most of Japan's major cities, and they are an inexpensive option if you feel that you would be more comfortable in a western-style room, though I found them not as convenient by location. I would recommend staying at a ryokan at least part of the time, to really get a taste of the culture.

Food can also get pretty expensive, but Japan has some fantastic food bargains. For breakfast, bypass the hotel breakfast buffets and find a local kissaten (coffee shop). Morning sets are a common breakfast in Japan, consisting of a cup of coffee, egg, salad and toast - average cost about 500 yen (less than $5.00 US). Noodle shops are always a good option, as are okonamiyaki restaurants (serving Japanese-style omelets, yakisoba and other grilled foods). Convenience stores sell good food (sandwiches, bento boxes, snacks, fried snacks) and are very inexpensive, which makes the occasional splurge much more bearable. Japan has fantastic food and it's definitely possible to eat extremely well without resorting to McDonalds (which are depressingly prevalent).

Many cities offer day passes for their busses and subways, which will cut down on your sightseeing costs (cabs are always expensive), and the entry fees for most museums, temples and shrines are usually 500 yen and less (many are free if you just want to walk around the grounds and only charge if you want to explore the buildings, something I suggest you should do). Be prepared to do a lot of walking!

If you are visiting several cities, get a Japan Rail Pass (voucher must be purchased before you leave for Japan and redeemed in Japan at a JR office). The pass will allow you to take most commuter trains, including the bullet trains for a flat fee. I figure that my rail pass alone saved me several hundred dollars on my vacation. The rail pass can be purchased for 7, 14 and 21 day periods, and for both the regular cars and Green cars (first class). They also cover the train lines to/from both Narita and Kansai international airports (trains usually run every 20 minutes).

You will, of course, want plenty of money for shopping and there are again good bargains that can be found. For example, buying a new kimono can run hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars, but I found a second-hand kimono that was in excellent condition for only around 2500 yen (less than $25). There are numerous small craft stores and markets in every city, and shops like the Oriental Bazaar in Tokyo (Harajuku) and the Kyoto Craft Center (in Kyoto) are great places to find some real treats but you need to sort through the touristy things first.

I ended up not spending nearly as much money as I'd originally thought that I would, and I wasn't trying to be especially careful with money. It will be very easy to work out a budget and be able to stick with it. The most expensive thing will be your airfare.

As far as places to visit, Japan is filled with wonderful places to go... so many in fact that it can get a little overwhelming and it's easy to just go running from place to place without having a chance to actually enjoy the cities that you are visiting. Here are a few suggestions of places that I visited and how much time you should allow yourself in each location.

1) Kyoto - No trip to Japan is complete without visiting Kyoto. There is so much history in this city, so many temples and shrines that you could spend weeks here and barely scratch the surface. I spent 6 days there, but you can see most of the highlights in 3 full days. The areas you most want to see is Arishiyama, Higashiyama-ku (which includes the Gion - the historical geisha district), and the Philosophers Stroll. Must sees in the city is Nijo Castle, Sanjusangendo Hall, the Gold Pavilion & the Silver Pavilion, Ryoanji Temple (with its world famous Zen garden) and Kiyomizu Temple.

2) Nara - a short train ride from Kyoto and the oldest capital of the Japanese nation. I would spend at least 1 full day here (most tourists do day trips from Kyoto), but it's wonderful to spend at least an overnight stay. Nara Park is full of important historical sights, including Kasuga Grand Shrine and Daibutsuden with its giant bronze Buddha. Feeding the deer in the park is always entertaining.

3) Takayama - sometimes called the Little Kyoto of the Mountains, this is a relatively small city in the Japanese Alps. It's a little remote (best way to reach it is by catching the train from Nagoya), but it is well worth it. Beautiful historic streets with its old merchent houses (some of which are open as museums), a restored village with gasho houses (at the Hida Folk Village), wonderful resturants and one of the best morning markets I've ever visited. Spend 2 days here.

4) Nikko - The town center is surrounded by gorgeous woodlands and major temples and shrines, including Toshogu Shrine, Futarasen Shrine and Shinkyo (the Sacred Bridge). Most tourists are daytrippers from Tokyo, but it's well worth staying overnight in town for. Lots of little hidden things to see here.

5) Tokyo - ok, Tokyo is a huge city and you could spend your whole vacation here and not see even a fraction of the place. I spent 2 days in Tokyo at the tail end of my trip and that was enough for me (I live in NYC, so big cities don't impress me much). See the Asakusa district, visit the Meji Shrine, walk through Harajuka and splurge on a great dinner in the Ginza.

6) Hokkaido - this is the frontier of Japan. Visit in winter for the best skiing around, or in wamer weather for hiking and nature walks. (Admittedly, I did not have the time to visit Hokkaido due to time. - If you are limited timewise and want to see as much as possible, it might not be possible to visit Hokkaido. It would take you nearly a full day just to travel there by train.)

7) Visit an onsen. Japanese people love their baths and natural hot springs are some of the more relaxing, interesting places to visit. I visited Naruko, an onsen town north of Sendai, but there are hundreds scattered all over the country. One day is plenty, but it makes a nice break during your trip. Try to find one with and outdoor spring - it's a real treat to soak in the seaming water while enjoying the trees and foliage around you.

Have a great time!

Answer 2

If you don't speak Japanese, buy a language tape to practice with.

Also many Japanese people can read and write English better than they can speak it, so a small note pad can be a great help.

Read up about being polite.

I had great fun when I went to Japan, you probably will too. The people there are so gracious and beautiful.

Answer 3

$3500 package tour with hotel accomodation 3d4n that is if your coming from the philippines.of course youll be spending money for food and transpo also.tokyo is an expensive city be sure to bring your creditcards in case you come short on cash budget.you can check with your travel agency on different location packages and like travelling in other countries always respect the host country and youll never go wrong.goodluk and have a nice trip!!

Answer 4

well the plane ticket price depends on where YOU right now...the farther the more money it takes...just take lots and lots and lots of money cause almost everything is expensive, food, clothes, everything...i know cause im in japan right now...and the place you want to go depends on your personality...if your more of a city and exciting place TOKYO is the best....and Aizuwakamatsu is more of a small town/village very peace and has many beautiful scenery...
i love both places but it depends on your own personality...
if you like cold weather then you should go to hokkaido...the island on the top and honshu is the biggest island but if you like hawaii like warm weather then you should go to okinawa...its very very very beautiful there with the ocean and mountains....soo many places....good luck.....

Answer 5

Take LOTS of money...everything is expensive over there.

Answer 6

approximately $3,864.10. it just depends where you will be flying from. but also bring lots of spending money!!!