This website was created for people who would like to visit Japan without breaking the budget. It includes links on budget travel, Japanese fashion ,Dating, student travel ,cheap hotels, discount flights , accommodations, rail pass, shopping, travel guide, Japan news ,vacation, and other vital travel information.
According to Japan National Tourist Organization many foreign visitors mistakenly believe that it is very expensive in Tokyo but this is not really true. Many visitors know about "100-yen Shops" and enjoy shopping at these and other discount shops, while dining out is also becoming more affordable for them. Some would go to soba (Buckwheat noodles) shops to have tempura (Deep-fried in vegetable oil, fish and vegetables) soba noodles, rather than going to tempura shops only to order tempura. Also, they go in a group to enjoy sharing nabe (pan menu). It seems that they really know how to enjoy their stay in Japan in an affordable way," says Mr. Katsuo Tobita, the owner of Ryokan "Shigetsu" in Asakusa,Tokyo.
Japan abounds in accommodations, both western-style and Japanese. Types of accommodation vary widely in terms of style and price. You can choose to stay in the familiar comforts of a western-style hotel, or enjoy the comfort and personal attention of a traditional Japanese inn. By taking time to search out some of the nation's less-publicized types of lodgings, you're sure to find clean and comfortable places to stay that suit your pocketbook. The accommodation charge is subject to a consumption tax of 5%. First class hotels also impose a 10 to 15% service charge as well. Tipping is not customary except at top luxury ryokan, where a guest will tip a maid when she first serves tea in the room.
Transportation
If you do travel to Japan just don't stay in Tokyo, do some sightseeing as well, the best way to do this is to buy a JR pass (train pass) that you can purchase if you are there on a sightseeing tour.
According to Kintetsu International,Japan has the world's most convenient and efficient railway network. JR Group railways are proud of their international reputation for frequent service, punctuality, high speed, and safety. Travel by train is also the ideal way to view Japan: you can enjoy a comfortable and carefree ride as beautiful panoramas glide before your window ,mountains, forests, lakes, highlands and the sea! The other way to enjoy Japan is to find people who speaks English, thanks to the Japan/US student exchange program and companies hiring English speaking employees you can find someone that can help you find some of the best local places to visit and dine.
Japan has 1,152,207 km of highways with 863,003 km (including 6,114 km of expressways) paved and 289,204 km of unpaved ways (1997 est.). A single network of high-speed, divided, limited-access toll roads connects major cities on Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Hokkaido has a separate network, and Okinawa Island has a highway of this type. In the year 2005, the toll collecting companies, formerly Japan Highway Public Corporation, have been transformed into private companies in public ownership, and there are plans to sell parts of them. The aim of this policy is to encourage competition and decrease tolls. Road passenger and freight transport expanded considerably during the 1980s as private ownership of motor vehicles greatly increased along with the quality and extent of the nation's roads. Bus companies including the JR Bus companies operates long-distance bus service on the nation's expanding expressway network. In addition to relatively low fares and deluxe seating, the buses are well utilized because they continue service during the night, when air and train service is limited.
Japanese Food
If you like Japan and its culture you must like Japanese food ! And if you like Japanese food you should try some of the small Japanese/Chinese restaurants that the locals goes to. Its is a known fact that small restaurants and sidecar soba shops is the best way to go. You should also go to Kansai simply because people there love to eat ! Vist my friends site here and get drooling.
According to an artical by JNTO The most important aspect of eating cheap in Japan is to find a convenience store like 7-11, Circle K, or even a local grocery store. The best thing about Japan is that in major cities, you can find a number of 7-11's on every block. The 7-11 stores in Japan are quite similar to the ones you find in the US, however, the main difference is the type of food they sell. You can find a few American goods like Coca Cola, Kit Bars, and other popular American-made junk foods but what separates the Japanese 7-11's is that they sell high quality bentos (Japanese box lunches) which offer fried chicken, fish, steamed rice, and vegetables. These bentos are even better than the expensive box lunches you can find at the famous Japanese store in Hawaii, Shirokia. Best of all, the bentos in Japan are cheap, usually averaging around $3.50. Besides having great bentos, the convenience stores and grocery outlets also offer a wide variety of bread. You can get bread with pizza inside. If you're craving something sweet, you can try anpan (Japanese bread with sweet an). Most of the bread is relatively cheap, usually between $2-$3 and the anpan are individually wrapped and cost about $1. There are also a variety of desserts to choose from like mochi (a round Japanese confection made from rice cake) and cinnamon bread. Like all convenience stores, you can wash your food down with a soft drink. This is where it gets quite interesting. Most Japanese grocery and convenience stores offer Pepsi and Coke, but the majority of the drinks they offer are interesting Japanese concoctions. Green tea drinks are quite popular and you can find many different varieties, however you should know the coffee drinks rank supreme. There are also a handful of other drinks that are hard to discern just by the looking at the bottle. It's even more impossible to tell what it is because the label is written in Japanese. If you do get a chance to check out the convenience stores, you should be adventurous and try one of those mystery Japanese drinks. You may be pleasantly surprised, or you may hate it, but you will have a great story to tell your friends back home.
Martin Waller, a San Franciscan hotel and catering consultant, knows a lot about food and life in Japan having lived and worked in the hotel and catering business in Japan for over 20 years. So how do prices compare with other cities?
Japan is a country of contrasts, and Tokyo is no exception. From the glitz of Roppongi and Shibuya, where great restaurants, theme bars and karaoke clubs offer you a unique nighttime experience, to the tranquility of Buddhist temples and sleepy side streets, where antique shops and old cafes reside. But if you ask people whether they would consider Japan as a holiday destination, the response you often hear is, “I would love to go, but it's too expensive.” Indeed, many rule out the possibility of a holiday in Japan without even checking the facts. The myth of the hyper expensive country, where you are reputed to pay up to $200 for a melon, still pervades. A little investigation and inside information from those in the know, like Tokyo 's expatriate residents, shows that a trip to Japan doesn't have to be so expensive. In fact, it is surprising what you can do on a limited budget. Members of the expatriate community are a mixed bunch with different reasons for being here and different interests. But one thing they all agree on is that life is never boring here; Japan has something for everyone, whatever your tastes or interests; and it is possible to have a good time relatively cheaply if you pick and choose.
Before you go
There are couple of things you must know before you visit Japan. One is good and the other not so good.
But before I freak you out too much please remember that visiting Japan is well worth it. The good news is that Americans, Australians, and New Zealanders traveling to Japan as tourists for a stay of 90 days or less need only a valid passport to gain entry into the country. Canadians don't need a visa for stays of up to 3 months, and United Kingdom and Irish citizens can stay for up to 6 months without a visa
Here is the bad news : Japan's parliament has approved a controversial law to fingerprint and photograph foreign visitors in an effort to fight terrorism. The measures will apply to all foreigners over the age of 16, except permanent residents and those on official business. Japan's justice minister acknowledged human rights concerns, but said fighting terrorism was more important. . If Japan wants to increase there International visitors like they are planning I hope they will re-think this process !
If you arrive at the airport check-in counter early enough, you may be able to choose a better seat. One of the best is a seat just behind the emergency door. This allows you to both stretch your legs and try and get some sleep. Then just pray you're not seated next to a screaming baby or obviously sick person sneezing their virus all over you the whole way there. During the flight if you feel nature's call, it'd be smart to go before the meal is served since half the passengers rush for the lavoratories the second they finish their last bite.
Also make sure you'll be dressed for the occasion. Japan's rainy season is usually from June to mid-July, and the summers are extremely sticky and humid. Bring lots of deodorant! Likewise typhoon season is in August-Sept. and may disrupt or cancel transportation service for the day. The summer high temps can go up to 38C (100F) or so, and the winter temps can be as low as -2 or 3 degrees in the southern half of the country. There it rarely snows any heavy amount except for the mountains, but the northern part usually has plenty of snow in the winter. Autumn is by far the best time to visit Japan, as far as the weather goes. For help on getting from Tokyo Narita airport to the city, click here. From Kansai Int'l Airport, click here. Many newcomers to Tokyo Narita just assume they'll take a taxi to downtown Tokyo. "Don't . It's 66 km and will cost you half your plane fare to get there. Take the bus, or avoid the traffic jams altogether and take the train.
Japan is 9 hours ahead of London, 17 hours ahead of California PST (16 ahead on PDT), and 1 hour behind Sydney, Australia. Generally jet lag hits hardest flying east, but largely depends on how many time zones you cross, the departure/arrival time, the flight length, and how much you can sleep during the flight. Usually the effects are sleeplessness at night or sleepiness during the day (even if you have a full night's sleep), but may also include malaise, loss of appetite, dehydration, headaches, mild dizziness, or even nausea. Some may also have nosebleeds for a few days because of the bone-dry air on the aircraft. (A saline nasal spray can help prevent and alleviate this). Taking melatonin at bedtime after arriving may help you put your body clock back in sync. It would be best to keep a light schedule for your first few days. This is what you're going to feel like after 10 hours on a plane.....
Before you come to Japan, you should change a little money into yen to be safe, or more if you'll be arriving on a weekend or a national holiday. But for the rest of your money, you'd be smart to buy yen once in Japan. Japan does a lot of trade in dollars and they have a better exchange rate unless perhaps you are coming from an area with a lot of Japanese tourists.
Buying yen in other countries can end up costing you from 6 yen from the newspaper rate to a whopping 30% commission! The Japanese airport bank is a bit higher than the rest of Japan but could be better than where you are from (see their current rates here). The larger Japanese post offices are better still and can also change currencies at a rate that's a little better than a Japanese bank. Your best bet is to get yen from your ATM card at Citibank or any of their ATMs which are open 24 hrs. and are in major airports in Japan. You can also go to any Japanese post office in the country and get Japanese cash through ATM cards in the Plus or Cirrus networks, credit cards issued by Visa International, MasterCard International, American Express and Diners Club, or debit cards in the Visa Electron or Maestro networks. Aside from these however, other cards will be virtually useless in Japan. Traveller's Checks give a slightly better exchange rate than cash but often you are made to wait a long time to get them cashed.
