budget travelling to japan?

Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:35 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

hahaha. nono, not going to japan on my own now. maybe 3 or 4 years later. but i would need to know how much to start saving already... (: so as to ensure that i have enough money in future. (x

THANKS A LOT! ^^ but then it can quie confusing... Blink

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 7:48 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:45 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:04 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:43 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Haha, my friend survived in New Zealand for 6 months on $10,000 including tickets. And that was without working during that time. I think that shows anything is possible with the right connections and such.

Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:20 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

urm anyone can helps on me finding cheap tickets from malaysia to japan in june? i'm having a headache trying to find the tickets

Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:42 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:49 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

^ Not at all, a comfortable time. I think with friends, good information about places to stay... you really can do amazing things. He just went back a few days ago too on the same amount of money after saving up. This time he got a job and plans to stay forever... cheers

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 1:13 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Its harder to do something similar in Japan. Especially since you can't work in Japan on a tourist status. Not sure about New Zealand but I'm pretty sure you're friend must have a change in visa status to start working, unless he's doing it illegally under the table.

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:30 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

It's not impossible to live $1K a month and still see it all. I went nuts and spent $7K over all of last summer, but my friends spent around $4.5K, and they enjoyed it just as much as I did. I just went shopping a lot more. If you're on a budget, and going to be staying long term, you should definitely look for a homestay. I was living in a guest house with my friends for 2 months. Campus housing was $1K total for one month, but the guest house was $250 for the next two. Isn't that lovely? I spent more because I rode the trains instead of biking, and bought a ton of stuff....that's why it was $7K. Otherwise it would've been $4.5K as well. (And yes, my friends did shop for electronics too)

The easiest way to see Japan like this, is to have merit---be an exchange student. You'll experience more as someone who's talking to people on a daily basis instead of being a tourist without any of the real day-to-day events and encounters.

--
Actually, let me give you a rough breakdown of that $7K so you get a real feel of how much you guys don't really need to spend:

Roundtrip fare (economy) New York <-> Tokyo (Narita), Narita <-> Osaka (Itami)
$1050
Accomodations: $460 (1 month campus, 2 months homestay)
JR Rail Pass: ~$200 (used heavily in Tokyo, went from/back to Osaka by Hikari shinkansen)
Transportation: ~$500 (buses, monorail (EXPENSIVE!!!), commuter rail, subways)
Food: Probably $1500~$1750. That was likely the second most expensive part of the trip. I did a bad job of that because I tended to eat out a lot and not look for sales, so that's primarily my fault. Also, it was the summer so I bought tons of drinks. Gotta keep hydrated!
Every day life needs: $100 -- toothbrush, toothpaste, skin lotion, powder deodorant!!!
Shopping: $1.5K - Spent on books, electronics, and clothes.
Shipping: $200 - EMS is not cheap.
Travel: Tokyo ($340 for 6 nights at a business hotel, $30 on transportation that wasn't covered by JR), Kinosaki/Miyazu: $300, lab trip, so subsidized.
Souvenirs: Probably about $150.

And last but not least!
Game Centers: $200 - when DDR SuperNOVA came out there, I was one of the first to start playing...and I think I gave the game a good rep because otaku weren't watching me...pretty good looking women were. They were of course only interested in how fast I can go, not me. Whistling

--
You'll be surprised how stuff will work out if you can get the right accomodations---that likely won't be the most expensive thing in your budget.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:37 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Im going this july for 19days
I made a reservation today for my flight LONDON - TOKYO via HK for £562 of which £153 was taxes :/
Its on Cathay Pacific so I get to stopover in Hong Kong both ways to visit my cousins there.
Trying to find accomodation at asiarooms.com at the moment, im looking in the Ikebukuro area coz last year i stayed there at Sunshin City Price but this time im going to go for something cheaper, didnt know there was cheaper hotels last time, i thought Sunshine City was going to be poor lol
This is the cheapest I can find:
http://www.asiarooms.com/japan/tokyo/ikebukuro_hayashi_hotel_annex.html
Ikebukuro Hayashi Hotel Annex Tokyo
£29 per night so 14nights comes to £406
anyone stay there before? or have a better recommendation for me?
the other 5days i plan to stay in Kyoto at a friends

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:51 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:14 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

The cheapest way to find accommodations is to go without any pre-bookings. Whenever you arrive in a town (should be before 7 pm!) go to the information booth at the station and ask for -Minshiku-

Those are little pensions and private rooms let at a very reasonable price. Often this is just a spare room a family has to offer because their children go to University, so you might even get a meal and some family life with it. It is lots of fun too but usually Tatami/Japanese style bedding and if you are unlucky there can be bugs (happened to me once ;-) )

I really enjoyed staying in them and paid between 1500 and 3000 yen per night depending on where they were located. A little Japanese is helpful though ...

Japan Rail pass is a great option too, only too bad that it cannot be purchased in Japan

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:23 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:04 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I never stay at guest houses, but yes I'm pretty sure if you have the loot anyone can rent. However remember, extending a 19 day trip to a full month, you are adding some 11 days, of paying for food, transportation, sightseeing etc, so you are using up more money in the process instead of actually saving money.