budget travelling to japan?

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I personally would like to know if it's possible to travel a trip from the US with around....
3000.00 $ for 1 week? I would be traveling with my mom, so thats not a big deal, and we really dont care if we stay in hostels or cheap hotels or whatever. I am planning this trip for Febuary of 2008, and since I didn't want to create a whole new thread just for me I will ask some questions, and maybe someone can answer me Smile

1. I understand very little Japanese. I can understand simple words like thank you and cute and sorry, but will this post a HUGE problem for me? I heard english is commonly spoken in Japan, is this true? If not, are people friendly enough to help me?

2. Could anyone give a rough estimate of Yen conversion to US dollars? I would appreciate that, as I'm making a budgertfor the trip and will probably want to buy soveniers and stuff, but I want to know how much extra money i should bring, etc.

3. Sine the trip is roughly a year away, we haven't figured exactly WHERE we want to go yet. If anyone has any suggestions of good cities to visit that would be appreciated. We would like to visit a bigger citie with lots of attractions and stores, but maybe not one as big as tokyo.

Arigatou for the help! I am trying very hard to plan this trip well, and any help is appreciated Laugh

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:06 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:04 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

^-^ Thanks so much for the suggestions! We have around 3,000 right now for us both, so we're looking at airfare right now and seeing what the cheapest is. I'll also try to pick up the books you recommended. Smile

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

To anyone going in July how much are you paying for your flight?
In the end my parents didn't want me to be away for 6-7weeks (4weeks HK and 3weeks Japan) so I am going to have to cancel the £562 ticket since it hasnt been issued yet, and change it for a ticket which departs in July for £831 ($1600USD) :/ sooo expensive... thats on JAL to Tokyo and HK (10days HK, 20days Japan)

My parents said i should just maybe go to Japan instead and skip HK, but the cheapest July depart flight i could find was on Air France for £714.50 return to Japan only (20days Japan)

With only a difference of £130 i going to get the JAL one instead since £130 would be a bargain for a return to HK from Japan.

thing is though, i can't just use the £562 flight and return early, because my friend in Japan doesnt break up for summer hol until August 1st so i need to be in Kyoto when she is free to take me around kyoto, osaka and kobe, plus i will get free accomodation at my friends place in Kyoto and only have to pay for a hotel in Tokyo.
whats your views on my decision...

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 9:49 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

If you ask me you're flying to/from 3 different countries (from the UK I assume) is a bargain at the price you are paying.

Of course if you don't go to HK thats 10 days of not either paying for food or lodging or transportation. SO you save even more. But go with whatever floats your boat and your schedule and what you can afford.

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 9:57 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:46 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 10:10 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Technically speaking Tokyo isn't even a city, its a large metropolis with many cities and special wards etc. But yeah its a defacto city so Yokohama is 2nd in Population. But thats because its right next to Tokyo. There are things to do in Yokohama, but the signs and things to do is not as grand as Tokyo.

Osaka is Japan's second city (not in populaton, but in commerce, and regional influcence etc), there is much to do in Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe where you can skip Tokyo all together.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:00 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

If you are in the US use this link http://www.cheapoair.com/ for airfare tickets. By far the cheapest I've seen online.

I got my one way from Chicago to Japan Narita airport for $600. I saved up 7k thats not including airfare to travel. All tho my situation is different since I'm moving there with in two weeks.

I went to visit Japan last year to get a feel of life and how it would be when i come to live there. I went for 2 weeks so some stuff or rates i was quoted might still be in effect.
I would recommend staying at capsule hotels since they aren't expensive or at small self owned hotels the most you pay for a night would be $30 to 60 bucks a night. If you pay more then $70 forget it look somewhere else. Remember it doesn't have to be a fancy place since your only traveling and want to get the most use for your money.

Now if your really into doing stuff the real cheap way, some restaurants around the night clubs remain open through out the night. Since some club heads miss the last train home. They order a small meal and stay and snooze the hole night. Till they open the station for the first train. It might seem crazy but people i know have done it, including myself. Neutral

But I also seen some crazy gaijin take some small camp gear, like a one person tent and camp out in parks.

Good luck thumleft

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:33 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

In all my years of travelling to Japan I would never recommend a capsule hotel. Its something overhyped by the media and travel guides. Nothing like sleeping near some stink drunk salarymen who missed their last trains home.

Better off staying at a hostel, or dorm if you are really on the cheap.

The next step up is business hotels which run from 6000-8000yen, not a bad price, its a hotel just rooms are smaller so you still have your privacy.

SSJSubgeta
What are you moving to Japan for?

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:02 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I was only offering those since some people here ask if they can survive on a $3000 dollar budget.

spacecommand
I'm relocating to japan since the company I applied for required me to do so. I work in the Game art and design field. So the opportunity came up and decided to take it. I have a zest for life thumleft

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:24 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 3:08 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

As requested by spacecommanduplink:

Merging my thread with this one

Hey all! /delurks

I've just read through the various other threads relating to staying and travelling in Japan and there's a whole bunch of conflicting reports. I was hoping maybe we could start a discussion/help on something that's been bothering me about accomodations in Japan.

Here's a short list from what I've seen and generated:

Manga cafes

+ Dirt cheap
+ High speed Internet access
+ Unlimited drinks (Although I hear some cafes now charge 500 yen for the cup)
+ Showers
+ Privacy
+ 24/7 availability
+ No curfew
- Where do you store your stuff?
- Space constraints
- You can hear your neighbors
- Not exactly comfortable
- Some Japanese required

Capsule hotels

+ Relatively cheap (A step up from manga cafes)
+ Showers
+ Secure storage of goods in lockers
+ No curfews (I assume?)
- Tight and tiny. It's called a capsule for a reason
- Drunk salarymen are your newfound best friends
- Some Japanese required
- No Internet likely

Dormitories/Backpackers hostels

+ Cheap
+ Showers
+ Are likely to speak English
+ Other guests can be fun
- Other guests can be nightmares
- Where do you store your stuff? Especially during the day when you go out and don't intend to carry everything with you
- Curfew periods (?)
- No Internet likely

Guesthouses

+ Cheap
+ Showers, maybe even your own private one
+ Are likely to speak English
+ Can store your stuff even on checkout
+ Likely to have Internet (at least a shared spot or Wi-Fi)
+ Homely atmosphere
- Curfews (Most of these are family run, so I understand?) If there are any without curfews, DO LET ME KNOW!!!

Business hotels

+ Mid-rate
+ Many of the benefits of a "normal" hotel including private bath, showers, bed, TV, aircon etc
+ No curfews (as befits a hotel)
+ Size is "just right"
+ Secure storage of your goods
+ Internet in your room
- Some Japanese required
- Bookings need to be made in advance (?)

Hotels (Regular)

+ Standard services include private baths, room service
+ No curfews
+ Size is bigger then "just right"
+ Secure storage (Maybe even MORE secure, including a safe in the room for valuables)
+ Internet in your room
+ Staff likely to speak English (or someone who can)
- Definetely requires booking in advance
- Price can be sky high out of reach of most budget travelers

After examining those, it seems like budgeters really should be aiming for something on the level of Guesthouse or lower. I'm wondering if that's really the case? (Take out the possibility of a homestay or gatecrashing your penpal/exchange student friend's house in Japan from the equation. That's cheating Tongue)

I'm intending to fly to Japan in December (My July window has already, sadly, closed) for my second trip, this time going by myself. I'm flying from Singapore, and one of the things I realized when I was there last year (also in December) was that I really liked the nights as the time for me to do things that seem like "normal living" in Japan - Things like shopping at a konbini, going into a Don Quixote/100 yen shop that opens late, eating dinner/supper (dinsup?) at family shops, washing my clothes at a coin-operated laundry shop....

So! I've been looking for places that offer no curfews due to my penchant to go out early in the morning and stay out as late as I possibly can before going back to crash into bed. Naturally, I've been looking for a place that's likely to

a) Keep my stuff secure and
b) Not have a curfew.
c) Be cheap

Seeing that, it seems like guesthouses came out for me... but I seem to be having trouble finding any that explicitly state anything about curfews. Does anyone know anything/have any information about it?

Also, if you have any other information to add about the groups I've written about above, please feel free to contribute! I'm still far far away from ever even scratching the surface of Japan (I joined the race to learn more far too late at the ripe old age of 1Cool so yoroshiku! Smile

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 6:43 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 7:05 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Nope never have. Like I said, I cribbed it from reading the various threads found here so far.

How bad is it?