Japan on a budget

As an island country with a dense population, Japan is truly expensive than average Asia countries. However, Japan trips can be not so pricey. If you know your way around things, you can really save a lot of money. I went to Japan last summer and I hope to share plenty of wallet-friendly options for traveling there. The trip can be fun and exciting, even on a budget.

Budget stays

There are two really expensive things in Japan. One is hotels and the other is transportation. Finding accommodations that meet your budget is important.  “Hostels, backpackers, and dormitories are budget-oriented lodgings that are mostly found in Japan’s larger cities” [1]. Although private rooms may be available, guests usually stay in shared rooms that may be segregated by gender. Hostel-style accommodation tends to be frequented by international travelers who may enjoy the sociable atmosphere that a hostel cultivates. In addition, some hostels offer their guests free or discounted bicycle rentals and sightseeing tours. It’s really the good option if you want to ball your budget there. If you plan to go to Tokyo, the cheapest choice is the capsule hotels for a backpacker. For other cities, Airbnb rental is also a popular choice. if you are lucky, you can find Japanese-style accommodations which are called minshuku and ryokan with very good prices.

 

 

Budget transportation

Transportation in Japan is really expensive, especially the overpriced taxi fares. If you take a taxi from Tokyo to Kyoto, the fares will be as high as the price of a second-hand car in the United States. When I went there, my cousin and I could not find our way to the hotel with two big pieces of luggage, so we took a taxi. We spent $36 just in a five-minute drive and we never took a taxi after that. The crazy thing is that the cost also increases when the taxi is not moving for a prolonged time. I was thinking of cheating once in a while when my legs cannot bear it anymore, but it looks like I might have to rethink when I want to do it again. The subway system is extensive in Japan and we would like to express subway lines as the spider web. I almost spent half of the time on trams and subways. The green JR (Japan Railways) lines connect Tokyo’s 23 districts to one giant organism. They are really cheap and always a wonderful way to take public transportation to get to every corner of Japan.

Budget fun

There are plenty of interesting things to do in Japan which do not cost much. The historic temples, the fascinating museums, the Nara park with deer, and even breweries are always affordable things in Japan. Japanese cosmeceuticals like Don Quixote are everywhere. You can get everything there at discounted prices. 100 yen and 300 yen stores like Daiso, Seria are especially great for picking up some souvenirs.