I know I’ve mentioned this before on Twitter, but I don’t think I’ve talked about it here yet. Anyways, I’m planning to go to Japan for 1-2 months (or as long as my budget lets me) this summer. So I have to start making preparations. But today I’m not going to talk about what I have and what I haven’t prepared, instead I’m going to ask a few questions.
In order to make things a bit more clear for me, I’m going to ask a set of questions regarding general living in Japan. You’re answers are invaluable to me and I bet I’m not the only one that need your help. Once or if enough questions are answered, I’ll make a new post for them and of course include some promotion of your blog/Twitter in return. If you actually answer all of the questions you’ll get your very own post!
Living on a budget
- If you had a budget of 520 000 yen, for how long would you stay in Japan? Keep in mind that I’m partially doing this because I want to work on my Japanese before the next semester starts, so time is valuable. But I also want to do fun stuff!
- Let’s say I’m staying for 2 months, would you recommend staying at a guest house, hostel, hotel or somewhere else? I do need my own room and it has to include an internet connection, but I’m willing to share everything else.
- I’ve already gotten a few answers to this question, but I’ll ask it again. 3 meals plus some snacks or a sandwich in the evening is usually what I eat on a normal weekday. If I were to buy these meals in a convenience store to save some money, how much would I have to spend to make my tummy pleased?
- While I do enjoy walking, taking the train is a must every now and then, let’s say 3-4 times a week (or actually 6-8 since I want to get home too), how much (approximately) would that cost me and is there a way to save some money doing it?
- What does a concert ticket for a popular artist usually cost?
- About how much does it cost to send a 5kg box half way around the world (to Sweden)? I have a feeling that I won’t be able to take everything I buy with me on the plane back home.
Places
- I’m on a date, where do we dine?
- I want to do something I’ve never done before, where do I go?
- I love coffee and good lounge music, where is the place with big sofas and pillows where you can chill out like never before? No shoes inside makes the place even more cozy.
- I want to bump into famous people and ask them if they know what time it is, where do I have the best chance to do so?
- I want to be on Japanese TV, where do you often see them recording?
- Beautiful scenery of all kinds, where’s that special something I need to see?
- I have to visit a nice onsen, do you have any recommendations?
General questions
- The legal age of drinking in Japan is 20, but are there pubs and clubs that you have to be even older to enter? And how strict are they anyways when it comes to checking people’s age?
- I want to make a weird video, where do I buy or rent a monkey costume?
- Anything else I have to keep in mind while I’m there?
And that’s all I could think of for now. Since I will be going alone I really want to meet up with people while I’m there, I’m hoping that there’ll be some blogging/CGM events while I’m there. I’ll probably be very lost the first few days, so hopefully there’ll be someone who can help me get by and show me around!
I was going to add another question about renting a phone but I can probably live with text messages only. Calling and using 3G for data with my iPhone is strictly out of the question though, they want over 1650 yen per 50kB (insane!!)
I hope you have some answers, thank you!
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Living on a budget
1. Rough estimate : 1.5 month easy but could be extended to 2 month with a more careful planning.
2. Guesthouse by month is about the same as a single room in hostel anyway, the thing is that you have to take guesthouse for a month, with hostel you would be more flexible and able to go to 2-3 in a month.
3. In conbini, 500-600 yen per meal is enough so 2500 per day is enough.
4. Check for a Japan Rail Pass if you plan on doing distance, is easier and cheaper.
5. Don’t know.
6. Don’t know.
Places
1. Restaurant. I’m kidding I just don’t have a specific suggestion.
2. Mimikaki?
3. Don’t know.
4. Don’t know.
5. Don’t know.
6. Yokohama Sankeien Garden for the traditional, and I loved going to Tokyo Tower at night for the less traditional.
7. I went to a private onsen in Yugawara which was very nice (friend’s place) but I heard Yugawara is very well know for onsen.
General questions
1. Yes some place have an older requirement. And I don’t know about enforcement since I’m 24 and usually pass for 26-27.
2. I would guess Akihabara maybe
3. Learn and Enjoy!
Ett måste för dig, är ju helt klart att träffa mig ;D (oh, jag rimmade också!)
hahahaha, this is awesome I did the same research about 3 months ago for a trip I want to go on in 3 years once I graduate college. These are the same questions I looked up and you seem to have come up with the same answers to some degree. Thanks for post this I can’t wait to see more replies on it.
Budget
1. Even with a budget of 520 000 yen, I would max out my stay and make it for 3 months. 1/3 of your money on accom, 1/3 to eat and 1/3 to play.
2. guesthouse you can make some friends and might help to save on cost. havent stayed at one myself to really thinking about cost here rather than comfort.
3. once you hit the convenience stores you are going to find things to buy you dont absolutely need. think 1,000 per visit max and limit your visits.
4. Japan Rail Pass definately worthwhile if you want to travel to country areas (longer distance). If you just want to get from Shibuya to Shinjuku then about 150 yen one way. start mixing subway with JR and you will pay more quickly.
5. popular? range of price 5,000 yen – and up
6. not sure but there are plenty of services available to do this so with competition comes better prices.
1. If you are on a date why are you dining? Skip the meal and have more for time for play. Meals can be cheap or expensive. Depends on the date. If she likes McDonalds you are in, if not 4,000 – 5,000 yen for 2 to eat. You wont stay 3 months at these prices.
2.Just about anywhere. Get on the train, pick a station, get off, start walking and experience.
3. Not sure about this but I bet its available if you look
4. Hollywood
5. There are various studio broadcasts you can go to, but you may have to book and you might need some Japanese language skills do this. Get a date and have her make the booking. You need to get some return on your 4,000 yen meal.
6. Get into the countryside. The train trips are great
7. There are so many great onsens. Check out a few websites
Other
1. Have some form of photo id and you should be ok (drivers license, passport best)
2. This would definately be possible but I dont know where. Something else for your date to look up for you. Definately a second date question. Dont ask when you first meet.
3. Enjoy.
looking forward to the replies.
this will be a very useful post for me as well
1. Budget, that should last you two months if you are careful.
2. Accomodation is probably the largest cost. hostel is probably cheapest. You might be able to find house/flat share . look at the adverts in metropolis. ( http://classifieds.metropolis.co.jp/user/classified.php)
3. Kombini food. tough question. I try and avoid them. But rice balls and sandwiches or noodles are between 200 & 400 yen.
4. Train. Miniumum fare is usually 120 Yen, across town for example Shibuya to Tokyo = approx 190 Yen.
check out http://www.tokyo-subway.net/english/ Each trip can cost widely differing amounts depending on what connections you make. Changing from Subway to JR lines to Toei subway line will cost far more for the same distance on just JR lines. So check the map very carefully. sometimes another station 5 mins walk away will make the whole journey half the cost of starting from another station.
5. what sort of artist ? http://summersonic.com/ is on in August for 3 day. One day ticket is 13,000 Yen. concerts will start at around 4,000 to 5,000 a ticket ( I guess, not been to any yet)
6. postage: http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/index.html checkout Japan Post website. However it’s cheaper to use a shipping company from the airport for getting large boxes home. Check the airport webapage and there should be some companies there.
1. where to dine, depends on the girl! A pizza at a decent little cafe + beer is approx 5,000 to 6,000 for 2. Noodles at the station place is 1200 drinking water for 2.
2. something different? I don’t know what you’ve done already ;)
3. good coffee shops. plenty around. I don’t have any specific recommendations.
4. famous people. No idea. probably Ginza ? or some of the posh hotels.
5. Japanese TV. the NHK studios are in Yoyogi. The Fuji TV studios are in Odaiba. You can visit for 500 Yen and watch from the visitors gallery
http://architecturerevived.blogspot.com/2009/01/fuji-television-headquarters-odaiba.html
6. Scenery, Mt Takano is close to Tokyo and easy to get to. Enoshima is very nice and the penisular .
7. Onsen. http://www.minakami-onsen.com/english/ is good.
1. Age restrictions. cant say. It’s been many many years since I was carded.
2. costumes are available for rent.
3. anything else.. yeah. Have a great time!
For meeting up with people join http://www.meetup.com/ there are a number of Japan groups of all sorts who meet up. Also checkout japantimes.co.jp they have list of societies with regular meetings.
lets us know when you are coming. perhaps we can arrange a Japan bloggers meetup.
blast. where did my post go?
did it get treated as spam because I put some URLs in? please check your spam folder as I spent 30 mins typing that in!
Haha! Luckily I found it in the spam folder :) You should always copy those long comments before you hit the submit button though! :P
Living on a budget
1. 2 months max, but i’m also a girl and love to shop
2. i’ve heard hostels are good. i know some people who stayed in hostels for 1-2 months and were just fine. internet and such would have be relied on in cafes and hotels. whenever i go, i stay with my japanese family so i can’t really help you there =/
3. conbini food ranges from good to gross… so i’d rely more on the little food places that have meals for 500yen. patisseries usually tide me over for the morning and or lunch since the breads they have can be rather filling and can cost only 150yen each.
4. i’d look into getting a pass, esp if you’re staying 2+ months. it really depends where you live and how far you want to be able to go on a regular basis.
5. 4500yen+ – tickets are done really oddly… you buy them and don’t get assigned a seat. it’s random. you find out when you get your ticket usually on the day of. my japanese mom once went to a DCT concert and found out she got front row. i went to see Do As Infinity for 5200yen and was maybe halfway up budoukan. not bad.
6. nooo idea. probably quite expensive. and if they ask you if there’s a letter inside, say no. they charge you extra!
Places
1. ramen! or a little specialty food place… like tempura bar… and there are cheap sushi bars
2. depends on when you’re going. matsuri are SOOOO fun. parks are great. if you’re going in summer, it’s typhoon season so it’ll be humid and rainy a lot so bring a good umbrella. try to make it to one of those summer fireworks shows. i’d look into museums… ghibli museum in mitaka is cool but you have to plan a month ahead and buy tix at lawson (my favorite conbini!)
3. there are coffee shops EVERYWHERE.
4. haha…cute question, but famous ppl are rather secluded. i’d say roppongi, ginza, harajuku.
5. usually not in tokyo? or if in tokyo… then… in a studio. it’s just really rare to see them outside.
6. imperial palace, if you can make it to kamakura… or even fujisan
7. not in particular since they’re pretty much everywhere. some places can get pricey tho.
General questions
1. they usually don’t check… but again, i’m a girl
2. harajuku??
3. exiting the correct exit at certain train stops can be confusing so grab one of the maps they have in one of the larger stations.
if you like tofu, my favorite restaurant is ume no hana (a chain) and it’s amazing. if you like azuki, make sure to eat the bread from kimuraya. i think a visit to tokyo disney should be done (but not disney sea…). best ramen is jangara. pizza in japan is very unique… mm.. i know lots about the food.
softbank (formerly vodafone) is the best option for a rent-a-phone. i think it costs 3500yen for the phone itself and depending on what plan you get usually 2500yen cheapest per month. i really recommend getting a phone.
if you plan to use ATMs, post offices usually have ATMs that won’t charge your card. if you use ATMs outside of the PO, then i’d be wary.
do you like baseball? i would try to make it to a game since it’s fun. and a sumo competition too!
if you have any other questions or want to talk more about japan, just email me~ i love to talk about japan :D
Maybe someone answered this before (I tried my best reading all of them but I may have missed something), but do try to stay somewhere cheaper than Tokyo. If you really want to go to Tokyo/Shinjuku/Shibuya, find a place cheap (a bit farther from the big cities), but not too far since train commuting can become expensive.
Also, remember to visit Osaka and Kyoto, but book early for the Shinkansen. You HAVE TO visit those two places, especially Kyoto =)
And if I were you, I’d rent a phone for two months, not cheap but not expensive and really easy to do.
i wonder if I could survive this trip in your suitcase. I so wish I could come
Sound much like back packing around Japan? You need a schedule. You also need to know where you want to go, what you want to buy, where and what you want to eat and what you want to do. With that, plan your time and that is where the dollar and cents comes in. That’s how I would have plan it. Just my 2 cents.
Here are some answers for your questions. I lived in Yokohama so the answers are going to be biased for that area.
Living on a Budget:
1) You should be able to stay 2 months easily with that budget. You could stay longer, but that would mean cutting back on some fun.
2) Staying at a hostel is the best option. Usually the longer you stay, the cheaper the price becomes. The ones I know of, the rooms are quite small, with just a bed and tv. Shared bathroom, and depending on the place, the common area might have wi-fi or internet. Hostels will also let you split up your time between different cities.
There are some cheap places on the outskirts of Tokyo (like Yokohama). It means some travelling to get to places, but Japan has an extremely good transit system so no problem there.
3) Tokyo has plenty of cheap & good food since japanese people love food. Convience store bentos range from 450-600 yen, and snacks (sandwishes and riceballs) are 100-200 yen. There are, however plenty of cheap lunch and dinner sets (600-900 yen) at stations and department store restaurent floors.
4) Minimum fare for trains is about 130 yen. A full day of travelling may cost about 500-800 yen roundtrip. Can be cheaper if you plan ahead and buy day passes. For the Tokyo area, the trains can be complicated so invest in a SUICA or PASMO smartcard. Just put some money on it, and the fares will automatically be deducted when you pass through stations. For long distance traveling I recommend buying the Japan Rail Pass. They are available in 1, 2 & 3 week periods i believe, so plan ahead and activate the Japan Rail Pass for that period.
5) Concert tickets are about 5000 yen. However, during the summer, there are large music festivals such as Summer Sonic, in which you can experience a large number of artists for about 15000 yen a day.
6) Don’t know. But can check here (http://www.post.japanpost.jp/cgi-charge/index.php?lang=_en)
Places:
1) Restaurants everywhere, but popular young hangout spots are Shibuya, and Roppongi.
2) Ride the train, pick a station. I’m sure you’ll find something interesting there.
3) There are good cafes along the Tokyu Toyoko Line (runs between Yokohama and Shibuya). Can’t specify any since I don’t know where exactly you’re staying/going. There are Starbucks everywhere, and they are quite comfortable.
4) Around TV Studios, mainly Shiodome, and Akasaka, Odaiba. If you want female artists, probably young shopping districts like shibuya or harajuku.
5) Most daytime shows have outdoor segments near their studios.
6) There’s a list of 3 sights that Japanese people consider beautiful. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Views_of_Japan). I recommend Miyajima, since its iconic. Otherwise, if you want beautiful japan, just head outside the city and you’ll find it. Other touristy places (kyoto, nara etc) are nice too.
7) Good onsens in Hakone and Nikko around Tokyo. I believe there are several equivalent sites near Osaka too. Tokyo and Yokohama also have urban Onsens (Which are actually like spas) but worth the visit too.
General Questions:
1) I can’t think of any places with a higher age restriction. It depends on the place on how strict they are on checking ID. Clubs that alot of university students go to can be lenient on ID, but always have one with you when traveling.
2) DonQuihote has loads of random stuff.
3) Although Japans relatively safe, be careful. Plan ahead to reduce costs. Enjoy yourself.
Extra Question:
1) There are some rental phones at airports (http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guide/service/list/svc_19.html). They tend to be crappy, but as long as you keep usage to a minimum, it won’t cost too much.
I grew up in Japan, and I’m at university in Canada now. Im going back for the summer, so I’d be happy to help out with anything.
Of course Tokyo is a must see, but it only represents just one side (of the many sides) of Japan.
If you’re planning to go to Japan for two months then you should travel around the country, don’t just stick to Tokyo.
Accommodation in other cities is also much cheaper, so you’ll get much more bang for your Yen.
Using Osaka Kansai International airport as your point of entry & exit is much less tiring and less of a hassle (it’s much closer to Osaka than Narita is to Tokyo).
Be sure to get a Japan Rail Pass before you come to Japan.
They’re amazing value. You don’t have to travel on consecutive days and you can even travel on many high speed trains with it.
http://www.japanrailpass.net/
I can really recommend visiting Kyushu. Nagasaki, Kagoshima and Fukuoka are great cities and Kyushu has awesome great hot springs.
Shikoku has some amazing nature also.
The San-in area is of the beaten path, but from a historical and religious point of view is the cradle of Japanese civilization.
If you want to work on your Japanese I’d avoid guesthouses and places with lots of foreigners.
If you can read some basic Japanese then you can get some good deals on hotels through the following site:
http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/
Most hotels offer internet connections nowadays.
(don’t bother with the English language version, only the Japanese one gets all the good prices).
Good luck planning your trip!
yeah, that’s exactly what I thought after it disappeared! glad you found my comment.