How to plan a free & easy trip to Japan?
Japan is a popular holiday destination among tourists. Traveling to Japan without a guided tour can be challenging to some people. Everything are in Japanese and not many of them can speak English. However, it is really not a problem at all traveling to Japan without a tour guide, in fact this way is even better and more interesting. I'm not an expert but I would like to share my experience with you (mainly in Tokyo) and I hope my experience can help some of you.
Flying into Japan
I�m a big fan of budget airline. It�s much cheaper than most airlines that fly between Japan and Singapore. If you book it during promotion period, you can find cheap ticket price as low as SGD400. Scoot operates flight between Singapore and Japan with a stop over at Taipei. Jetstar Airways has flights between Singapore and Tokyo with a stop over at Taipei and Osaka. Air Asia flies between Singapore and Tokyo with a stop over at Kuala Lumpur. If you are lucky enough, you can also grab cheap ticket at about SGD500 - 600 during Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines air ticket sales.
How many days in Japan?
It really depends. It can be 7 days, 14 days or 21 days. As I can't afford to take too many days off from work, I usually plan 7 - 9 days including weekend. Some local markets, festivals or events will be held only during weekend, you should include at least 1 weekend in your itinerary. From my experience, 7 - 8 days trip is good enough to explore Tokyo, including area outside of Tokyo like Nikko, Hakone and Mt. Fuji. If you want to include Kyoto/ Osaka in your itinerary, you probably need another 5 days.
For example, you can plan a 7-day itinerary in Tokyo like this
1 day in Nikko
1 day in Hakone/ Mt. Fuji
1 day in Disneyland/ Disney Sea
1 day in Shinjuku/ Shibuya/ Harajuku
1 day in Tokyo station/ Ginza/ Tsukiji market/ Tokyo Tower
1 day in Asakusa temple/ Tokyo Skytree/ Ueno Ameyoko market
1 day in Akihabara
Accommodation
Usually before I book hotel, I will try to get a copy of subway map from internet, circle all the attractions which I'm going to visit and plan accordingly.
See the subway map below. All the red arrows point out the main attractions in Tokyo city. Most attractions can be accessed via Ginza Line, Asakusa Line and Hibiya Line. I like to stay at hotel near Ningyocho subway station (A14 on Asakusa Line, H13 on Hibiya Line). I used to stay at Hotel Horidome Villa. There is also direct train service operating between Ningyocho station and Narita Airport or Haneda Airport. (Click here for more information) What an awesome location! One thing I don't like about this station is, not many elevators available from platform to ground floor and many stairs. This gonna be a pain if you carry big luggage.
Download the pdf metro map here.
Transport in Tokyo
How much budget should you set?
Flying into Japan
I�m a big fan of budget airline. It�s much cheaper than most airlines that fly between Japan and Singapore. If you book it during promotion period, you can find cheap ticket price as low as SGD400. Scoot operates flight between Singapore and Japan with a stop over at Taipei. Jetstar Airways has flights between Singapore and Tokyo with a stop over at Taipei and Osaka. Air Asia flies between Singapore and Tokyo with a stop over at Kuala Lumpur. If you are lucky enough, you can also grab cheap ticket at about SGD500 - 600 during Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines air ticket sales.
How many days in Japan?
It really depends. It can be 7 days, 14 days or 21 days. As I can't afford to take too many days off from work, I usually plan 7 - 9 days including weekend. Some local markets, festivals or events will be held only during weekend, you should include at least 1 weekend in your itinerary. From my experience, 7 - 8 days trip is good enough to explore Tokyo, including area outside of Tokyo like Nikko, Hakone and Mt. Fuji. If you want to include Kyoto/ Osaka in your itinerary, you probably need another 5 days.
For example, you can plan a 7-day itinerary in Tokyo like this
1 day in Nikko
1 day in Hakone/ Mt. Fuji
1 day in Disneyland/ Disney Sea
1 day in Shinjuku/ Shibuya/ Harajuku
1 day in Tokyo station/ Ginza/ Tsukiji market/ Tokyo Tower
1 day in Asakusa temple/ Tokyo Skytree/ Ueno Ameyoko market
1 day in Akihabara
Accommodation
Usually before I book hotel, I will try to get a copy of subway map from internet, circle all the attractions which I'm going to visit and plan accordingly.
See the subway map below. All the red arrows point out the main attractions in Tokyo city. Most attractions can be accessed via Ginza Line, Asakusa Line and Hibiya Line. I like to stay at hotel near Ningyocho subway station (A14 on Asakusa Line, H13 on Hibiya Line). I used to stay at Hotel Horidome Villa. There is also direct train service operating between Ningyocho station and Narita Airport or Haneda Airport. (Click here for more information) What an awesome location! One thing I don't like about this station is, not many elevators available from platform to ground floor and many stairs. This gonna be a pain if you carry big luggage.
Download the pdf metro map here.
Transport in Tokyo
The easiest way to commute in Tokyo is probably by train. JR, Tokyo Metro and Toei Lines are 3 main train operators in Tokyo. I'm more familiar with Tokyo Metro so I'm going to discuss more about Tokyo Metro subway. English signs are available in most subway stations. English language is available in all train ticket vending machines. English speaking subway staffs are also available in most big stations to assist foreign tourists. Different train operators have their own different station entrances, meaning you cannot just switch line between operators within the station, you have to exit and enter another one. Also, same station name by different operators may not locate at the same place. For example, JR Ueno station and subway Ueno station are located at different place.
Buy a SUICA card, it's easier than you buy the train ticket by cash. It works like ezlink card. If you plan to travel from Narita airport to Tokyo town e.g Shijuku by NEX (Narita Express), you can consider to get NEX & SUICA package (1 way �3500 yen, round trip �5500). This package consists of 1 way express train ticket (return express train ticket if you opt for the round trip package) from Narita to Tokyo and SUICA card with value of �2000 (�1500 travel value and �500 refundable deposit).
Fixed taxi fare chart from Narita.
[Update 3rd Apr 2014]
Suica & NEX package had been discontinued on 1st Apr 2014. Suica card can still be purchased from Narita Airport. NEX ticket is replaced by NEX Tokyo Direct and is now at �1500. See here.
I don't recommend to get tourist pass, they are usually more expensive than what you would use. Even if you can work out an itinerary that allow you to fully utilize the pass, you will only save a small amount. It is better to go with Suica or Pasmo for convenience and flexibility. Train fare starts from 130 and can go up to 400 one way. Click 1 day open ticket by Tokyo Metro and JR Tokyo Tour Ticket to find out more. Check out Tokyo Metro route planner and fare calculator here. Hyperdia, Jorudan, JR map and Tokyo subway map can also help you to plan your journey better. You can find the train (including Shinkansen) schedule, train number, transfer station and even platform number from Hyperdia. If Shinkansen (high speed bullet train) is required during your trip, you may want to consider JR pass. Click here and my post to find out more about JR pass. I got mine from Nippon Travel Agency website.
Buy a SUICA card, it's easier than you buy the train ticket by cash. It works like ezlink card. If you plan to travel from Narita airport to Tokyo town e.g Shijuku by NEX (Narita Express), you can consider to get NEX & SUICA package (1 way �3500 yen, round trip �5500). This package consists of 1 way express train ticket (return express train ticket if you opt for the round trip package) from Narita to Tokyo and SUICA card with value of �2000 (�1500 travel value and �500 refundable deposit).
Fixed taxi fare chart from Narita.
[Update 3rd Apr 2014]
Suica & NEX package had been discontinued on 1st Apr 2014. Suica card can still be purchased from Narita Airport. NEX ticket is replaced by NEX Tokyo Direct and is now at �1500. See here.
I don't recommend to get tourist pass, they are usually more expensive than what you would use. Even if you can work out an itinerary that allow you to fully utilize the pass, you will only save a small amount. It is better to go with Suica or Pasmo for convenience and flexibility. Train fare starts from 130 and can go up to 400 one way. Click 1 day open ticket by Tokyo Metro and JR Tokyo Tour Ticket to find out more. Check out Tokyo Metro route planner and fare calculator here. Hyperdia, Jorudan, JR map and Tokyo subway map can also help you to plan your journey better. You can find the train (including Shinkansen) schedule, train number, transfer station and even platform number from Hyperdia. If Shinkansen (high speed bullet train) is required during your trip, you may want to consider JR pass. Click here and my post to find out more about JR pass. I got mine from Nippon Travel Agency website.
How much budget should you set?
Well, I'm a budget traveller so I usually won't spend much on air ticket and accommodation. Most of the time SGD180/night/room twin sharing is a good guide to estimate your accommodation cost. You can get a double room as low as SGD84 in Hotel Horidome Villa (the hotel I mentioned earlier). A standard meal can cost at least �1000 in standard restaurant or as expensive as �5000 in better quality restaurant. SGD30/meal is more than enough to estimate your food budget in Tokyo. You may not eat that much sometimes and the excess can be shifted to the next meal for better food. Breakfast is not available in Hotel Hodorime Villa, but there are many eateries and convenience shops around this hotel. I bought my breakfast like potato salad, sushi set or sandwich from 7-11 and cost me less than �500. You can also find good ramen, tasty beef rice bowl less than �1000 in a lot of smaller restaurants.
I spent only SGD2300/pax in a 8-day central Japan trip last year December, including air ticket, accommodation, meal, transport, entrance fees, shopping and etc.
Read japan-guide on budget estimation.
Read japan-guide on budget estimation.
Scoot air ticket SGD550
7N accommodation SGD542/pax
JR pass SGD364/pax
8D meal SGD30x8x3-4 (included in accommodation) = SGD600 (we used only SGD350/pax)
Museum/ Temple entrance tickets SGD50/pax
Mobile wifi SGD22.5/pax
Local transport SGD100/pax
Shopping (souvenir etc) SGD300/pax
Average SGD216 (US166)/day/pax exclude air ticket
Average SGD216 (US166)/day/pax exclude air ticket
Sound pretty reasonable right?
What are the places to visit in Tokyo city?
Tsukiji Market/ Ginza
Tokyo Tower
Ameyoko Market
Akhihabara
Asakusa/ Tokyo Skytree
Disneyland/ Disney Sea
Shibuya/ Shinjuku
Read more information about these attractions here.
What are the popular cities to visit in central Japan?
Takayama
Tateyama (snow corridor)
Shirakawago
Kanazawa
Kyoto
Osaka
You can check out my central Japan trip itinerary here. I also wrote about Takayama, Shirakawago, Kanazawa, Kyoto/ Osaka. Start with http://www.japan-guide.com/, it has a lot of information in there.
Japan is not difficult to navigate without guided tour. In fact, it's very fun and interesting if you do it free & easy. You will learn a lot during the process of planning. You will not have any problem if you do your preparation work properly. I hope these tips will be useful to you!
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