Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [3]
If you’re heading to the southern island groups like Okinawa, the islands of southern Kagoshima-ken, the Izu-shotō or the Ogasawara-shotō, keep in mind that typhoons can wreak havoc with your travel plans. They can strike anytime between June and October, with most making a landfall in August, September and early October.
Also keep in mind that peak holiday seasons, particularly Golden Week (late April to early May), which incorporates four major Japanese holidays, and the mid-August O-Bon (Festival of the Dead), are extremely popular for domestic travel and can be problematic in terms of reservations and crowds. Likewise, everything in Japan basically shuts down during Shōgatsu (New Year period).
All that said, it is worth remembering that you can comfortably travel in Japan at any time of year. Indeed, if you come in winter or summer, you’ll escape the crowds and probably get better prices for your plane ticket and accommodation.
For information on Japan’s festivals and special events, Click here. For public holidays, Click here.
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HOW MUCH?
Business hotel accommodation (per person) ¥8000
Midrange meal ¥2000
Local bus ¥220
Temple admission ¥500
Newspaper ¥130
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COSTS & MONEY
Japan is generally considered an expensive country in which to travel. Certainly, this is the case if you opt to stay in top-end hotels, take a lot of taxis and eat all your meals in fancy restaurants. But Japan does not have to be expensive; indeed it can be cheaper than travelling in other parts of the world if you are careful with your spending (Click here). And in terms of what you get for your money, Japan is good value indeed; see also Sample Daily Budgets for more practical information.
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IT’S CHEAPER THAN YOU THINK
The fact is, Japan’s image as one of the world’s most expensive countries is just that: an image. Anyone who has been to Japan recently knows that it can be cheaper to travel in Japan than in parts of Western Europe, the USA, Australia or even the big coastal cities of China. Of course, a lot of this depends on the exchange rate when you travel (as this book went to press, the exchange rate was fluctuating wildly). Prices within the country, however, have barely changed in the last ten years or so (some prices have even gone down due to deflation). Still, there’s no denying that Japan is not Thailand. In order to help you stretch those yen, we’ve put together a list of money-saving tips.
Accommodation
Manga Kissa – These manga (comic book) coffee shops have private cubicles and comfy reclining seats where you can spend the night for only ¥2500. For more details, see Missing the Midnight Train, Click here.
Capsule Hotels – A night in a capsule hotel will set you back a mere ¥3000.
Guest Houses – You’ll find good, cheap guest houses in many of Japan’s cities, where a night’s accommodation runs about ¥3500.
Eating
Shokudō – You can get a good filling meal in these all-round Japanese eateries for about ¥700, or US$7, and the tea is free and there’s no tipping. For more, Click here.
Bentō – The ubiquitous bentō (boxed meal) costs around ¥500 and is both filling and nutritious.
Use Your Noodle – You can get a steaming bowl of tasty rāmen (egg noodles) in Japan for as little as ¥500, and ordering is a breeze – you just have to say ‘rāmen’ and you’re away. Soba (buckwheat) and udon (thick white) noodles are even cheaper – as low as ¥350 per bowl.
Shopping
Hyaku-en Shops – Hyaku-en means ¥100, and like the name implies, everything in these shops costs only ¥100, or about US$1. You’ll be amazed what you can find in these places. Some even sell food.
Flea Markets – A good new kimono costs an average of ¥200,000 (about US$2100), but you can pick up a fine used kimono at a flea market for ¥1000, or about US$10. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or for presents for the folks back home, you’ll find some incredible bargains at Japan’s flea markets.
Transport
Japan Rail Pass – Like the famous Eurail Pass, this is one of the