Japan

I've been to Japan 3x only but I've helped 1st time travelers to Japan created their itineraries for almost 10 times, even to places I've never been before LOL Mostly they needed help in how to get around and how to pick the most comfortable accommodation. Many of them were already frightened by the image of "expensive Japan". I'm not saying that going there is cheap, but you just need to know the right tricks.

Since I have received the same questions over and over again, I'd like to share my little knowledge to those who might be considering to go there. I hope it really helps.

1. TICKETS

Nothing better than promo tickets. My cheapest tickets was on my 2nd trip with Air Asia X in March 2012. Total I paid including 20 kgs of baggage and meals was IDR 2.500.000,- Super cheap! Roundtrip from Jakarta - Osaka - Jakarta. And yes, I always bought extra baggage because I knew I'd bring a lot of stuff and I'd rather pay upfront rather than paid more upon check-in on return. And I bought meals because I know I need a drinks and wouldn't be able to spend more than 5 hours without munching on something :p

Bear in mind that you might want to have a little clue of where you want to go around before you book your ticket. At that time, I planned to spend the whole 8 days only in KANSAI prefecture (I went to Osaka, Kyoto, Nara & Kobe). So roundtrip tickets to Osaka was the best choice. If you want to visit other places as well you might want to consider different airports on arrival & departure. I did this last year (2014), I flew from Jakarta to Osaka and returned from Tokyo to Jakarta. Fare difference was about IDR 1 million compared to roundtrip to Osaka, but then again I also saved a lot on ground transportations -- will be another point below.

I'm sure you won't be able to get that cheap of fare anymore today hahaha but you might want to compare other airlines' fare to decide the most comfortable way to fly. Sometimes big airlines also have very good offer with little difference compared to budget airlines. A travel fair is a good start to look for cheaper tickets or calling the airlines won't harm as they have promo fare from time to time that's only available through the counters instead of online. Besides, direct flights save a lot of your energy and time while you just have to pay for a little more.

2. JR PASS

No, you don't always have to buy JR Pass when you go to Japan. That's why arranging the best itinerary is top priority. I have never bought JR Pass for all my 3 visits. Unless you want to go city hopping that's required Shinkansen for more than once, I don't see the need to buy it. READ THIS before you decide to buy one. You will still need to pay for some buses and most local trains. If you're only going from Osaka or Kyoto to Tokyo (or vice versa) -- as that's the most common route for 1st timers, think again whether you really need it or not. Check hyperdia of regular train schedule, you can see the fare there too. Then compare the total fare with JR Pass cost and see which one is better.

On my last trip, my friend and I bought a one way Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo (Nozomi). We got around Kyoto with Kansai Thru Pass instead and purchased a Pasmo card once we got to Tokyo Station. After the trip I checked the total money that we spent for the whole trip. It's a little bit less then a 7-day JR Pass costs. Then again, you still spend more with JR Pass.

Another friend chose overnight buses as an alternative. It's much cheaper and you save 1 night of accommodation cost as well. It's a very good option if you're the type of person who can sleep on a bus. I can't sleep on any kind of transportation or moving vehicle, thus it's the worst option for me cause then I'll be awake the whole night and I won't be enjoying sightseeing until I check-in into the hotel and have a little sleep LOL

3. ACCOMMODATION

Looks like this is the biggest concern for most people. And many were surprised when I told them that I always budgeted my accommodation around Rp 300.000.- - Rp 500.000,- per night per person, in consideration that I travel with a friend of more so we can share rooms. Otherwise then I'll have to double the budget. Mind you, that's my budget for hostel / guest house stay, not a hotel. A hotel costs more, but there are a lot of nice and convenient hostel / guest house.

On my first trip I was lucky enough to not spend a dime on accommodation as I was staying at a good friend's place in Tokyo. On my second trip I traveled with another 4 people, so we shared a family room (in Kyoto) and a 2 bedroom apartment unit (in Osaka), still under the budget. Then on my last visit I shared a room with my close friend the whole trip, still under the budget.

I'm not so fond of walking but it's unavoidable in Japan. You have to walk everywhere, lots and lots of walking. I lost 2 kgs on every trip even though I was snacking like crazy (who could've resist the colorful and cute packaging in the convenience stores?). And I hate to think that I have to walk a long way at night after spending the day going around before I can get to where I stay and sleep.

So my # 1 consideration in picking a place to stay is somewhere place within a reasonable walking distance from a train station or bus stop. There are a lot of hostel or guest house to pick in every city. Other than location, I also picked one with an elevator if possible. Breakfast is also a bonus. I'm not a breakfast person myself, but while traveling I try my best to have a hearty breakfast because many times we didn't get to have lunch on time. And a hungry me is a grumpy me :)

Hostel / guest house costs around JPY 2500 - JPY 4000 per person per night (dorm) or JPY 6000 - JPY 8000 per night per person (private room for 2) and not every place provided breakfast. Fortunately, every place will provide a common room to mingle and eat and I really don't mind convenience store bought bento :D Many times, I skipped dining at a restaurant just to try out another set at the nearest Lawson LOL

If you travel in group you might get lucky and find a nice hotel with a reasonable price for a family room. Back in 2012, I travel in a group of 5 and managed to stay in a family room for IDR 1.700.000,- per night per room at Hotel Universal Port Osaka. No breakfast, a tiny bit over the budget but hey, it's a very nice hotel and just a 5 min walk to the train station, and I can hear the people screaming on the roller coaster :p From there we moved to Kyoto Village Hotel, another amazing place in a tatami room for 5, inside bahtroom, breakfast included and there's an indoor onsen on the lobby level.

So far, my best staying experience (other than freeloading at friends, of course :p) is at Piece Hostel Kyoto near Kyoto Station. It's within walking distance from Kyoto Station (so practically easy to get anywhere!), private bunk bed room -- and the mattress was superb, breakfast included, clean and nice shared showers (separate with toilets), smoking area (for my friend, not me. Note that smoking is prohibited in most places around the city), and coin laundry.

Please note that you might get cheaper price for hotel when booking online, but not for hostel. And, if you feel adventurous you may try airbnb instead. I have a good experience with it in Korea, but haven't found a suitable place for me in Japan. Not lucky yet, I guess.

4. FOOD

I'm sorry but I can't recommend any halal restaurants in Japan as I never had the need to eat at one. But trust me, there's a lot. At least that's what my moslem friends told me. Convenience Store bento costs around JPY 350 - JPY 700, depends on the food. Somehow I always picked something no more than JPY 500. If you don't want to eat junkfood but rice, you can find SUKIYA or YOSHINOYA in a lot of places, a set of bento (rice, egg, meat and soup) cost averagely JPY 500 - JPY 700. I always budget at least JPY 1000 for a regular meal and more if I want to eat in a nice but average restaurant (and good ramen).

Other than breakfast, lunch and dinner, my money went to snacks. I kept snacking with cookies, chocolates, Pocky, pumpkin paste, choux cream, pudding and so on and so on. And most times, I spent more on snacks than real food ROFL Enough I think?

Good planning is very crucial for me. Here's my step by step for any trip, not just Japan:

Know your destination and what you want to see -- look at the map and search for the location of your destination -- start creating itinerary -- buy plane tickets -- finalize the itinerary including the budget -- book the accommodation and transportation (if possible, i.e. overnight bus).

My final itinerary and budget always includes the timing and duration of each visit for each day, transport route and fare. I don't always follow it down to the minutes or go to every places, but believe  me, you don't want to spend half a day looking for a place then you can't find it or in the end missing something that you really wanted to see. I'm quite flexible, but I try to follow my own itinerary as much as possible unless something better or more in advantage popped up. So far, I've never been disappointed with my way of planning and traveling.

It may sound like a lot of job to do just for a vacation, but hey, I'm not rich. I need to know that I get to see what I want to see, eat the food that I like, sleeping in a convenient place and most importantly, know that I have enough money (and a little more) to cover my trip expenses. This way, I have never ran out of money in the middle of the trip and I could always bring souvenirs and snacks home for my lovelies :)

I guess it's time for another vacation ;) And Japan in 2016, yeehaa!!