How To Save Money Traveling In Japan
When most people consider traveling around Japan, they think they need to save thousands of dollars. It’s true that Japan is one of the most expensive countries in the world, but that does not mean you have to spend a fortune to travel around. True, if you want to spend your time in the nicest hotels and eat the finest foods, then you will have to spend some money, but that is true anywhere in the world. There are many ways to travel in Japan on a budget. The following are some helpful tips for saving your money in the land of the rising sun.
Tip 1: Get A JR Rail Pass For Your Trip
JR (Japan Railways) is the leading public transportation country throughout Japan. Foreigners traveling on a tourist’s visa can get what is called a JR rail pass. This pass allows you to travel on any (yes, any!) JR train for absolutely free. The only exceptions are the fastest bullet trains. And even though a pass for one month is in the hundreds of dollars, it’s still a huge savings if you plan on traveling throughout the country, or just using the train a lot. You have to purchase your pass before you head over to Japan however, and then get it verified in that country, so make sure you get it ahead of time.
Tip 2: Stay In Hostels And Guest Houses
Staying in hotels is one of the surest ways to spend too much money in Japan. Instead, consider staying in any of the wonderful hostels or guest houses in the places you want to stay. Guest houses usually rent by the month, and Japan’s hostels are known for their cleanliness and safety. Most staff also speak a plethora of languages.
Tip 3: Eat In Out Of The Way Restaurants
If you don’t want to eat fast food or cook for yourself (both great ways to save money on food in Japan) then you want to hit up the Mom and Pop Cafes sprinkled throughout towns and cities. These usually serve basic foods for low prices. You get a tasty, filling meal for less than the price of a cup of coffee. You can’t beat that!
Tip 4: Attend Free Events And Locations
It can be difficult finding things to do in Japan for free, but many historical sites and events can be attended for little to no money. Many also offer couple’s and group rates so go with some friends to save more money.
As you can see, it’s perfectly sensible and possible to travel on a tight budget in Japan. With a little know-how and a lot pre-planning, you can enjoy the wonders of Japan without going hungry or not having a place to sleep. You can even travel the whole country on a fair price. There’s no reason to not go out right now and book your tickets (months in advance, of course!) for the adventure of a lifetime.
