Sushi
Average Daily Expenses (Per Person)
All Budget Styles
Tokyo
|
Average Daily Travel Cost (per person):
|
¥ 9,289.50 |
| Accommodation1 | ¥ 4,138.61 |
| Food2 | ¥ 2,469.34 |
| Water2 | ¥ 181.29 |
| Local Transportation1 | ¥ 1,407.93 |
| Entertainment1 | ¥ 1,547.06 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | ¥ 600.00 |
| Souvenirs1 | ¥ 1,610.20 |
| Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 | ¥ 264.00 |
| Alcohol2 | ¥ 1,852.02 |
Tokyo is a city of lights, sounds, energy, and organized chaos. It's an absolutely wonderful place to explore with the most unique types of food, culture, and architecture. It has the comforts of a developed city, with some of the most technologically advanced hotels and toilets you will find, but it also gives you the disoriented thrill of exploring something new and unknown. As the capital of Japan, it is also the country's most populated city and has enormous amounts of wealth and technology. But hidden amongst the flash of the city, you will find glimpses of the old world, traditional Japan. Wander through an old neighborhood, poke your head in a small shop, or explore a cemetery and you will catch lingering tidbits for an old, almost forgotten, Japan. Japan has many neighborhoods to explore that are mainly divided into central Tokyo, old Tokyo, known as Shitamachi, and the suburbs. You will likely spend most of your time in the central and old Tokyo areas. Some interesting neighborhoods in central Tokyo include Chiyoda, with thhe Imperial Palace and the electronics district of Akihabara, Minato, with nightclubs, the port area, and high reaching skyscrapers. Shinjuku is famed for its high end hotels, skyscrapers, and wonderful shopping. Shibuya is a popular shopping district with the teenagers, and Meguro is a great place to see some museums and parks in a residential setting. In old Tokyo, some of the more interesting neighborhoods include Sumida, which houses the main sumo arena in Tokyo. Taito has some great museums and Bunkyo has the University of Tokyo.
There are plenty of things to see and do in Tokyo, but some of the most popular sights include the Imperial Palace, the Tokyo Tower, check out the views from the Roppongi Hills, and wander through the Mori Art Museum. Also make sure you enjoy a lunch of conveyor belt sushi. Sushi in Japan is simpler than the Americanized version. The focus is more on quality fish and less of the added details. You'll definitely notice how fresh and delicious the fish here can be. Also allow yourself several hours in the morning to explore the famed seafood market, which is one of the most impressive sights in Tokyo. You can easily be overwhelmed by the quantity of seafood sold every day here. Also grab yourself a quick lunch nearby and you'll get to sample some of the day's seafood catch.
Taking the subway is an experience in Tokyo in and of itself, especially if you find yourself on the train during rush hour. There is more English throughout Tokyo these days and you'll find it much easier to navigate than it was ten years ago.
There are plenty of things to see and do in Tokyo, but some of the most popular sights include the Imperial Palace, the Tokyo Tower, check out the views from the Roppongi Hills, and wander through the Mori Art Museum. Also make sure you enjoy a lunch of conveyor belt sushi. Sushi in Japan is simpler than the Americanized version. The focus is more on quality fish and less of the added details. You'll definitely notice how fresh and delicious the fish here can be. Also allow yourself several hours in the morning to explore the famed seafood market, which is one of the most impressive sights in Tokyo. You can easily be overwhelmed by the quantity of seafood sold every day here. Also grab yourself a quick lunch nearby and you'll get to sample some of the day's seafood catch.
Taking the subway is an experience in Tokyo in and of itself, especially if you find yourself on the train during rush hour. There is more English throughout Tokyo these days and you'll find it much easier to navigate than it was ten years ago.
Travel Tips
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Tokyo Metro
The metro (or subway) system in Tokyo is the best and cheapest way to get around the city. Taxis can be expensive, but the metro is relatively cheap. The only problem is that there are actually different companies that run different lines. So, at times you might have to exit one train system and buy a second ticket for another train line to get to your destination. Most of these interchanges are within the same station, however, so it's still fairly easy to negotiate. You just need to pay attention to where you are going and what train lines go where. Most of the signs are in English, which is also helpful.
Kyoto
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Average Daily Travel Cost (per person):
|
¥ 9,007.16 |
| Accommodation1 | ¥ 5,148.98 |
| Food2 | ¥ 1,748.31 |
| Water2 | ¥ 84.00 |
| Local Transportation1 | ¥ 986.77 |
| Entertainment1 | ¥ 1,817.36 |
| Souvenirs1 | ¥ 355.38 |
| Alcohol2 | ¥ 1,210.94 |
In many people's minds, Kyoto has the reputation as the country's most beautiful city. While it does live up to that reputation, often that beauty is interspersed with urban sprawl and modern development. The historical and traditional vibe does still exist however, and Kyoto's significance as Japan's capital city for over a thousand years is still easy to see. Like elsewhere in Japan, however, this history is intertwined with a modernizing vibe and glitz and glam.
While Kyoto is much smaller than many major Japanese cities, its rich cultural city means it has no shortage of temples, shrines, and cultural sights. The city itself is divided into a handful of districts. Central Kyoto has the Imperial Palace and your likely entry point to the city, Kyoto Station. The naturally beautiful area of Arashiyama is filled with tree covered hills. Higashiyama is filled with a concentration of important sights along the well known Philosopher's Path. The northern area has one of Kyoto's most well known sights, the impressive gilded pavilion of Kinkaku-ji. In the Southern District is the largest portion of Japan's former capital city.
You will find yourself becoming familiar with Kyoto's wonderful public transportation system, as it is essential for exploring the city on any level of detail. Because the city can be spread out and cumbersome to explore, check out the websites, of Hyperdia or Kurage to plan your trip in advance. You can plan your route station by station and see a comprehensive plan that includes both public and private forms of transportation.
Kyoto is a popular destination because it really does have a high concentration of sights and attractions. Some sights you should definitely make a point of seeing include the Imperial Palace, the Katsura Imperial Villa, and the Shugakuin Imperial Villa.
Many people also head to Kyoto during the Cherry Blossom season when the city absolutely comes to life. There are spots throughout the city where you can enjoy the blooms, but some of the best neighborhoods to truly experience the season include Arashiyama, Daigoji, Ninnaji. If you do plan to visit Kyoto during this season, definitely make reservations well in advance, as it's one of the area's most peak seasons.
While Kyoto is much smaller than many major Japanese cities, its rich cultural city means it has no shortage of temples, shrines, and cultural sights. The city itself is divided into a handful of districts. Central Kyoto has the Imperial Palace and your likely entry point to the city, Kyoto Station. The naturally beautiful area of Arashiyama is filled with tree covered hills. Higashiyama is filled with a concentration of important sights along the well known Philosopher's Path. The northern area has one of Kyoto's most well known sights, the impressive gilded pavilion of Kinkaku-ji. In the Southern District is the largest portion of Japan's former capital city.
You will find yourself becoming familiar with Kyoto's wonderful public transportation system, as it is essential for exploring the city on any level of detail. Because the city can be spread out and cumbersome to explore, check out the websites, of Hyperdia or Kurage to plan your trip in advance. You can plan your route station by station and see a comprehensive plan that includes both public and private forms of transportation.
Kyoto is a popular destination because it really does have a high concentration of sights and attractions. Some sights you should definitely make a point of seeing include the Imperial Palace, the Katsura Imperial Villa, and the Shugakuin Imperial Villa.
Many people also head to Kyoto during the Cherry Blossom season when the city absolutely comes to life. There are spots throughout the city where you can enjoy the blooms, but some of the best neighborhoods to truly experience the season include Arashiyama, Daigoji, Ninnaji. If you do plan to visit Kyoto during this season, definitely make reservations well in advance, as it's one of the area's most peak seasons.
Osaka
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Average Daily Travel Cost (per person):
|
¥ 8,605.61 |
| Accommodation1 | ¥ 3,977.61 |
| Food2 | ¥ 2,213.33 |
| Water2 | ¥ 225.54 |
| Local Transportation1 | ¥ 2,215.03 |
| Entertainment1 | ¥ 1,326.47 |
| Souvenirs1 | ¥ 292.61 |
| Alcohol2 | ¥ 1,417.94 |
The third largest city in Japan, Osaka has a lot to over travelers. It's at the center of the Kansai region, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city has a good number of districts and neighborhoods worth exploring, not least of which is Kita, which is the more modern section of the city center. It has plenty of shopping, theaters, restaurants, and more worth exploring. Minami is at the traditional cultural heart of the city and is a great place to eat or shop, among other things. Tennoji has some amusement park areas as well as Tennoji Park and Zoo. Osaka Castle is a neighborhood in and of itself, and is the most popular attraction in the city.
Japan is an expensive country to visit, and if you're planning to spend any significant time in Osaka and the nearby areas, it might be worth picking up a transit or entertainment pass at a discount price. You actually have several options to choose from. ICOCA smart cards are useful on all rail, subway, and bus systems in the Kansai area. They carry a balance which you can refill at any time. For 3500 yen you can pick up the Unlimited Kintetsu Rail Pass. This will give you five consecutive days of unlimited travel within the Kansai Region. An upgraded version of that pass is the Wide Kintetsu Rail Pass for 6800 yen. It adds on round trip access to Kansai Airport among other things. The Osaka Unlimited Pass comes in a handful of entertainment and rail options for either one or two days. The Osaka One-day Pass is a one day travel pass for 850 yen.
Popular sights in Osaka include the Osaka Castle, the Umeda Sky Building, Sumiyoshi Shrine, Shitennoji Temple, and the Japan Mint. There are plenty of off the beaten path places to explore and discover in Osaka as well, so be sure and allow yourself enough time to get lost in the city.
Japan is an expensive country to visit, and if you're planning to spend any significant time in Osaka and the nearby areas, it might be worth picking up a transit or entertainment pass at a discount price. You actually have several options to choose from. ICOCA smart cards are useful on all rail, subway, and bus systems in the Kansai area. They carry a balance which you can refill at any time. For 3500 yen you can pick up the Unlimited Kintetsu Rail Pass. This will give you five consecutive days of unlimited travel within the Kansai Region. An upgraded version of that pass is the Wide Kintetsu Rail Pass for 6800 yen. It adds on round trip access to Kansai Airport among other things. The Osaka Unlimited Pass comes in a handful of entertainment and rail options for either one or two days. The Osaka One-day Pass is a one day travel pass for 850 yen.
Popular sights in Osaka include the Osaka Castle, the Umeda Sky Building, Sumiyoshi Shrine, Shitennoji Temple, and the Japan Mint. There are plenty of off the beaten path places to explore and discover in Osaka as well, so be sure and allow yourself enough time to get lost in the city.
Hiroshima
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Average Daily Travel Cost (per person):
|
¥ 10,487.95 |
| Accommodation1 | ¥ 5,443.27 |
| Food2 | ¥ 4,099.11 |
| Water2 | ¥ 89.50 |
| Local Transportation1 | ¥ 1,371.46 |
| Entertainment1 | ¥ 681.33 |
| Alcohol2 | ¥ 1,516.57 |
Hiroshima is positioned on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea and is an industrial city made up of many zigzagging rivers and wide boulevard streets. Today Hiroshima is a modern and vibrant city with great foods and an energetic nightlife, but the image that remains in most visitors minds is the Hiroshima of 1945 when it became the horrific sight of the first atomic bomb attack. Hiroshima shares the colorful neon atmosphere of other major Japanese cities and its hard to recognize the city immortalized all those years ago on that fateful day.
Most of the memorial monuments to the past is found at Peace Memorial Park which can be reached by tram line 2 or 6 going to Genbaku Dome-mae. This sight is the center of devastation by the bomb and today there are more than fifty different monuments memorialize that day. There's also a museum that educates the visitor of what happened. Outside of the park there are some other museums that educate on other aspects of that day. You should consider visiting Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum, which tells of the school that was destroyed that day and those that lost their lives. Only one teacher and one student survived that day. Fukuro-machi Elementary School Museum is a comparable museum.
Other attractions around town include Chuo Park, which has wonderful green space and is an enjoyable place to pass some time. Hiroshima Castle was built in the 1590's and rebuilt in 1958 after it was destroyed by the atomic bomb. On the grounds of the castle you will also find Gokoku Shrine, which is of significance to many locals. If you're interested in some other museums, consider visiting the Hiroshima Children's Museum or Hiroshima Museum of Art.
There are also some great festivals in Hiroshima that really bring the city to life. These include the Flower Festival in May, the Sake Festival is in October and the Food Festival is also in October. On the anniversary of the atomic bomb being dropped there is the Peace Memorial Ceremony that begins in the morning.
Most of the memorial monuments to the past is found at Peace Memorial Park which can be reached by tram line 2 or 6 going to Genbaku Dome-mae. This sight is the center of devastation by the bomb and today there are more than fifty different monuments memorialize that day. There's also a museum that educates the visitor of what happened. Outside of the park there are some other museums that educate on other aspects of that day. You should consider visiting Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum, which tells of the school that was destroyed that day and those that lost their lives. Only one teacher and one student survived that day. Fukuro-machi Elementary School Museum is a comparable museum.
Other attractions around town include Chuo Park, which has wonderful green space and is an enjoyable place to pass some time. Hiroshima Castle was built in the 1590's and rebuilt in 1958 after it was destroyed by the atomic bomb. On the grounds of the castle you will also find Gokoku Shrine, which is of significance to many locals. If you're interested in some other museums, consider visiting the Hiroshima Children's Museum or Hiroshima Museum of Art.
There are also some great festivals in Hiroshima that really bring the city to life. These include the Flower Festival in May, the Sake Festival is in October and the Food Festival is also in October. On the anniversary of the atomic bomb being dropped there is the Peace Memorial Ceremony that begins in the morning.
Takayama
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Average Daily Travel Cost (per person):
|
¥ 7,533.11 |
| Accommodation1 | ¥ 4,826.12 |
| Food2 | ¥ 1,780.66 |
| Water2 | ¥ 65.00 |
| Local Transportation1 | ¥ 1,371.46 |
| Entertainment1 | ¥ 467.20 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | ¥ 588.00 |
| Alcohol2 | ¥ 1,828.62 |
Beppu
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Average Daily Travel Cost (per person):
|
¥ 11,065.91 |
| Accommodation1 | ¥ 6,642.96 |
| Food2 | ¥ 2,811.06 |
| Water2 | ¥ 469.00 |
| Local Transportation1 | ¥ 2,057.20 |
| Entertainment1 | ¥ 457.15 |
| Alcohol2 | ¥ 1,376.27 |
Travel Tips
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Termas Spa
By backpackguru
on Nov 2, 2011 in Entertainment
This spa is near the beach in Beppu. The entrance fee is 500 yen, and 100 yen for your shoe locker which is located at the entrance. They separate men and women, with women going to the left and men heading to the right. You head to the locker room and the wash room. The wash room comes equipped with several hot baths and a sauna. The room then connects with a main room where genders mix and swimsuits are required. The main room has a few pools and a jacuzzi. All of the pools are at various temperatures. Its not uncommon for people to be very covered in the pools as protection from the sun.
Nara
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Average Daily Travel Cost (per person):
|
¥ 10,281.54 |
| Accommodation1 | ¥ 5,713.53 |
| Food2 | ¥ 3,860.89 |
| Water2 | ¥ 75.00 |
| Local Transportation1 | ¥ 731.45 |
| Entertainment1 | ¥ 1,028.60 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | ¥ 92.50 |
| Alcohol2 | ¥ 1,371.46 |
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Kasuga Shrine
By backpackguru
on Nov 4, 2011 in Entertainment
Kasuga Shrine is situated in a pleasant forest and is one of the most interesting shrines in Japan. It's a Shinto shrine for the Fujiwara clan and has the gods that protect the city of Nara. The shrine has a lot of buildings with thousands of lanterns. There's also a pleasant garden. It's a nice shrine to wander through. Explore the grounds, and for 500 yen you can go inside. On occasion, you might be able to spot a deer from the forest roaming nearby the shrine. It's a very peaceful place and makes for a pleasant trip.
Okinawa
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Average Daily Travel Cost (per person):
|
¥ 13,214.63 |
| Accommodation1 | ¥ 9,143.10 |
| Food2 | ¥ 3,085.79 |
| Local Transportation1 | ¥ 1,142.89 |
| Entertainment1 | ¥ 1,657.19 |
| Alcohol2 | ¥ 1,828.62 |
A part of the 47 prefectures of Japan, Okinawa is a chain of islands of the southern mainland portion of the country. There are is made up of 49 inhabited islands and over one hundred uninhabited islands and it is connected to mainland Japan by regular flight service. It's location gives it a subtropical or tropical climate. It's climate, and its easy accessibility make it a popular travel destination for Japanese and international travelers alike. While it remains slightly undiscovered among foreign travelers, this continues to change every year.
Okinawa is an interesting place to visit in that it has its own unique culture and language. The population identifies themselves as unique from those living on mainland Japan and there remains a subtle, lingering resentment based on historic tensions that existed in the area. Okinawans refer to themselves as uminchu, or "sea people." Okinawa's are credited with the creation of the martial art of karate. The area's music and food has also grown in popularity. The music shares many similarities with American rock and jazz. It is often played on the sanshin, which is a banjo like instrument.
If you're planning to travel between islands, it is possible by either ferry or plane. Many of the smaller islands are very infrequently serviced, so it is better to stick with the more populated, larger islands. Once on an island, it is possible to travel most places by public buses, which are readily available almost anywhere.
There are some interesting sights around Okinawa, but most people come to the islands to soak up some sun on the beaches. You can generally expect comfortable weather, even during the winter months when mainland Japan gets quite cold. It is possible to enjoy some snorkeling, diving, surfing, sailing, or fishing around the islands as well. Any of the experiences can be a unique and fun way to enjoy the area.
The food itself is very unique from traditional Japanese cuisine and is actually heavily influenced by Taiwanese cuisine. There are many local restaurants around the area where you can sample some local cuisine.
Okinawa is an interesting place to visit in that it has its own unique culture and language. The population identifies themselves as unique from those living on mainland Japan and there remains a subtle, lingering resentment based on historic tensions that existed in the area. Okinawans refer to themselves as uminchu, or "sea people." Okinawa's are credited with the creation of the martial art of karate. The area's music and food has also grown in popularity. The music shares many similarities with American rock and jazz. It is often played on the sanshin, which is a banjo like instrument.
If you're planning to travel between islands, it is possible by either ferry or plane. Many of the smaller islands are very infrequently serviced, so it is better to stick with the more populated, larger islands. Once on an island, it is possible to travel most places by public buses, which are readily available almost anywhere.
There are some interesting sights around Okinawa, but most people come to the islands to soak up some sun on the beaches. You can generally expect comfortable weather, even during the winter months when mainland Japan gets quite cold. It is possible to enjoy some snorkeling, diving, surfing, sailing, or fishing around the islands as well. Any of the experiences can be a unique and fun way to enjoy the area.
The food itself is very unique from traditional Japanese cuisine and is actually heavily influenced by Taiwanese cuisine. There are many local restaurants around the area where you can sample some local cuisine.
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