Matthew Baxter - Super Cheap Japan: Budget Travel in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and Surrounding Areas

Super Cheap Japan

Budget Travel in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and Surrounding Areas

By Matthew Baxter

Copyright 2017 Matthew Baxter

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Copyright 2017 by Matthew Baxter.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Super Cheap Japan

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Super Cheap Japan: Budget Travel in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and Surrounding Areas / Matthew Baxter - 1st ed.

Paperback ISBN 978-1-9998100-0-9

Ebook ISBN 978-1-9998100-1-6

Contents

Welcome to Japan

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Welcome to the Land of the Rising Sun, but with this book not the land of rising prices! Japan is a fascinating country, but unfortunately one with a reputation for being expensive. This has been changing rapidly over the last few years, with increasingly good exchange rates for foreigners and , as well as many nearby tourist spots to keep your trip varied and as exciting as possible.

Highlights of Japan map

Japan is a deeply historic and traditional culture, yet one that is also very modern and at times futuristic. This mix is what makes the country stand out from the rest. One minute you will be soaking in a hot spring bath, another playing with a talking robot and another inside a 1000-year-old shrine. What sets Japan apart from other countries is its extensive, easy to use train and bus networks, which budget travelers can use to explore many places, while easily keeping an eye on their budget. From the deeply spiritual to the plain crazy, Japan has it all.

Popular meals include gyudon (beef on rice with a mild, sweet sauce), tempura (deep fried food), yakisoba (fried noodles) and ramen (noodles in a thick broth). These can be found with prices starting from just a few dollars, and are available almost everywhere. Convenience stores, which youll usually never be a few minutes away from, also have these items, plus cheap drinks and snacks. Many hostels also offer free drinks, snacks and bike rentals to entice guests to stay with them.

Japan can seem like another world, and has developed a very unique and at times fascinating culture. Its a very safe society, one where drinking outside on the streets will never cause you any trouble and where people always return lost items they have found. Japanese people are generally very welcoming for foreign tourists, and while their English skills can present problems, people really try their best to help. Dont be surprised if you ask a shop owner for directions to your hostel and they close the shop to guide you there personally, or offer to give you a ride for free!

The increasingly favorable exchange rate has made Japan much more affordable compared to before. A ramen meal would have cost about $9 in 2012, but it now costs $5.50, while an average hostel room used to cost around $40, but now comes in at $24. These kinds of prices have helped Japan to increase tourism numbers significantly. While this does mean that the top spots are becoming rather crowded, there have been many benefits, such as improved English language support, countless new discount train passes, extensive free wifi coverage and more frequent transportation services in the countryside. Your timing could not be better for a budget trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.

How to save on your holiday with this book

This book is very different from the rest, and the emphasis is on traveling on a budget. Here are some tips on how to use the book to save you as much as possible.

Itineraries

For each region, and nationally, use the sample itineraries based on train or bus passes to help you plan your budget trip. The best way to save is to base your trip around these passes, connecting between them with a cheap bus or short train ride if needed. Youll save a bunch, as train passes can save you hundreds of dollars, or thousands if in a group!

Things to do

Look out for places listed as FREE, or with free sample or discounts available. Try doing the free ones that interest you first, then head to the ones that cost money. Make sure you check the discount information provided to save on admission fees to the various attractions. These discounts and bonuses often come with train or bus passes.

How to use the maps

Some Japanese cities and towns can be a nightmare to visit without a simple map, especially as most dont use street names. Detailed instructions for getting to places, and simple maps when appropriate, are provided so you wont spend time and money getting lost. Plus, youll never need to get an expensive taxi. Use landmarks on the maps to help you get there as well, as Japanese streets can be difficult to navigate, even for those who have lived here many years.

Map Legend

Convenience stores are everywhere in Japan and have takeout meals from around 300 yen ($3). Finding a cheap supermarket can be a time-consuming hassle for budget travelers, so we have included cheap supermarkets in the guides. Prices are often slashed in the evenings to get rid of stock, so be sure to check them out for some ultra-cheap sushi!

100 yen stores (around $1) are even better for budget travelers. You can buy almost everything here, from drinks, to microwavable food, to gifts and clothing accessories. Japanese pharmacies and drug stores often have even cheaper prices for drinks and snacks as well.

Volunteer guides and tours

For those that want a more in-depth experience when visiting somewhere like a shrine or temple, using one of the vast number of free volunteer guide services is advised. For , these are listed in the introduction pages, while for other places recommended groups are listed individually in that locations chapter.

Budget food

Eating out cheaply

There are a host of cheap Japanese restaurant chains all over Japan, or focused on a particular region. These have been included on the easy-to-use maps, as well as in the Budget Food sections. As mentioned, cheap supermarkets and convenience stores are also included, to further help you keep your wallet happy!