| Key Factors for Travel Alone |
It is true that total spending for travel in Japan is considerably high
in comparison with other countries. However, there are some methods to
save money, especially for traveling alone or traveling by small group.
It is my pleasure if you could travel in Japan with great pleasure by reading
the following information.
About 10 years ago, accomodation in Japan was expensive everywhere, so
some guide-book recomended to stay Love-Hotel, which is mainly used for
making love (Sex) and relatively cheep to stay. But, the number of reasonably
priced accomodation has become increased recently.
In this part, some reasonably priced dormitory and hotels will be introduced.
Also, some potal site, which can find cheap accomodations will be shown.
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About dormitory in Japan. It is just for two or three years that the number
of dormitory has increased in Japan. So, dormitory beds can be relatively
easily found In only three areas, Tokyo, Kyoto and Okinawa.
It is location that you need to consider in deciding the dormitory you
stay. Especially, in Tokyo and Osaka, some dormitory uses the building
which was the places for construction workers to stay. These areas are
not so good in security, especially not so good for alone lady traveler
and lady's group traveler. Also, surrounding atmousphere is not so confortable
at all.
It is much better that you choose the dormitory like Orange In, which is
established for foreign traveler to use.
The recommended portal-site, which is of great to look for the dormitory
in Japan, is "Hostel World Com". In it, it is possible to reserve dormitories all over Japan. Orange
In can be reserved in this site.
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Next is about single room. Continuous economic depression and defration in Japan, it is not so difficult to find single room whose price is about 5,000YEN per one night.
In this part, main hotel chains, which can be found all over Japan. It
is of great difficulty to make a friend with other traveler or local people,
but it might be good if you would like to be alone.
・TOYOKO-INN( )：Recently developed low price business hotel chain in Japan. Its buildings
are relatively new, and free internet service is available in every single
room.
・TOKYU-INN( )：Its price was about 10,000YEN before, but because of stiff competitions
and aging facilities, its price level has changed into considerably lower.
・Ｒ＆Ｂ：It is low priced hotel chain, which is established by Washington Hotel,
which is one of the largest hotel group in Japan. Though its single room
charges from 5,000YEN, free breakfast, including home-baked crouassants
and hot coffee, is served.
If you would like to find other cheap hotels, it is RAKUTEN-TRAVEL that you should look for. Sometimes you can find the rooms, which are amaisingly discounted. If you look for accomodation in Japan, it is the first to check it !!
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It is often said that price level in Japan is amasingly high, but about
eating, it does not seem to be so. Especially, In comparison with the USA
and European Countries, eating cost is relatively cheap, less than 1,000
YEN for one person. But, its taste is amasingly good !!
In this part, the restaurant chains, which is suitable for budget alone
or group traveler to eat and experience Japanese tastes.
(Picture) Mos Burger: Hamburger chain of Japanese origin and with distinctive flavour based
on Japanese food,
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My first recommendation is OOTOYA( ) It is the first TEISYOKU chain in Japan, and offers house-cooking type
of food with very reasonable price. When it had started the business, it
was a news. Currently, many restaurants can be found mainly in Kanto Area.
Its menu is typical Japanese food, and especially good if you would like
to eat fish cuisine. Its price is very reasonable, and less than 1,000YEN
per one TEISYOKU.
Each cuisine's pictures are shown in the menu, so it is easy for foreign
traveler to order.
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Next recommendation is the Family restaurant. Originally, created in the
USA, but very distinctive development has occured in Japan. So, you can
find many kinds of family restaurants, such as Jaspanese family restautants,
Italian family rstaurants, and so on.
The following brands are the very popular among Japanese people, and easier
to find all over Japan. If you find these, why not to go !!
・GUST( )：King of Japanese firmily restaurants. Its number of cuisine is more than
160, and covers from Japanese, western and Chinese. Also, its price level
is very reasonable, 800 -900YEN
・ROYAL HOST( )：Relatively expensive than GUST, but its atmousphere is better and better
ingredients are used. It is recommended if you wold like to eat a little
better cuisine.
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In Japan, chinese food is one of the most popular., and you can find chinese
restaurants everywhere. Many of them are small, a counter and three or
four tables, and offer reasonably priced noodles, rice cuisines and TEISYOKU.
So, its price level is also low, less than 1,000YEN.
The followings are the very popular chinese restaurant chains. Chinese food include a lot of vegitables, so is very good in your health !! I recommend that you try it !!
・GYOUZA-No-OUSHOU( )：King of chinese restaurant chain in Japan, and easier to find in Kansai
region. Its menu includes various cuisines, including many types of TEISYOKU.
So, it might be a little head-aching in choosing your food.
・HIDAY-HIDAKA( )：Chinese restautant located mainly in Kanto region. I use it as GYOZA restaurant.
Its vegitable GYOZA is reasonably priced, 160YEN per 5, and its taste is
great !!
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It is Boul cuisine restaurants that we can not forget. Well-volumed Boul
cuisine, represened by Beef-Boul, is one of the most important discoveries
by Japanese people !!
The followings are the very popular chains all over Japan. In these resuaurants,
the price is very reasonable, about 500YEN per person. So, it is highly
recommended if you would like to save money.
・YOSHINO-YA( )：Global chain, having restaurants in the USA and China, but its restaurants
can be found all over Japan. Recommended Cuisine is, off course, Beef-Boul.
But, other TEISYOKU cuisines is of great attractiveness.
・MATSU-YA( )：Here, let's go if you have really not so much money. Every cuisine can be eaten in less than 500YEN. But, taste is.... you can decide !!
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Lunch-Box in convenience stores is another option eating in Japan. For
employees in Japan, lunch time is limited between 12:00pm and 1:00pm, and
restaurants are crowded, so cosiderable people go to convenience store
and buy lunch-box.
However, it must not be looked down on !! Its price level is less than
500YEN, you can select various cuisine, from Japanese, chinese and noodles.
It is also recommended if you would like to experience current Japanese
taste very reasonably.
The followings are the most popular chains, and can be found all over Japan.
Also, other chanis can be found. So, let's try it !!
・SEVEN ELEVEN：Originally Amerinan, but arranged to Japanese style. It is the King of
convenience chain in Japan. It is said that lunch-box here is the most
tasteful.
・LAWSON：No2 convenience chain in Japan. I personally like a Rice-ball here.
・FAMILY-MART：Everytime, try to do someting new, so, you can find someting special here. About lunch-box, conceptual one, such as healthy lunch- box or expensive lunch-box, can be found.
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After eating, you might need to drink a cup of coffee. It is a coffee shop
that created Japanese high-price myth. If you go into local coffee shop
and order a cup of coffee, it is normal that they charge you more than
300YEN. So, it is important for a budget traveler to choose reasonablly
priced coffee shops
However, many coffee chains has emerged recently thanks to the success
of Starbucks. Off course, Starbucks is a king, but others is also remarkable,
its price level is relatively low, less than 200YEN.
The followings are lower priced coffee chains located all over Japan. Also, farmily restaurants offer a self-service with non-limited helping, whose price is less than 400YEN. It might be also recommended.
・DOTUR COFFEE：Its price level is very reasonable, 180YEN per a cup of coffee. Also,
smoking is OK in here, so the businessmen who can not go to the Starbucks
go theire. Also, light-meals, such as hot dogs, can be eaten.
・Cafe VELOCE：Its price level is more reasonable, 180YEN per a cup of coffee. Some sandwiches
is also recomended.
・SUNMARCH CAFE( )：The coffee here is small, and its price is 180YEN. But, CHOCO-CRO, which
is a crowassants including black chocolate, is very popular, and I also
like very much !!
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| "In coming to Japan, should go shopping!!". So many people might
think so. Off course, you will go to many kinds of local stores or brand
shops in department -store, in here, I will introduce the stores, where
you can find some identical and Japanese flavoured goods with very reasonable
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In any counties, it is a supermarket that represents the life in that country.
In my case, whenever I visit any countries, I will go to supermarket and
stay for a long time.
The folowings are Japanese main chains of supermarket. If you go there,
it is guranteed that you can find Japanese tasted goods with a very reasonable
prices. Also, there are a many kinds of supermarket chains all over Japan,
so if you find them, why not go in !!
・ITO YOKADO：The Supermarket chain located mainly in Kanto region. It has
especially got high reputation to tovegitables and clothes.
・ION/ JUSCO：KIng of Japanese supermarket chain. But its store is mainly located in suburban areas, so it might be difficult for foreign traveler to find.
・Daiei：In 1990's, it expanded their stores enourmously, but its business
became disruoted in around the first of 2000s. At last has reemerged recently.
Its stores mainly located in city area, so it might be easier for traveler
to find.
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"Health conscious Japan", so many traveler feels that there are
lot of drug stores in Japan.
To tell the truth, drug-store in Japan is relatively similar to a supermarket, and never be a typical drug-store. I also make use of drug-store for buying a hunny, gum and so on.
The king of Japanese drug-store chain is MATSUMOTO=KIYOSHI( ). called MATSU-KIYO( ). In here, not only many kinds of home-medicine but also many kinds of
supplements and costemics are sold in a very reasonable price, so that
is the reason why variety of people from teen-agers to house-wives go there.
If you feel that you would like to buy Japanese suplement, cosmetics and home-used-medicines, Let's go there.
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Some tourists might feel that they would like to buy clothes in Japan.
But it is true that its price level is considerably high. In my case, I
mainly buy my clothes in department stores. But I buy one only in bargain
season (in January for winter bargain and July in summer bargain)
For the traveler who still feel that you would like to buy, I will introduce the following two chains. These are established in Japan, and expanded internationally, and many fans exists all over the world. Howver, variety of goods in shops in Japan is much more than that in other countries. So, even if you have experience into stores in your contry, I recomend to go and compare.
・MUJI( )： Only one life-style brand in Japan based on the concept "Simple
rich". In terms of clothes, because of simple but high sense of design
and reasonably priced, I often make use of MUJI's.
・UNIQLO( )：It is GAP in Japan. It is a king of Japanese casual wear brand, but some
clothes with high sense of design is developed. Off course, price is very
reasonable, and often they discount their price. So, let's go there and
look around !!
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| Four. About regional transportation system |
Most important point to travel very cheaply is to reduce transportation
cost as little as possible. Off course, JR Pass is a must, and are there
any other methods?
In this part, the special methods to reduce ransportation cost will be shown, based on my limited knowledge.
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It is a rail that many people use mainly for regional transportation. But there is a little discount ticket sold in Japan. Only one is SEISYUN-18 KIPPU( ).
This includes five tickets, and any JR local train in Japan can be used
in one ticket by one day. Its cost is 11,500 per one set (including five
tickets)
Sales period of this ticket is limited, so in case you do not purchase
JR pass and SEISYUN-18-KIPPU can be purchased, how about consider it !!
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Other option for regional transportation is plane. Though Japan is relatively
small country, the usage of plan can be a option if you travel relatively
log distance, such as between Fukuoka and Sapporo.
Normal ticket of domestic route in Japan is extremely expensive, so for
Asian travelers' airfare between their country and Japan might be cheaper
than Japanese domestic tickets. Howver, there are many kinds of discount
ticket, so making use of it might be able to reduce your transportation
spendings. I recomend to check big two Airline companies', ＪＡＬand ＡＮＡ, HP in order to reduce transportation cost in Japan.
The followings are the case of ＪＡＬ. The following types of discount tickets
seems to be offered. But, I have to say that in case that you have to cancel
these discount ticket, you might have to spend considerable amount of cancel
fee.
・Special discount( )：In case that you reserve some particular period (from one to seven days)
before, about 30% of discount can be obtained.
・Foreward discount( )：In case that you reserve at least one month before you take, 80% discount
at maximum will be obtained.
・Bargain Fare( )：Usable period is limited, but 80% discount at maximum will be obtained.
・Birthday discount( )：In case that you or your partner take a flight from before to after two
weeks of their birthday, they can go only 10,000YEN anywhere in Japan on
one way.
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Recent remarkable regioal transportation, especially for young, is high-way
bus. Very cheap price, such as 4,000YEN between Tokyo and Osaka on one
way, is its reason.
Especially for a back-packer, who have ample time and less money, high-way bus, which can save one nigh't's acomodation fee and remove very cheaply, might be of great value.
The portal-site, which is of great use for reserving high-way bus, is RAKUTEN-TEAVEL( ). In this site, it is possible to check nation-wide network, and to reserve
i it.
Why not to use High-way bus, which has been recently focused in Japan.
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In the central area of big cities in some countries, money exchangers can
be found everywhere, but in Japan, it is not. Off course, when you arrive
at airport, you will exchange some money. In case that you have not enough
Japanese YEN, where to exchange?
Answer is bank. Also, money exchange can be done at other financial institutes,
such as Shin-kin bank or post office.
However, it is important for you to remember that one banks can exchange,
but other banks can not exchange even in the same brand. So, you had better
look for the banks, which show special notice "Foreign Exchange",
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There are a lot of fofreign banks which do institutional business in Japan.
But, it is only Citi Bank that do retail business in Japan.
Branches of Citi Bank are located in Narita/ Kansai International airport,
and main big cities in Japan. Considerable number of ATM is also located
mainly in Tokyo area. So, if you already have Citi's bank account, you
can withdraw your money by Japanese YEN.
In terms of HSBC, there is a ATM on the ground floor of Tokyo Branch in NIhonbashi, Tokyo,
If you have your HSBC bank account, you can withdraw your money by Japanese
YEN.
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