This has been sitting on my drafts folder for over a year already! Time to publish! Lol!
Japan is undeniably one of the most expensive places to visit. Having traveled to Tokyo for 6 days and 5 nights, I must say a trip to the land of the rising sun is still feasible with limited budget. These are just a few of my tips for fellow wanderlusts who wants to see Tokyo without hurting their pockets:
Japan is undeniably one of the most expensive places to visit. Having traveled to Tokyo for 6 days and 5 nights, I must say a trip to the land of the rising sun is still feasible with limited budget. These are just a few of my tips for fellow wanderlusts who wants to see Tokyo without hurting their pockets:
1. Watch out for airline promo tickets.
We booked a flight 6 months early, only for 5000php per person for a round trip ticket to Tokyo, Japan. Here's a tip: Cebu Pacific usually has promo offers during holidays. So when the clock strikes at 12 midnight on any given holiday, be ready to book! We were lucky Cebu Pac already has direct flights from Cebu to Tokyo that time. Also, you can subscribe to airline promo notifications for timely updates.
2. Purchase a Suica/ Pasmo card.
Upon arriving at the airport, this is the first thing to do. This helps save not only money but time-makes you avoid the hassle of purchasing train or bus tickets. You can hop on to any train or bus by simply tapping your Pasmo/ Suica card. You can top up at a minimum of Y1000 (around 400php).
3. Take the roundtrip airport Limousine Bus.
You can save a lot by purchasing round trip tickets upon arrival at the airport. This is applicable for tourists only. All you have to do is present your passport and you can avail the "Welcome to Tokyo Limousine Bus Return Voucher" at the limousine bus ticket counter. I must say, the limo bus is a very convenient way to transfer from the airport to the heart of Tokyo, especially with luggage and children on hand.
Upon arriving at the airport, this is the first thing to do. This helps save not only money but time-makes you avoid the hassle of purchasing train or bus tickets. You can hop on to any train or bus by simply tapping your Pasmo/ Suica card. You can top up at a minimum of Y1000 (around 400php).
3. Take the roundtrip airport Limousine Bus.
You can save a lot by purchasing round trip tickets upon arrival at the airport. This is applicable for tourists only. All you have to do is present your passport and you can avail the "Welcome to Tokyo Limousine Bus Return Voucher" at the limousine bus ticket counter. I must say, the limo bus is a very convenient way to transfer from the airport to the heart of Tokyo, especially with luggage and children on hand.
4. Rent an apartment instead of booking a hotel.
We saved almost 40,000pesos by doing this. We all know Japan has really expensive accommodation, not to mention very limited space. Since we were traveling as a family (7 adults and 2 children), we reckon renting an apartment would be cost effective. It was the wisest decision we made. We booked for one via airbnb which was really hassle free, and ended up with a very nice and spacious apartment located right at the heart of Shibuya. Plus a bonus- we got to have a pocket wifi!
5. Buy food at supermarkets, convenience stores or food chains.
Food is one of your biggest expense when travelling to Japan. I love Japanese food so I don't wanna miss out on it. Luckily I wasn't able to compromise this even on a budget. Convenience stores such as 7 eleven and Family Mart and even supermarkets have freshly prepared Jap meals. You can buy them at around Y400-500 (150-200php). Tenya, a famous Jap food chain is a must try. It offers the best Tempura meals for only Y600-900 (230-350php). In most restaurants, they already have tea or water prepared on the table (and refilled as needed) so it's not really necessary to order beverages.
We saved almost 40,000pesos by doing this. We all know Japan has really expensive accommodation, not to mention very limited space. Since we were traveling as a family (7 adults and 2 children), we reckon renting an apartment would be cost effective. It was the wisest decision we made. We booked for one via airbnb which was really hassle free, and ended up with a very nice and spacious apartment located right at the heart of Shibuya. Plus a bonus- we got to have a pocket wifi!
5. Buy food at supermarkets, convenience stores or food chains.
Food is one of your biggest expense when travelling to Japan. I love Japanese food so I don't wanna miss out on it. Luckily I wasn't able to compromise this even on a budget. Convenience stores such as 7 eleven and Family Mart and even supermarkets have freshly prepared Jap meals. You can buy them at around Y400-500 (150-200php). Tenya, a famous Jap food chain is a must try. It offers the best Tempura meals for only Y600-900 (230-350php). In most restaurants, they already have tea or water prepared on the table (and refilled as needed) so it's not really necessary to order beverages.
6. Shop at Gotemba Premium Outlets.
These are outlet shops for branded items. I did not really expect great finds at Gotemba. In contrast to most of the blogs I've read, almost all items were on sale at really low prices. The moment we entered the stores, we panicked. At Levi's I was able to buy 2 pairs of jeans and a dress for only Y6000 (more or less 2,280php). That would be tantamount to only a pair of jeans if bought from Philippines. Lacoste's medium-sized handbags were on sale for only Y5000 (approx 2000php). Samsonite had on sale luggage for as low as Y14000 (P5320). At Crocs you can buy a pair of footwear for as low as P700.
7. Visit tourist spots for FREE
Unlike here in Philippines, most tourist spots in Tokyo do not have entrance fees. Some still do but if you're on a budget, you can opt for the free ones. Sensoji temple, Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park, Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (plus a free tour) and the Gundam statue are just a few.
8. Register for FREE wifi.
You can register online prior to your arrival in Tokyo. Just download the app Navitime for Japan Travel, register and you will be given an ID and password for access to 50,000 free wifi hotspots. I was able to register without difficulty but I haven't used this, though, since our apartment rental is inclusive of a pocket wifi. *wink
You can register online prior to your arrival in Tokyo. Just download the app Navitime for Japan Travel, register and you will be given an ID and password for access to 50,000 free wifi hotspots. I was able to register without difficulty but I haven't used this, though, since our apartment rental is inclusive of a pocket wifi. *wink
