Prince Hotel BlogsJapan has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Since loosening its COVID restrictions in October 2022, more and more people are booking their holidays in the country. This is unsurprising, with great value Shinjuku hotels providing easy access into the center of Tokyo and with incredibly efficient train routes across the whole island nation, Japan has a lot to offer tourists.
That being said, the country can be rather expensive for tourists. Like with many tourist-heavy cities, budgets can be stretched and financial expectations exceeded in Japan. Though guests will find their stay at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel Tokyo Japan reasonably priced, accommodation is just the start of the problem.
Japan’s strong economy means that its population focuses on quality in their food, fashion and entertainment. This means that visitors could be priced out of the popular tourist areas if they don’t know how to budget. Though higher costs might be expected by guests staying at the Prince Hotel Shizukuishi and other hotels, it doesn’t have to be the case. This blog will provide a few tips on how to budget during your Japan trip and still enjoy the many landmarks and attractions in the country.
One of the best ways to save money on your trip to Japan is to plan it as early as possible. To get the best prices on flights, travel and accommodation, the best deals will be picked off the shelves quickly. Here are some of the ways you can get planning in advance.
Price comparison websites not only visualize data on how much rooms and travel cost, but could actually help you find cheaper deals on the same rooms. Use websites such as Trivago and money supermarkets to find better deals on everything from budget accommodation to 4 star hotels in Shinjuku Tokyo.
The same rule applies for booking flights too. Booking far enough in advance and comparing different airlines is a luxury that last minute bookers can’t afford, but booking far enough in advance should leave you with some options for budget flights.
After using a price comparison website, it’s worth noting that booking directly with your hotel will usually turn out cheaper than a third party website. In some instances, third party websites may have deals and discounts on rooms, but as a general rule of thumb, booking directly takes the lead in terms of value for money.
Foreign country data packages can cost a lot when you’re abroad. Consider saving money on data packages by buying pocket WiFi for your trip. These small devices are available in Japan for a minimum of 299 yen (just under £1.88 a day) and will provide you with unlimited internet connectivity. This is crucial for a first time visit to Japan, especially if you’re trying to navigate cities and underground stations.
Whilst the bullet train may be expensive to use, there are plenty of ways that visitors can enjoy public transport on a budget when visiting Japan.
Whether for a day trip from the hotels near Shinagawa Station or embarking on a cross-country tour, exploring Japan by rail is your best option for holidays on a budget. The Japan Rail Pass will save you money on your trip. A 7 day pass will cost 29,650 JPY, about £186 and a 14 day pass will cost only £296.64. Of course, to get your money’s worth, you’ll want to be using the pass regularly, but if your plan is to leave the city on a regular basis, this shouldn’t be too hard.
Cities such as Kyoto, Tokyo and Okinawa have metro systems that only cost between 150 and 300 yen to buy. You can also buy 24 hour day passes that cost between 800 and 1100 yen for unlimited metro journeys. To get the most out of the day pass, you’ll want to be taking between 3 and 4 journeys a day.
Japan can be expensive for food if you don’t know where to look, but there are plenty of high quality options for the budget traveler.
Made famous in Europe by the likes of Yo Sushi, sushi trains are cafes of conveyor belts that transport plates of food around tables and are very fun to use. Depending on the restaurant or cafe you’re visiting, sushi trains cost between 125 and 625 yen per plate, compared to set sushi lunches that cost around 1600 yen a meal. This means that you’ll never be spending much more than 1000 yen (just over £6) on lunch at a sushi train.
Cheap, filling and quintessentially Japanese, these dishes are among the cheapest in Japanese cafes and restaurants. Portions are generous and the quality is usually very good.
100 Yen shops are similar to American dollar stores and British pound stores, but due to conversion rates, are actually about a third cheaper. Selling everything from toiletries and household items to foodstuffs, these shops are a great place to buy ingredients if you have the facilities to cook in your accommodation. They’re also a great place to pick up snacks whilst you wander around the neighborhoods.
One aspect of Japanese shopping to bear in mind is that fresh fruit can be very expensive. This is because of high import rates and a genuinely good quality to the foodstuffs. Whilst fruit is expensive, vegetables are less so, so maybe focus on them for your five a day during your trip!
Many of Japan’s most famous heritage sites and cultural attractions are very cheap to visit. Whilst you might be dishing out more money for entertainment, museums, palaces and ancient sites are often cheap to visit and reach, especially if you have the Japan Rail Pass to hand.
Traveling to any new country can be a daunting experience, especially if you’re a solo traveler. Whilst safe and secure hotels like the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa provide peace of mind, is the same true for the outside world? Thankfully, Japan is often cited as one of the safest countries in the world, often […]