One of the most impulsive things I’ve ever done in my life was to buy a ticket out of the blue to Japan. I didn’t think about it – no purpose, no planning, just did it for the very pleasure of travelling.
So there I was looking at a Cebu Pacific midnight sale (because midnight and sales), and I ended up booking a round trip ticket from MNL to TKY for 98.90 USD because I could and I wanted to.
You see, a lot of people think that travelling is expensive, but sometimes when you really think about it and do the research, you could literally get away with spending less than 1,000.00 USD without batting an eyelid. I mean, there are certain conditions to this (which I will list down in a minute), but taking into consideration that there are many, many, many seat sales these days, I say why not make it a fun challenge?
So I guess the below will be a guide on how I managed to travel around 3 major cities in Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka), in 8 days and 7 nights at the cost of 574.00 USD.
CONDITIONS:
- LOCATION: I live in Manila, which I admit is nearer to Japan than LA. But considering the plane tickets I am able to purchase from MNL to LAX at 500.00 USD, I wouldn't be surprised if you find a return ticket around the same ballpark.
- SEAT SALES: I purchased my ticket during a Cebu Pacific midnight sale. They're very common in the Philippines, but apps like Hopper can actually get you almost the same discounts if you time it right.
- HOSTELS: I went full backpacker mode and booked the cheapest capsule hotels I could find in Booking.com. I got such good places though, so maybe I was lucky on that part.
- NO DISNEYLAND/UNIVERSAL STUDIOS: I was in Japan -- I wanted it all to be a cultural experience and be all about the temples. But it's only a 100 USD for any of them if you want it.
- SHOPPING: Didn't include it in the budget because to be honest, I am an expensive shopper and it's a personal thing for everyone.
ITINERARY:
DAY 1: Flight to T O K Y O
- 14:00 – Departure from NAIA to Narita
- 19:00 – Arrival at N A R I T A Terminal 3
- 20:30 – Travel from Narita to T O K Y O proper
- 23:00 – Arrival to Tokyo and check-in to B U N K A Hostel
DAY 2: A S A K U S A
- 10:00 – S E N S O J I Temple
- 12:00 – N A K A M I S E Street
- 19:00 – T O K Y O Sky Tree
DAY 3: S H I B U Y A
- 11:00 – M E I J I Shrine Tour and Buddhist Ceremony
- 15:00 – H A R A J U K U District and Takeshita Street
- 19:00 – H A C H I K O and S H I B U Y A Crossing
- 21:00 – Shopping in S H I B U Y A District
DAY 4: Flight to O S A K A | Train to K Y O T O
- 08:00 – Check out of B U N K A Hostel
- 12:00 – Departure from Narita to K A N S A I Airport
- 14:00 – Arrival to O S A K A
- 16:00 – Travel from Osaka to K Y O T O by train
- 18:00 – Check-in at C E N T U R I O N Cabin & Spa
- 19:00 – Dinner at G I O N and night touring
DAY 5: N I J O Castle and F U S H I M I Inari
- 12:00 – N I J O Castle Tour
- 17:00 – F U S H I M I Inari Taisha
DAY 6: A R A S H I Y A M A Bamboo Grove, K Y O T O Tower and Y A S A K A Shrine
- 10:00 – Bus to A R A S H I Y A M A
- 18:00 – Kyoto T O W E R, Y O D O B A S H I and dinner
- 21:00 – Y A S A K A Shrine
DAY 7: Train to O S A K A
- 10:00 – Check out from C E N T U R I O N Cabin & Spa
- 11:30 – Train from K Y O T O to O S A K A Station
- 13:30 – Check in to C A P S U L E Hotel Astil
- 15:00 – O S A K A Castle and lunch
- 20:00 – Shopping in D O T O N B O R I
DAY 8: Flights to T O K Y O and M A N I L A
TRANSPORTATION:
| MODE | ROUTE | USD |
|---|---|---|
| FLIGHT | Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Narita International Airport (Cebu Pacific) | RT: 98.90 |
| TRAIN | Narita International Airport - Tokyo (Keisei Line) | RT: 12.35 |
| TRAIN | Tokyo Touring (All Line 3-day Train Pass - Klook) | 13.94 |
| FLIGHT | Narita International Airport - Kansai International Airport (Jetstar) | RT: 119.34 |
| BUS | Kansai International Airport - Osaka (Limousine Bus) | RT: 29.69 |
| TRAIN | Osaka - Kyoto (Hankyu-Kyoto Line) | RT: 7.66 |
| BUS | Osaka Touring (All Lines - Klook) | 30.36 |
ACCOMMODATION:
| LOCATION | NAME | USD |
|---|---|---|
| TOKYO (Asakusa) | Bunka Hostel (4D3N) | 93.02 |
| KYOTO (Gion) | Centurion Cabin & Spa (3D2N) | 69.92 |
| OSAKA (Dotonbori) | Capsule Hotel Astil | 22.91 |
BUNKA HOSTEL:
- good basic capsule hotel with amenities (shared), but the beds are big and have all you need to get a good night's rest. Cheap considering it's in Tokyo and at an incredibly good location (Tokyo Tower and Nakamise Street).
CENTURION CABIN & SPA:
- the best out of the three, especially because of its location (right smack in the middle of town) and its amenities - IT HAD A HOT SPA AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU NEED IT TILL YOU HAVE IT. Especially after such a long day of walking and touring.
CAPSULE HOTEL ASTIL:
- good enough for one night especially its location - literally two corners off Dōtonbori's shopping district and the Glico Man sign. Shared amenities and a good common area.
OTHERS:
| ITEM | DETAILS | USD |
|---|---|---|
| FOOD | 5.74 USD per meal for 3 times day for 8 days (Gyumeshi Vendo Machines) | 137.80 |
| WIFI | Pocket WiFi from Klook | 69.92 |
NOTES:
To be honest, it's a tight budget, but if you're really aiming to save up and using it for other priorities (like shopping for me), it's so worth it.
Also, it allowed me to have room for getting lost. The day passes can get you almost anywhere within the city and it is an unlimited ride every day. I was able to go on all the adventures I wanted without fearing for my budget. Did I also mention that I did this all alone?
The country, the culture, the people -- everything is amazing, from how they show such a deep respect for the law, to how much effort and thought they put into everything (including their toilets lol).
I got lost in the middle of Osaka trying to find the Philippine Embassy (I was going to visit a family friend), when the lady I asked for directions just closed her stall and guided me towards the elevator and the entrance because she could tell I was having trouble understanding her instructions. She literally took my hand and dragged me to the place and made sure I got on the right elevator and found the right floor.
All I've got to say is that Japan is one of the safest places a woman can travel to for the first time if they ever want to test out their solo travel skills. If you have never done it before, and are able to, solo traveling is a must. It's exhilarating, overwhelming, but definitely worth it.