Hotel - about 30,000 yen Meals + transportation + tickets - about 30,000 yen Air tickets - about 2,480 RMB Visa - about 400 RMB (no deposit) So excluding the relatively fixed air tickets and visa fees, and the larger fluctuations
Shopping, all expenses in Japan were only spent 60,000 yen in 9 days, which was about 3,700 yuan according to the exchange rate at that time.
1. Regarding visas, I chose a visa agency with the highest sales online. Since I had free travel to the United States before, no deposit was required, and I only needed to fill in a simple application form and a copy of my household registration book. The visa will be issued within 7 days.
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It was the first time for my companion to go abroad. He needed a certificate from his employer and paid a deposit of 50,000 yuan. The visa fee was 100 yuan cheaper than mine, and the visa was issued smoothly.
2. Regarding online budget travel, unnecessary expenses must be said no.
Throughout the whole journey, I relied on printed mini-maps and itineraries to find hotels and attractions, and relied on my Japanese skills to ask people. Facts have proved that 70% of my talent for finding directions is okay, and the rest was basically solved by asking for directions.
3. About language Japanese is very useful!
English is also good!
I am a novice in English and a little proficient in Japanese. I finally found it very helpful and had a lot of interesting experiences.
English: Instructions for hotels, stations and scenic spots are applicable, as well as explanations of the Kyoto Imperial Palace!
I booked an explanation in English (Kyoto Imperial Palace is the former residence of the emperor, equivalent to the Forbidden City in China. It is open for free, but reservation is required. The commentator will take you around, great value!), and I can understand 60% of it. There are many interesting little things.
The details are incomprehensible if you don’t listen to the explanation.
Japanese: This is just like asking any aunt or uncle in China on the street. Most of them don’t speak English. Even college students have to respond.
So the most useful way to ask for directions, order food, and hear the names of stations is Japanese!
20 days before going there, I reviewed for half an hour every day on the subway. I memorized 50 sound pictures and some common words. It was enough for a chicken to speak with a duck!
At least I know how to ask for directions, and I can understand some of the menus.
4. Regarding hotel booking, the hotel budget for the entire trip this time was limited to 450 per night, but the stay was very good. How to book a cheap and favorite hotel is patience + luck.
The hotel was the first one I booked. Due to the uncertainty of air tickets and visas at the time, the first factor in booking a hotel was that there was no deposit.
1. For hotels (B&Bs) that you must stay in: keep checking to see if there are any vacancies every day during the few days you stay.
Because pure Japanese-style B&Bs usually only have three rooms, the probability of having a room available for several consecutive days is relatively low.
Be sure to check it out for a few more days, and then decide on the itinerary for those days based on the B&B you have booked.
2. It is not specific. It is recommended to balance the price and transportation and choose a suitable hotel: select the date of travel specifically, choose the price you accept (I usually look at 7,000~14,000 yen), then select the super discount, and then choose
Interested in comparing.
Great deals are special prices. Usually, if you book early, you will get a discount. This is very helpful for cheap hotels.
3. Choose a hotel, book and confirm. If you finally decide to check in, it is recommended to check the Japanese page to learn about nearby stations.
As for whether I need to print a confirmation letter and buy insurance, in fact the hotel didn't even ask me.
5. Regarding currency exchange (a must-have guide for economical travel), there was a lot of feedback before going. Some cash + UnionPay card is enough. UnionPay cards are converted directly according to the current exchange rate, and there is no handling fee (Visa is converted into US dollars first, and then US dollars are converted into RMB.
And there is a handling fee), it is a good deal.
However, I have obsessive-compulsive disorder and find cash convenient, so I exchanged nearly 200,000 yuan.
Facts have proved that it is really convenient to have Japanese currency. UnionPay is very developed, but most affordable stores visited by Japanese people do not have UnionPay, and you know the stores targeted at tourists.
We found cost-effective restaurants and drugstores, but they were unable to accept UnionPay, and discount hotels and B&Bs even stated that they only accept cash.
So it is very, very important to change the Japanese currency!
Of course, if you don’t mind the price, you can skip it if you like convenience.
PS. If the store you go to accepts UnionPay cards, there is a high probability that the price will be more expensive than other stores visited by locals.
Therefore, it is recommended to bring a little more Japanese yen. You can use cash to buy priced cosmeceuticals at cheap drug stores; use UnionPay cards to buy priced cosmeceuticals at airport duty-free shops.
6. Regarding transportation (various tickets) 1. Icoca & Haruka package: great value, you can make an appointment online to save time, and reserve a one-way ticket for 3030, which needs to be purchased with your passport, return ticket, and reservation form.
Icoca, the amount is 2000, of which there is a 500 deposit. There is a 220 handling fee for returning the card. It can be used on various means of transportation in the Kansai area (JR, Kintetsu, subway, and bus). It is very convenient and can be used to move between cities.
It is convenient and can be used in convenience stores, but it cannot be used to buy one-day tickets, so I loaded up more money and ended up with a few hundred yen left. Haruka converted it to only 1030, which can be used to go to Kyoto from Kansai Airport. It is a must-buy.
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