Choose inexpensive bars and restaurants. Japan has quite a lot of inexpensive dishes on the menu, so don't deny yourself the pleasure of going to a cafe. The design of an establishment usually indicates the cost of food there, so be careful. In Japan it is not customary to tip, and this way you can save some more money. It's useful to have a guidebook with you describing local dishes or a list of popular dishes on your smartphone so you know what you're ordering and how much it usually costs. We recommend that gourmets try it meibutsu. This word denotes a local delicacy, so such dishes will allow you to appreciate all the delights of Japanese cuisine.

• Noodle bars and late night stalls selling traditional noodles ( ramen), is an excellent choice for a budget-conscious tourist, since you can buy a fairly large dish at a low price. Restaurant that serves ramen, can be recognized by the long benches and people bending over bowls from which steam rises. Udon and soba noodle dishes are other cheap options for Japanese food (provided you choose an inexpensive restaurant).
• Izakaya is a Japanese eatery serving classic Japanese as well as European dishes. They serve simple food that is usually cheap.
• Yakitori- These are small kebabs of vegetables and chicken meat grilled over coals. This dish is usually eaten with beer or sake at the end of the workday and can be enough to fill you up. There are restaurants specializing in this dish ( yakitorii). Such establishments are often located near railway stations. Remember that menus usually list the price for one yakitori skewer, so take this into account when planning your food budget.
• Although sushi is considered a snack food, you can order it as a full meal for lunch or dinner. pay attention to kaiten sushi, that is, in cafes where sushi travels along a conveyor belt, and anyone can take the portion they like. The color of the plate indicates the cost of the dish, and the entire list of prices can be found on a poster on the wall. Choose your portion wisely and you'll be satisfied without spending a lot of money.
• Choose places where locals eat, although in such places, knowledge of Japanese is usually appreciated, because English will not be on the menu. Search for restaurants nomiya And aka-chochin or cheap Chinese restaurants chuka-ryori-ya.

1. Buy food at grocery stores. The stores sell a large number of different semi-finished products, which will cost less than going to a cafe.

   Take a closer look at food vending machines. They are found almost everywhere, and you can buy both food and drinks there: snacks, green tea, coffee, beer, etc.

   Visit a familiar chain of fast food restaurants. There are McDonald's and other famous chains in Japan. Go to Mosburger, a Japanese restaurant chain fast food offering hamburgers.

   Eat at food courts and food markets. You can eat at these places not at all expensive, and there will be a large selection. Just like in stores, you can find fruits, vegetables and rice here.

   • You can also eat at bakeries, but everything sold in such establishments will be sweeter than you are used to.

2. Don't buy alcohol or clothes. You've probably heard that everything is expensive in Japan, but if you stop buying clothes and alcohol, you'll find that prices for everything else are quite reasonable. However, sake is a must-try in Japan. Just don't go to bars every night.

   Buy semi-finished products in regular stores. In stores you can find delicious and inexpensive ready-made dishes, ranging from noodles to beef. Some stores have bakeries. Most stores are equipped with microwaves where you can heat food, and you can take disposable utensils and chopsticks. In addition, stores often have a counter where you can eat.

3. Take less things with you. The less you take, the less you will worry and the lower the chance that you will want to buy yourself something to calm down.
4. Plan your trip in advance. Carefully calculated expenses will help you stick to your budget. Knowing possible prices in advance will help you save money or spend more than you otherwise would from time to time, knowing you can afford it.
5. If you are over 60 or 65, find out if you qualify for discounts. Many places, including some airlines, require you to show your passport to receive a senior discount.
6. If you decide to stay in a mountain hut on your trek, make sure to book your accommodation in advance. Some cabins include breakfast, but it's cheaper to cook it yourself.
7. Go on a trip with a friend. This will allow you to share some expenses, including food.

Warnings

• If you want to visit Roppongi in Tokyo, be careful. The Japanese mafia (Yakuza) and other criminals gather in this area. It is not recommended to drink anything there, since tourists are often given sleeping pills in their drink, and in the morning they realize that all their cash and credit cards have been stolen.
• The Japanese will stare at you. Don't give it any importance.
• In Japan, it is customary to give gifts rather than tip.
• Be careful when camping and hiking. This is potentially dangerous species rest, and anything can happen.
• The Japanese may be offended by something that seems completely normal to a European. Try to be civil with the Japanese. It's a good idea to do some research on etiquette before you head out.

It is the cherished dream of many Russians. However, not everyone is able to complete it due to the high cost of this trip. The Land of the Rising Sun is considered one of the most expensive in the world, and Tokyo has been in the top five most expensive cities for tourists for several years. But still, nothing can stop someone who wants to see Fuji and the cherry blossoms in spring with their own eyes. Our article is specifically for such travelers; here we collect the most important information, which will allow you to spend an inexpensive and interesting vacation in original Japan.

A little about the country

If you're planning a trip to Japan, prepare to be amazed. You will have to do this constantly, because the Land of the Rising Sun cannot compare with other Asian countries. There is nothing here from China, Vietnam or Thailand, but, nevertheless, traveling through Japan, you seem to penetrate into the very heart of Asia and hear its beating on every street of noisy metropolises.

Tourists are attracted here by an incredible combination modern technologies with ancient traditions that are strictly observed by every generation of the Japanese family. If you are lucky, you will be able to see a colorful festival dedicated to, for example, kokeshi. Or sit quietly in the garden, enjoying the beauty of cherry blossoms at dawn or sunset. And in big cities you will be greeted by numerous cafes, shops and shopping centers. Here you can buy something, have lunch, and in some even stay overnight. In general, a trip to Japan will be the biggest and most significant adventure of your life. And what’s doubly nice is that you will never regret the money spent on it.

Japan: solo or group trip?

First of all, before traveling to the Land of the Rising Sun, you need to decide on your budget and travel options. And there are not many of them - a group trip to Japan or an independent one. What to choose? This directly depends on your budget and capabilities.

Traveling to Japan on your own is quite possible, but will require very careful preparation. You will have to think through absolutely everything:

• flight to Japan;
• hotel reservation;
• travel route around the country;
• food outlets and excursion program;
• money exchange options;
• types of communication with the local population.

All these aspects of a good trip will take you a lot of time and will also require some experience in independent trips. In addition, on the road you will encounter certain difficulties that only unspoiled and sociable tourists can overcome. For example, it is worth knowing that in Japan, few of the local population speak English. Therefore, you won’t be able to simply ask directions from a passerby. Perhaps after some time you will come across a young Japanese who speaks the basics of English, but there is a high probability that this will not happen. In addition, the inscriptions in the country are not duplicated; they are all written in hieroglyphs. This fact significantly complicates holidays in Japan.

If the above difficulties scare you, then it is better to buy a travel package. Of course, it is not cheap, but you will be free from all worries, including visa issues.

Travel cost

If you are planning a flight from Moscow, then two weeks in Japan will cost you one hundred and fifty thousand rubles. This amount includes flights, travel around the country, accommodation and several excursions. Meals are served according to the breakfast system; the remaining meals must be paid for by the tourist himself. Traveling to Japan from Vladivostok is much cheaper. Our compatriots can choose a ferry tour, which on average costs about sixty thousand rubles. From Vladivostok you can get to the Land of the Rising Sun in different ways and with various travel packages on hand. This is the most popular tourist destination among locals.

Reviews of independent travel in Japan allow you to plan your trip perfectly and save a lot. On average, brave tourists can spend thirty to forty thousand less on a trip than when purchasing a tour. This money will be very useful to you on vacation, because you can bring quite a lot of useful things home from the Land of the Rising Sun. We’ll tell you how to plan a budget trip to Japan on your own a little later. Now let’s try to find out the most important aspects of preparing for the trip.

When to go to Japan?

A big trip to Japan can be planned for any time of the year, but traditionally tourists try to visit the country in spring or autumn. During these seasons, the Land of the Rising Sun appears in a particularly beautiful form. In the spring she is dressed in pink foam of sakura flowers, and in the fall the red maple leaves simply hurt the eyes. It seems that they are everywhere here, and the Japanese have even come up with several special rituals for observing this beauty.

You can go skiing in Japan in winter; several major resorts offer high comfort and equipment. last word technology. But for those who are not attracted to skiing, it will be quite uncomfortable to explore Japanese sights and enjoy the trip in winter. In addition, during the winter season the country can be very windy, which is quite unusual for most of our compatriots.

In summer the country is very hot and stuffy. Air conditioning is everywhere in cities, and tourists suffer from temperature changes. Many people take sweaters or jackets with them to wear in restaurants or shopping centers. But if you prefer beach holiday, then go to Okinawa. Here you will receive an incredible level of service and enjoy swimming under the hot sun.

Where to go in Japan?

If you take the trouble to study reviews of independent travel in Japan, you can easily create your own travel itinerary. For the first time, a week will be enough for you to get acquainted with the Land of the Rising Sun. The following cities are suitable for this:

• Tokyo.
• Nara.
• Kyoto.

Moving between settlements on high-speed trains, you will explore in seven days beautiful parks, swim in hot springs, visit the most famous temples and, of course, taste the bustling and noisy life of big cities.

If you are already a little familiar with travel, you can choose slightly different ones, and increase your stay in this country to two weeks. During this period, tourists will be able to see Hiroshima, Osaka, Kobe and other extraordinary places. In general, you can plan to explore one city per day. In this case, the trip program will be very eventful.

Visa application: nuances and features

Any trip to Japan begins with the most difficult thing - obtaining a visa. Not everyone, even a very experienced tourist, can do this. The thing is that to obtain a visa, Russians need a special letter on official letterhead. In addition to this, you will need to confirm your hotel reservation (and this is quite problematic when traveling on your own) and send a package of documents using special mail (postage cost will be at least seventy dollars).

Many of our compatriots negotiate with travel companies and pay them for visas. This usually takes two weeks and saves a lot of time.

Accommodation in Japan: where is the best place to stay?

To remember your trip to Japan for a long time, you need to take photos almost everywhere. Hotels and small inns deserve special attention. It is worth noting that the Land of the Rising Sun has quite a large selection of places to stay. But, if you want to save a little money, then they will all be very unusual and entertaining.

Many tourists stay overnight at spa centers. Don't be surprised, this is quite common in Japan. For about thirty-five dollars you will get a small room with a bath and a lounger. There will also be a TV and all other amenities, and you can go down to the restaurant for dinner. Guests can enjoy a variety of treatments and massages.

This is exotic for Russians. They are quite inexpensive and have very high level comfort. There are even double capsules for traveling couples. This pleasure will cost approximately thirty-five dollars per night.

Hotels for love seem very unusual place in order to spend the night. These buildings are intended for love dates and provide the possibility of renting from one hour to several days. These hotels are decorated quite exotically, but equipped to the highest class. In addition, they are much cheaper than regular rooms. A night in such a hotel will cost from eighty to one hundred and fifty dollars.

Meals while traveling

Of course, you can eat in restaurants every day, but budget holiday does not imply such luxury. Therefore, make your choice in favor of Japanese fast food, it is extremely healthy and tasty. No hamburgers or fries, just seaweed, sushi and seafood. This pleasure will cost approximately 5-6 dollars.

If the choice of dishes in a cafe confuses you a little with a large number of incomprehensible names, then buy a ready-made lunch at the supermarket. Its cost will be the same as in a cafe, and through the transparent film you will always see the contents of the package.

Gourmet trip

Experienced tourists choose a special type of vacation - a culinary trip to Japan. It is worth noting that this is something incredible. Of course, there are still few Russians willing to spend money on such a tour, but their number is increasing every year. What attracts gourmets so much to the Land of the Rising Sun? Of course, restaurants with Michelin stars.

The fact is that as soon as Tokyo was included in the Michelin guide, restaurants with stars appeared in it. And tourists flocked to them, wanting to experience gastronomic delight. The number of gourmet restaurants increases every year, and Tokyo has already significantly surpassed the recognized gastronomic center of Paris in terms of these characteristics.

For example, in the oldest quarter of Tokyo, Ginza, there are sushi restaurants with three Michelin stars. Chef Jiro works in one of them, about whom feature films have even been made. His work seems like real art, and the price of the dishes he prepares exceeds several thousand dollars.

Every city in Japan has its own culinary traditions, so gourmets can travel all over the country in search of a special taste. One of the most popular Japanese foods is noodles. There are simply a lot of options for preparing it - boiling, frying, steaming and the like. Each region in the country has its own recipe. We can say that a culinary tour allows tourists to discover new facets of an already familiar country.

Money exchange

Many inexperienced tourists often have problems exchanging money. Keep in mind that the best place to buy yen is at home. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a very unpleasant situation, because many ATMs and terminals may not accept a European payment system card. This is due to the fact that Japanese terminals operate on their own system. Only a few ATMs in large shopping centers easily accept absolutely all bank cards.

It will not always be possible to exchange money at a bank, because tourists can get caught holidays, and it is impossible to exist in Japan without money. Therefore, experienced travelers advise bringing the main amount of money in cash, and bank card leave funds to pay for restaurants and purchases.

When going to the Land of the Rising Sun, tourists need to know a few simple rules stays in Japan that will make your travel easier. We have collected the most important recommendations:

• Don't try to tip in Japan, it's not worth it. There is no tipping system throughout the country.
• In Japanese bars, in honor of friendship, it is customary to pour alcoholic drinks from your own bottle, so if you are awarded such an honor, be sure to return the gesture of respect.
• Never point your finger at objects or people - this is extremely impolite, but you can point at yourself.
• In a restaurant, all you have to do is wave your palm in front of your nose and the waiter will remove the dirty plates.
• In the Land of the Rising Sun, it is customary to take off your shoes in many rooms. You may be asked to take off your shoes in certain areas of a restaurant, hotel, apartment building, temple, etc. It is considered especially indecent to step on a mat with a shod foot; this is perceived as an insult.

• When going to the hot springs, keep in mind that those with tattoos on their bodies are escorted to separate baths. They are not allowed to be in a common area with other vacationers.
• When you receive an invitation, be sure to bring a gift with you. This is considered a sign of politeness and respect.

Of course, it is difficult to list all the nuances of traveling in the Land of the Rising Sun, because a lot can be learned only after an independent trip.

Japan, travel: reviews

Not a single tourist had an angry comment about Japan, at least we didn’t encounter any. This means only one thing - you can and should go to this country. It will reveal a lot of interesting things even to those who are very poorly informed about the culture and traditions of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Experienced tourists prefer Japan to all other Asian countries. Ask them why. We think the explanation will take several hours. After all, it is simply impossible to describe this amazing country and its people in a few words. Travelers are delighted with the historical monuments of Japan, its cities, cuisine and original traditions. Tourists say that you can come here many times and each time find something unusually exciting for yourself.

What do you need to decide to travel to the Land of the Rising Sun? Yes, quite a bit - desire, spirit of adventurism and more money. And then you can tell your friends when you return home about what incredible journey in Japan you had.

Cherry blossoms in spring, scarlet maples in autumn, snow-white mountain peaks in winter and endless gardens in summer...

And all this, not counting hundreds of museums, thousands of palaces and a huge number of natural wonders.

It will be interesting to visit Japan at any time of the year, but, unfortunately, this trip is far from budget and not everyone can afford it. However, nothing is impossible - if you really want to see the land of the rising sun, you just need to plan your trip correctly and calculate your budget with BiletyPlus.ru.

Ready-made tours or self-planning?

Many tour operators offer ready-made tours to Japan. The price range is amazing and inspires excessive optimism, because prices start at 25,000 rubles. Unfortunately, it’s worth taking a closer look at the conditions - then it becomes clear that such a “tour” only includes accommodation in an average hotel.

The real cost of a week-long tour to Japan is about 100,000–130,000 rubles. At this price you can be sure that flights, transfers, insurance, accommodation and meals are already included in the price, and you will not have to face sudden additional expenses.

In order to understand whether such a price is justified, let's try to create an independent route that includes the same services.

Selecting air tickets

Dozens of flights depart to Japan every day. Most of them have transfers or connections, and the prices are simply eye-watering. Yes, we have to admit, flying to Japan is always expensive, but you can choose the most economical option available. The most convenient way to do this is using the metasearch engine BiletyPlus.ru. On this site, you just need to select the city you want to go to and the date of your flight, and it will independently compare all existing flights and offer you the most convenient and profitable options.

As a result of such a comparison, you can book a round trip flight with one connection for 30,000 rubles. By the way, if the date of the trip is not so important for you, and the price is the main indicator, you should subscribe to the newsletter with new offers and promotions for the chosen destination and wait until the ticket price becomes acceptable.

Booking hotels and hostels

By offering their clients hotels for 25,000 rubles a week, Russian tour operators are, to put it mildly, disingenuous. Of course, in Japan you can find options that are several times cheaper. For example, a night in a hostel near the city center will cost 600–700 rubles, a single room in a hotel can be rented for 1500–2000 rubles.

Therefore, if you are looking for something to save on, feel free to choose the cheapest option and don’t worry about the service. However, keep in mind that in hostels your neighbors may be noisy groups of young people who have come from Europe and party all night long.

Excursions and museums: guide or translator?

Looking at the official prices for most excursions in Japan, you want to turn off the computer and stay at home. But don’t be scared - the prices are so high only because it’s not easy to find a Russian-speaking guide in Tokyo, and in smaller cities it’s completely unrealistic. However, in each museum you can take an audio guide with an English lecture. If things are not going smoothly with languages, you can download one of the many electronic guides and read or listen to it while moving around the territory of the museum or park.

And if you buy a weekly pass for public transport(costs about 1000 rubles) and pay only for the entrance to the place you are interested in, and not for the transfer and the broken Russian guide, you can keep it within a very affordable amount.

In addition, recently appeared devices and mobile applications with functions of electronic translation of both oral and written speech will allow you to find mutual language With local residents. With such new products, you will no longer have to painfully leaf through a phrasebook, and then look blankly at the person answering if you are lost, trying to buy groceries or go to the library.

Eating at local restaurants and shopping

Food is another expense item where you can save a lot of money. Japan is a very dynamic country, so there are many ways to quickly and inexpensively eat here. At the same time, the Japanese care about their health, so you will have to look for standard sandwiches here. But there are more than enough cafes serving national dishes, such as “gyudon” (rice with boiled beef and sautéed onions), “tendon” (tempura rice), as well as several types of noodles with additives. You can have lunch in such an establishment for 150–200 rubles.

If you want to try real Japanese sushi without breaking the bank, you can go to one of the kaiten-zushi bars. In them, plates from sushi float along a huge moving belt, and one plate costs only 33 rubles. Well, you can buy a set sushi lunch for 250–300 rubles and enjoy it on the spot or in the nearest park (like us, when ordering food to go, the establishment provides a 20–30% discount).

Those who want to cook on their own should visit hyakuen shops. This is an analogue of our Fix Price, and prices for products, everyday items and souvenirs are strictly fixed here - 100 yen, that is, 33 rubles per item.

Now let’s calculate the approximate amount we ended up with - 50,000 rubles. Of course, this money cannot be considered an everyday expense, but for the sake of a dream, you can afford a little more than usual. In addition, the 50% savings that can be achieved using BiletyPlus.ru will be an excellent motivation for making the desired trip.

27.06.18 56 894 30

How to organize a trip to Japan

In April 2018, my husband and I went on vacation to Japan.

Marina Safonova

went to Japan

We spent two weeks there, visited Tokyo, Kyoto, the ancient capital of Nara, the mountain resort of Hakone and the ancient Buddhist monastery on Mount Koya-san.

I used to think that organizing a trip to Japan is very difficult: it’s not clear how everything works there, where to go, except Tokyo, how much it costs and how to get a visa. How to move around the country is also unclear: foreign tourists need international law to drive a car in Japan. There is also left-hand traffic, serious fines, toll roads and parking lots.

It turned out that Japan is great for independent travel. Everyone speaks English, getting a visa is easy, transport works perfectly.

Japanese English is very different from our usual pronunciation. IN Japanese there is no “l” sound, and it is customary to break a pair of consonants with a vowel sound. The word fork is pronounced as “foku”, bus - “bass”, beer - “biru”.

There is an opinion that traveling to Japan is expensive. Yes, it turns out to be more expensive than a package tour to the sea. But the most expensive expense is an air ticket: 30-40 thousand rubles in both directions. In second place is travel around the country. Housing in Japan costs about the same as in Europe, and you can safely save on food: everything is tasty and cheap. Tickets to museums and temples are also inexpensive: 200-500 R. The visa for Russian citizens is free.

If you decide to go, here's what to do before you go.

Select travel time

I do not recommend going to Japan during the May holidays. At the end of April - beginning of May there is “Golden Week” - “golden week”, when national holidays last 6 days in a row. At this time, the whole country has a weekend and everyone goes traveling. Train tickets are sold out, housing prices are rising, and churches, parks and museums are crowded.

Summer isn't the same either best time for the trip. In June there are rains in Japan, and then tropical heat until September. It’s good to go in May immediately after the “golden week”: at this time the domestic tourism, because everyone is returning to work. There are fewer tourists, prices are lower everywhere. If I were planning a trip again, I would go in mid-May.

If you want to see cherry blossoms, then plan your trip for the end of March - beginning of April, but keep in mind that at this time there is also a tourist rush in the country. In Japan, there is a forecast for cherry blossoms by region; you can see how cherry blossoms bloomed in 2018, and plan a trip around the same dates next year. In October and early November in Japan, “momiji” is the season of red maple leaves. There is also a calendar for momiji.

Buy air tickets

Airfare is the biggest expense when planning a trip to Japan. Focus on 35-40 thousand rubles for a direct flight Moscow - Tokyo.

Direct flights to Tokyo are only available from Moscow from Aeroflot and Japan Airlines. We flew Japan Airlines: the company flies the coolest Boeing aircraft on this route - the Dreamliner. The plane is huge, it has comfortable seats, tasty food, electrochromic window dimming, movies, music and games on the screen built into the seat.

Tickets with transfers can be found for about 3000-5000 RUR cheaper than direct ones. But it is difficult to fly with a transfer due to the long flight and time zone changes, and the difference in price is small.

A ticket with a two-hour transfer in Istanbul is cheaper by only 3,500 RUR

Book accommodation

In Tokyo, choose areas near major metro stations. “Ginza”, “Ueno”, “Tokyo Station”, “Asakusa”, “Shinjuku”, “Shibuya” are excellent - from there it will be easy to travel throughout the city. In Kyoto, the ideal place to live is around the Sanjo metro station.

In addition to regular hotels, hostels and apartments on Airbnb.com in Japan, you can stay in ryokans, love hotels and capsule hotels. I'll tell you about each option.

Regular hotels and hostels in Japan they are the same as all over the world. It is convenient for tourists to stay in chain hotels like APA Hotels: there are many of them in all major cities. The room costs 4500-5500 RUR for two per night. The rooms are small, but they have everything you need. Business hotels are aimed at workers who come on a business trip and do not spend much time in the room. This is also suitable for tourists.

Typically, in all Japanese hotels, check-in is strictly from 15:00. For early check-in you have to pay half the price. Sometimes there are hotels with check-in from 13:00, for example Shinjuku Prince Hotel in Tokyo. We stayed there on the day of arrival only for this reason: our plane landed at 8 am and we didn’t want to wait 6 hours.

Bed in Bunka Hostel - from 1100 RUR per night

Apartment on Air BBC a lot, but they cost more than hotels, especially if you rent the entire property. If you rent an apartment in an old area, be prepared that the house will also be old: with small rooms and a miniature bathroom.

Airbnb apartments in ginza. From this area it is convenient to travel throughout Tokyo, but housing costs from 7,000 RUR per day

In a capsule hotel guests live alone in a small capsule room, in which you can only sit or lie. The bathroom and toilet are shared; rooms with capsules are usually divided into men's and women's. Items can be deposited at the reception. Inside the capsule there is a clock, an alarm clock, and a light setting. Some have a TV built into the wall. Upon check-in, you are given a guest kit: Japanese yukata robe, towel, disposable toothbrush, paste, comb.

A night in a capsule hotel costs 1500-2500 R.

This is what the sleep capsules look like at the Tokyo Nihonbashi Bay Hotel capsule hotel. Source: bay-hotel.jp
This is what the capsule looks like inside. Source: bay-hotel.jp

A separate type of housing - the so-called love hotels, or “hotels of love”. Initially they were intended for dates, but are now popular among tourists. Love hotels are usually spacious, with huge beds and unusual room designs. The room costs from RUR 6,000 per night, and the more interesting the interior, the higher the price.

Room with car at the Public Jam love hotel. Source: hotel-public-jam-jp.book.direct

There are also traditional Japanese hotels - ryokans. You need to sleep in them on special futon mattresses, which are spread on the floor. The furniture in the room includes small tables, at which people also sit on the floor. The shower and toilet are usually shared. Ryokans often have an onsen, a hot spring bath.

When you check into the ryokan, you will be asked to take off your shoes and will be given special Japanese slippers, similar to flip-flops. Guests are usually dressed in a special house robe - yukata.

Ryokan is the most unusual type of accommodation for tourists in Japan and the most expensive. A night in a simple ryokan costs 8-10 thousand rubles. If you want a ryokan with beautiful view, hot springs and a traditional Japanese dinner, then prices will be higher: 20-30 thousand rubles.

Make a program

I like to organize trips on my own. Before my vacation, I studied the section about Japan on the Vinsky Forum and the website japan-guide.com. This is enough to create almost any route around Japan, especially if you are traveling for the first time and want to see the main attractions.

The Japan Guide project has excellent routes in all cities: for example, walking routes around Tokyo, Kyoto, and there is also a whole trip plan “All the best in Japan in 14 days.”

Anyone who comes to Japan for the first time is usually recommended to go to Kyoto in addition to Tokyo. If compared with Russia, then Tokyo is like Moscow, and Kyoto is like St. Petersburg. Once the capital of Japan, Kyoto is now famous for its temples, cultural attractions and geishas. If you're traveling for two weeks, divide it approximately equally between Tokyo and Kyoto.

From Tokyo you can take a day trip to the cities of Nikko, Kamakura, and the mountain resort of Hakone. One day is worth spending entirely at a Disney amusement park; there are two of them in Tokyo: Disneyland and DisneySea.

From Kyoto you can take a train to Nara - this is another ancient capital of Japan, now famous for its park with tame deer. From Kyoto you can also take a 15-minute train ride to Osaka - this is the country's third largest city. There are few tourist places there, but you can see the five-story samurai castle and the Universal amusement park, comparable in scope to Disneyland.

Our experience. In 12 days we traveled along the route Tokyo - Hakone - Kyoto - Nara - the monastery on Mount Koya - Tokyo. All transfers, hotels, train schedules and attractions were entered into a Google table. The table changed many times, including during the trip itself. You can download our plan template and use it to plan your trip.

A detailed travel plan will be useful for your visa. The required set of documents for a Japanese tourist visa includes a stay program. It must be filled out according to the template: write down each day, indicate a contact phone number, address of residence and program - what you plan to do. We simply wrote Sightseeing everywhere.

Get a visa

Previously, it was difficult for Russian citizens to obtain a Japanese visa: a mandatory invitation from a Japanese citizen was required. Invitations were made through agencies, it was expensive.

Now the invitations have been canceled and the visa has become free. In my experience, to obtain a Japanese visa you need the usual set of documents:

There is no need to register with the embassy to submit documents. You just need to arrive at 9:30 at 27 Grokholsky Lane with all the documents. There are 10-20 people in the queue, it moves quickly. Embassy employees take your documents and tell you on the spot whether they will issue you a visa or not. Sometimes they ask clarifying questions. They didn't ask us anything.

You can apply for a visa using a simple power of attorney written in free form. My friend lives in Nizhny Novgorod. He sent a package of documents for a Japanese visa by mail to his aunt in Podolsk. My aunt came to the embassy with these documents and gave them for processing, showing a power of attorney, and then took the passport with the completed visa.

Visa processing takes 4 working days. We submitted our documents on Monday and picked up our passports on Thursday.

It is important to fill out the stay program in detail and indicate there the contacts of all hotels or apartments on Air BBC. By the time you submit your documents, you should already have reservations for all your accommodation.

If you make an account statement at Tinkoff Bank, embassy staff may find fault with the electronic seal. If possible, ask the bank in advance to prepare a statement with a real stamp for you. If you are submitting a certificate from your place of work, you do not need an extract. We submitted two certificates from work; we were not asked for additional documents.

Buy a JR Pass

The main mode of transport in Japan is railways. Russian driver's licenses are not valid in Japan; there is little parking in the country, many toll roads and left-hand traffic. All tourists travel by train.

There are many different railway companies in the country, the largest is called Japan Railways. Travel is not cheap. A ticket for the Shinkansen high-speed train from Tokyo to Kyoto costs ¥13,910 (RUR 7,800) one way:

To save money, you need a JR Pass. It was invented in Japan specifically for foreign tourists. The JR Pass allows you to travel unlimitedly on all routes of the Japan Railways carrier for a certain period of time (usually a week or two). These are also expressways. Shinkansen trains, and some express trains between cities, and electric trains to Nikko, Nara, Arashiyama and other attractions in the vicinity of the main cities.

JR Pass is expensive. We paid 32,940 RUR for two weekly passes - 16,470 RUR per person. The pass paid for itself in the first three days of the trip. In my experience, the JR Pass is definitely worth buying.

You need to buy such a pass in advance. This will no longer be possible in Japan. I ordered it on the website japan-rail-pass.com two months before the trip. After payment, you will be sent a voucher; already in Japan, this voucher will need to be “activated” - exchanged for a JR pass.

“JAR pass” is a personalized document. When activated, your name, surname and passport details will be written on it. In Tokyo, at Shinjuku Station, we went to the Japan Railways information desk. They showed us the rules for using the travel card and clarified several times whether we really wanted to activate it from today’s date. Then you had to fill out a short questionnaire. In exchange for vouchers, we were given beautiful travel cards with our passport details on the back.

When we went through security with our JR Pass for the first time, they stamped the pass. Then we just had to show it to the employee at the station every time we passed through the turnstiles.

Plan travel to book tickets

In Japan, everyone books trains in advance. If you buy a JR Pass and plan to travel around the country, I advise you to pre-select on the Hyperdia website the shinkansen that fit your schedule. Make a list of when and what time you want to book your train seats. Print it out and take it with you.

When you activate your JR Pass, ask an employee to reserve tickets for you using this list. This is done in one minute. Then you can change your tickets without any problems.

You can travel without reserved seats. On trains, all carriages are divided into reserved ones (they are more expensive) and regular ones. In regular ones you can sit anywhere if there are free seats. If you are planning moves on weekdays, and not on holidays or weekends, then, of course, you can relax and not book anything. We were caught on six Japanese weekends in a row, so we booked the shinkansen a week in advance. Then they made the exchange once: without problems and without a queue, in 2 minutes.

What you need to know about money

The currency of Japan is the yen. 100 yen = 57 R. It is most convenient to travel with dollars: cash or on a card. We took it with us, made our main dollar account and paid from it. Another part of the money was taken in cash dollars. There are many exchangers in Japan, the exchange rate is acceptable everywhere, there are even automatic exchangers, it is safe to change money.

Japan is a country of cash. Most residents pay with bills and coins everywhere. There are hotels that do not accept cards, especially in small towns, but in Tokyo and Kyoto we paid with a card almost everywhere without any problems. To buy tickets for the metro, pay for the bus, or buy water from vending machines, you need cash, most often small coins. Within a couple of days we carried with us great amount coins

How to pay. In Japan there is a special ritual of paying for anything. When you pay at the checkout, you need to put money or a card in a special tray that stands in front of the seller. But the seller will definitely return the change, check and card to you from hand to hand with words of gratitude and a slight bow.

Probably for the same reason, payment through Apple Pay is not popular in Japan. In two weeks, I never saw anyone pay by phone, and I didn’t try it myself.

Tax free. In Japan, taxi free service for foreigners is conveniently organized. An 8% discount is given directly upon purchase if you have your passport with you. Tax-free is available almost everywhere, even in the Seven-Evening grocery store. You don’t have to stand in any line at the airport, like in Italy, for example. Prices in stores are usually indicated without VAT, so the final amount at the checkout may be 8% more than you planned.

Tips. In Japan, it is not customary to leave a tip - they simply won’t take it. In some tourist restaurants, service is included in the bill, but this rarely happens. It is understood that the service is always of the highest standard and does not require additional payment from the client.

You have to pay at the exit in cafes and restaurants. Ask the waiter to bring the bill, take it and go to the cashier. The ticket office is usually located at the exit.

Order a Wi-Fi router

In Japan, there is public Wi-Fi almost everywhere. At museums and other attractions it is usually free and safe to use. If you want to save money, use open networks and skip this step.

If you don’t want to connect to a new Wi-Fi connection every time, rent a router for the duration of your trip. Wi-Fi will definitely come in handy to build travel routes.

The Google Maps app does a great job of creating routes around Japan, including the Tokyo subway, Kyoto buses, and long-distance travel.

You can rent a router right at the airport: at the exit from Narita Airport there are dozens of information stands of companies that provide the Pocket Wi-Fi service.

I ordered the router in advance on the same website japan-rail-pass.com where I purchased the pass. 12 days of rent cost 4348 RUR - that’s 362 RUR per day. An envelope with a router, charger and return rules was waiting for me at the post office kiosk at Narita Airport. The router was already charged. For the entire 12 days, we didn’t even think about where to find Wi-Fi.

To return the router, you need to put it in a postal envelope, seal it and put it in a red mailbox. We did this on the way back, at the same Narita airport. The return envelope was included with the router initially.

Send luggage within Japan

In Japan, it is customary not to travel with suitcases, but to send them from one hotel to another. For this there is a convenient delivery service “Kuroneko Ta-ko-bin”. All hotels in Japan work with it. If you plan to move from one city to another, then it is convenient to send your suitcases by delivery rather than carry them with you.

If you live in hotels, using Kuroneko is simple: come to the reception with your suitcases and ask to be sent to another hotel. , then it will be a little more complicated: the apartment owners will not meet or send suitcases, but you can use any Kuroneko delivery point, there are many of them.

Suitcases are usually delivered within 24 hours. If you send your suitcase this morning, you can pick it up the next morning. For two standard suitcases we paid 2500-3000 RUR.

We used this delivery twice. For the first time, we sent our suitcases from a hotel in Tokyo to the Kuroneko office in Kyoto, next to the station, and with our backpacks we went to spend the night in the mountain resort of Hakone.

How to get there from Narita Airport

From the airport to Tokyo you can get by train, bus and taxi - just like everywhere else.

Flights from Moscow to Tokyo usually arrive at Narita Airport. It is located quite far from the city, in the neighboring Chiba Prefecture. We tried two ways: the Narita Express train and the "Kasei Skyliner". I'll tell you about them.

"Narita Express"- N'Ex. Expensive and fast, it goes to the central metro station Tokyo Station, passing several other large stations, including Shinjuku. Our first hotel was right on Shinjuku, so at the airport we bought tickets for "Narita Express". The train was moving slowly; it turned out that on that day there were some interruptions on the line. According to the schedule, we were supposed to get there in an hour, but the train took about an hour and a half: we managed to sleep. Tickets are expensive, we paid 3000 RUR for two:

It makes sense to take tickets for the Narita Express if you want to activate your JR Pass on the first day. This express train is also included in the pass.

"Kasei Skyliner"- an express train from a private company that took us from Tokyo back to Narita. It departs from Ueno Station and goes non-stop, so we got there in half an hour. Costs 2470 yen (1400 R) for one ticket.

The cheapest way to get from Narita Airport is by bus: 1000 yen, 60 minutes on the road - and you’re at Tokyo Station. I recommend reading the discussion on the Vinsky Forum about other ways to get from the airport.

What else do you need to know?

Traveling around Japan is safe, convenient and interesting. There are a lot of tourists, and all the navigation is specially made so that everything is clear to everyone. If you get lost, they will definitely tell you where to go and what to do.

Bentos are sold everywhere - beautifully packaged meal kits. There is sushi, rice, fried vegetables and fresh fruits, such a set costs about 500 RUR. Thanks to bento, in Japan there is no problem at all with what to eat. Everyone in Japan eats them all the time, and always on trains.

It's the same with food: if you don't know what you want to eat, just look at the cafe window. Most establishments display the most realistic plastic mock-ups of their dishes with prices on their windows. Many menus have photographs, so there are usually no problems with language.

If you know English at a basic level, you will have access to all navigation on the streets, in transport and in other public places. It’s difficult to get lost: there are a huge number of signs everywhere. Sometimes in Tokyo it was even clearer to me where to go than in the passage in Moscow.

Remember

1. Don't fly during the May holidays.
2. Buy air tickets well in advance.
3. Visit Tokyo and Kyoto.
4. To save money, stay in chain hotels.
5. Be sure to buy a JR Pass.
6. Take dollars or a dollar card with you.

IN Lately More and more users of our site began to wonder how to get to Japan? It would seem that going abroad today is a piece of cake - apply for a visa, book a hotel, buy a ticket and fly to your world of dreams and dreams. However, there are countries where you just can’t get there, and Japan, unfortunately, is one of them. But still, how to get to this amazing and so alluring country? In this article I will try to talk about three ways, and which one you personally decide to use - decide for yourself, because each has its own shortcomings, and one is not very legal at all.

So, the first method is SIMPLE.

All you need for this is just go to the nearest travel salon and buy a voucher from them. Everything is processed within 7-10 days, and you will only be asked for a foreign passport, a couple of photographs, fill out two forms and pay for this very voucher. As you can see, everything is very simple, but... there is always this BUT. The price of the cheapest tour for one week will average $3,000 (depending on the tour, hotel class, transfer, etc.). And this does not include the cost of the flight. A ten-day tour package will cost another $1,000 more. I'm not even talking about price lists for individual tours, where the price is limited only by your imagination. Why travel agencies set such prices is a topic for a separate article, and for most people it is not very important. And the important thing is how to go and not be left without pants.

So for them there is method number two - CHEAP.

So, we send travel agencies Screw everything and arrange everything ourselves. We go to the Japanese Embassy, ​​fill out a couple of forms (not forgetting to add two recent photographs to them) and submit everything for registration. You will also be required to submit a foreign passport and a photocopy of its first page, a receipt for payment for a visa (about $100) and... an invitation from your host. As you understand, BUT here is precisely this invitation. Getting it is not as easy as many people think. The fact is that the person or organization that invites you, according to Japanese law, bears full responsibility for you and your actions in Japan. And if anything happens, they will be the one to ask, and the Japanese really don’t like problems. Actually, this is what this one was created for. a complex system, which allows you to minimize the percentage of problems associated with your stay in the country (this is one of the reasons why trips are so expensive, because agencies have to insure all the risks associated with your trip). And how many pieces of paper they will have to collect is a separate story. But if the coveted invitation is received, then you will be able to save a lot. About prices in Japan, but this time I will try to describe everything in more detail.

So, you already know about the price of a visa, which means it’s time to talk about transportation costs. AEROFLOT flight: Moscow-Tokyo-Moscow will cost about $1000, but if you take advantage of various special offers, you can save up to 30% on the flight. Also, don’t forget about internal travel around the country, which can make up more than half of your travel expenses. In order to correctly calculate your budget, you need to decide how long you are going to come for and which cities, besides Tokyo, you want to visit. The fact is that for traveling around Japan they sell a travel pass especially for tourists, which can significantly reduce your transport costs (ATTENTION: you can only buy it outside Japan).

It is produced by a national transport company JR and allows you to travel without restrictions during the allotted period on all types of transport (including high-speed shinkansen trains), but only those that belong to this company (for example, you cannot use it to travel to Nikko). Thus, if you are only going for a week and are not going anywhere except Tokyo and nearby cities, then buying this JR PASS There is no particular need, because you will spend about the same. But if you come for two weeks or more, and visiting Kyoto or Sapporo is part of your plans, then without this pass your expenses will double or even more. For example, a trip from Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen will cost about 20,000 yen, while JR PASS for two weeks, costs 45,100 yen. Thus, only a trip to Kyoto and back will almost completely recoup your expenses for it. A little advice, if you eat for three weeks, then JR PASS You don’t have to buy it for this period, take it for a couple of weeks, and activate it only when you go, for example, to Osaka. Buy JR PASS , for example, you can at Sheremetyevo 2 airport or at the same travel agencies. For more detailed information contact the official website of the company.

Having dealt with the most expensive item of your trip, we move on to prices for hotel accommodation. A room in a three-star hotel located in the center of Osaka or Kyoto personally cost me no more than 6,000 yen. For this price you get a simple but cozy room with a TV, a refrigerator and, of course, Internet access.

I noticed that if you book a room from Russia, then for some reason the prices are higher than if you book a room in Japan itself. Therefore, ask your host to do this. It won't cost them anything, since they pay for the room at the time of your stay, and you can save a little. If the budget is very limited, and every penny counts for you, then on the outskirts (relatively, of course, for example, in the Ueno district of Tokyo) it is possible to find a motel for 3,000 yen. The main problem is that such small hotels do not have websites, and it is only possible to view, let alone book a room by phone or, in extreme cases, by going there in person. Staying in Japan will be even cheaper if you can negotiate with a university and stay on a local campus. Alas, this is only possible if you are a student, and you will have to collect a whole stack of papers confirming this (the Japanese are bureaucrats). But such accommodation will cost no more than $10, and you will find quite a few interesting acquaintances there.

So, all we have left on the agenda is to discuss food prices, as well as how much it costs to visit a particular establishment or event. Prices for products are on average the same as ours, some are cheaper, some are more expensive. For those who multiply, I advise you to use the services of stores - “everything for 99 yen” (+5% tax). One of the networks of such stores is called “shop99”.

But there is a small catch here, not all goods there are cheaper than, for example, in “ FAMILY MART" or "7 ELEVEN " And the choice is several times smaller than in regular supermarkets. But if you are not a housewife and are not going to cook borscht or aspic, but are just a poor student who just wants to “kill a worm,” then these stores are the best place to save a few yen. Juice, chips and snacks for 99 yen won't break the bank. If you want something more natural or authentic, you won’t have any problems with that either; fortunately, there are more than enough catering outlets for every taste and budget in Japan. Lunch, so to speak, from the belly, will cost you about 1000 yen. I remember that in one of the sushi bars I bought 1,500 yen worth of plates, and only because I tried to try the entire menu. Almost burst. In general, food is the smallest expense item in your budget.

No more, and maybe even less expensive (at least in comparison with Russia, Europe or the USA) item of your budget will concern what relates to your, so to speak, cultural leisure. A visit to museums and parks costs an average of 500 yen (and many have free entry). A trip to an aquatic or zoo will cost you from 500 to 2000 yen. Tickets for concerts in local clubs will be yours for an average of 2000 yen (a ticket for my favorite band “ BALZAC ” cost 2500 Japanese tugriks).

Amusement parks from companies such as “ DISNEY" or "UNIVERSAL ”, they charge 5000-5500 yen on the nose (I think that those who have been to similar establishments in Europe or America will be happy with such prices). And visiting parks owned by national companies will cost you even less. For example, a ticket to the Studio Ghibli Museum costs 1,000 yen.

So, let’s sum up our expenses and find that for three weeks of travel we will need about $3,000, and this is not such a big amount. Even a poor student can save it in a couple of years.

All this, of course, is wonderful, but what should those who have neither relatives nor friends in the country of Nipponia do and are not expected to.

For them there is method number three - CROOKED.

I think that everyone has watched the film “Brother 2” and remembers how the main characters get to America. Actually, this is exactly how many of our fellow citizens go to Japan. The method is quite simple, but effective. A certain joint venture is created, which issues an invitation to its employees (which you will be) to visit the shores of the Land of the Rising Sun as part of some event. The services, of course, are not free (on average they charge about $500 for a visa), but it still works out cheaper than buying a ticket from a travel agency. Yes, both with the hotel and with the purchase JR PASS and they will help. But, as you understand, there is something here too BUT... There is no guarantee that you will not have problems at the border due to some legal nuances. And there may be questions with the rest too. I’m not scaring you (for example, I applied through such a company JR PASS , and there were no problems), but I won’t give a 100% guarantee that everything will go like clockwork. Surf the sites on this topic yourself, see who is saying what about this or that company that provides similar services, and then decide whether it’s worth it.

I hope that in this short article I was able to satisfy at least a little information hunger regarding this topic. If you have more specific questions, write and I will answer them as best I can.