How to organize an independent trip to Japan? Useful information for travelers. Prices for tickets, visa, transportation, hotels, food and attractions in 2021.
Exchange rate: 100 yen (JPY) ≈ 72 RUB.
Flights to Japan
Going on an independent trip to Japan, be especially careful when buying tickets. The country is considered one of the most expensive for vacation, but if you follow the promotions and sales of airlines, you can find very attractive offers.
The cost of travel to Japan will initially be lower for residents of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Khabarovsk, since the prices for tickets departing from these cities are the lowest in the country - from 15 thousand rubles.
A flight to Japan from Moscow costs from 25 thousand rubles, from St. Petersburg - from 26-27 thousand rubles. It is also relatively inexpensive to fly from Novosibirsk (from 26 thousand rubles) and Vladivostok (from 16 thousand rubles).
Where to find cheap tickets? This is most conveniently done using the search engines Aviasales and Skyscanner. To find the best price, check both and see tickets for different dates. Read also the instructions on how to search for cheap flights correctly.
Visa to Japan in 2021
Obtaining a Japanese visa is a very time consuming process. Its type is determined by two main factors: the length of stay in the country and the purpose of the visit. Long-term visas are issued for study and work. Short-term - for tourist trips, business visits, visiting friends or relatives, as well as transit trips. In addition, there are some nuances with the documents when applying for a child visa.
The lists of required documents can be found on the embassy's website.
Transportation in Japan
Buses
Both buses and trams are not the best solution for tourists in Japan. On these types of transport, you will not always find route names in English. However, if you can read hieroglyphs, the risk of going the wrong place is minimized. The cost of the trip is approximately ¥ 220-420.
In addition, if you study the routes well and do not limit yourself to trips to one city, there is a sure way to save money: it is cheapest to move from one city to another by night buses.
Metro
The most convenient form of transport for movement within the city is the metro. All station names are duplicated in English. Trains run at 5-minute intervals from 5:00 to 23:30. The fare depends on the city and distance. In Tokyo, for example, the price of a trip is approximately ¥ 120-320. A one-day pass will cost ¥ 1,000. Tickets can be purchased in special machines selling them in the metro.
Railway transport
Trains in Japan are considered high-speed transport for travel between major cities and commuter passenger services. They are divided into four main types: Local trains, Rapid trains, long-distance trains, and bullet shinkansen trains. Tickets can also be purchased from special ticket machines. The fare depends on the distance and class of the train: from ¥ 1,500 to ¥ 44,000.
Japan rail pass
When planning an independent trip to Japan, it is quite natural to want to save money, including on transportation costs. A travel card can help with this. Japan rail pass... It was created exclusively for tourists by Japan Rail (JR), the country's main railway company. The travel card is issued in advance before traveling to Japan, upon receipt of a visa. It applies to all JR transport: shinkansen, some metro lines and many commuter trains. There are three types of Japan Rail Pass: for 7 days - ¥ 28,300, for 14 days - ¥ 45,100, for 21 days - ¥ 57,700.
Taxi
This type of transport is considered one of the most expensive in Japan. In addition, from 23:00 to 6:00 taxis provide services at night rates, which means plus 30% to the cost of the trip. The price is formed as follows:
- boarding 580-720 ¥;
- for every 280 meters - 80 ¥;
- for every 135 seconds of inactivity - 90 ¥.
The cost of traveling to Japan as a whole is a considerable sum, even with the savings. Still, taking a taxi a couple of times isn't a bad idea. Tired of the flight, with luggage in hand, it is more convenient to get from the airport to the hotel by a pre-booked taxi. You can order a transfer online at the Kiwi Taxi service.
Do you want to know minimum cost of travel to Japan taking into account all items of expenditure? We have calculated the main costs: flights, hotel accommodation, meals, public transport, as well as visits to the main attractions of the country. Read about what we have come to in our material.
Hotels in Japan
There are three main types of lodging for tourists in Japan: capsule hotels, international hotels and traditional Japanese ryokans.
Hotels capsules
They are considered the most affordable housing option in Japan. The capsules are small sleeping cells that are located next to each other in two tiers. There is enough space to watch TV, read or just sleep. As a rule, in capsules, you can adjust the temperature and the desired brightness of the light. In hotels of this type, there are shared toilets, showers, as well as individual cells for luggage. The cost of a cell is $ 20 per day. At this price, for example, you can stay at the Capsule and Sauna New Century or Capsule and Sauna New Japan EX.
International type hotels
This type of hotel is the most popular among travelers on their own in Japan. According to the level of comfort, they are divided into the following types:
- Delux (DX) - expensive hotels with the highest level of service (about 5 * +);
- Superior (SP) - housing with DX elements, but at a lower price (about 5 *);
- First (F) - living conditions above average (approximately 4 *);
- Standart (S) - standard class hotels with a basic set of amenities (approximately 3 *);
- Econome (E) is a budget accommodation option.
Ryokans
Ideal for those who, during an independent trip to Japan, want to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of national traditions. The floors in such hotels are lined with straw mats (tatami), and the doors and some windows are sliding partitions made of translucent paper in a wooden frame (shoji). It is customary to sleep on the floor here, and wash in the common ofuro bathhouse, however, given the shyness of many tourists, rooms with their own bathrooms are being created. Ryokan can be rented from $ 90 per day for two, for example, at Sakura Ryokan Hotel Tokyo.
Want to know about seasons and weather in Japan? Follow the link to read tips on when and where it is better to go to rest.
Food prices in Japan in 2021
Japanese cuisine uses fresh and natural products that undergo minimal heat treatment. This is done to preserve the natural appearance and, most importantly, the pristine taste. In addition, mixing large quantities of ingredients is alien to traditional culinary creations. Aesthetic minimalism, clarity of details and bright colors are the basis of Japanese dishes.
The main ingredients here are fresh vegetables, seafood, rice and noodles. Sushi, well known to us, are considered far from the main Japanese dish, as the overwhelming majority of tourists believe. We have highlighted several popular national dishes that are worth trying in Japan.
Ramen Is a broth with wheat noodles. There are four types of base for this dish: soy sauce, tangotsu (pork bone broth), miso (bean paste), and salty broth. Ingredients can also be: pickled mushrooms, eggs, bamboo shoots and spinach.
Onigiri - rice balls with fish filling, wrapped in seaweed. This common Japanese snack can be enjoyed for as little as ¥ 100.
Yakitor - these are pieces of chicken on skewers, fried over charcoal.These kebabs are usually served with tare sauce, which is made from mirin, soy sauce and sugar.
Fugu - poisonous fish, which is considered a real delicacy. To neutralize it, certified masters, like surgeons, remove internal organs containing poison, and only then begin the cooking process.
Shabu shabu Is a dish that gets its name from the sound that occurs during cooking. Moreover, the customer is the cook here. In restaurants that offer this dish, small plates are mounted on the tables, on which a bowl of boiling broth is placed. Thin slices of beef or pork are dipped into the bubbling liquid with sticks, and after that the marbled meat is ready for tasting.
When calculating the cost of travel to Japan, we found it useful to provide information on how much food in cafes and restaurants in Japan costs.
Prices in Japanese cafes:
- breakfast - 650 ¥;
- lunch - 850 ¥;
- dinner - 1200 ¥.
Prices in Japanese restaurants:
- breakfast - 800 ¥;
- lunch - 1200 ¥;
- dinner - 2000 ¥.
Attractions in Japan
Look for interesting excursions on the Sputnik and Tripster websites. Individual and group, no crowds of tourists and in Russian.
Every prefecture, city and village has a rich cultural heritage. Here you can endlessly admire both historical monuments and achievements in the field of modern technologies. We've highlighted some of the most popular attractions for those planning an independent trip to Japan.
Mount fuji
It is believed that at least once in a lifetime, a real Japanese must conquer a sacred volcano on the island of Honshu. Climbing the top of Mount Fuji is officially allowed only from July 1 to August 27, when the snow melts. In turn, the mountain is especially beautiful in winter: you can contemplate the snowy peaks of the legendary volcano while lying in a hot spring (onsen).
Ancient castles
More than a hundred ancient castles have survived in Japan. Here are the most famous residences in which the history of the great state was born:
- Nagoya Castle - located in Aichi Prefecture. Built in 1612, it was once the main residence of the Tokugawa shogun line.
- Inuyama Castle - located on the border of Aichi and Gifu prefectures. Built in 1440, the castle is listed as a national treasure of Japan.
- Kochi Castle - was founded in Kochi Prefecture in 1601 after the Battle of Sekigahara. Ranked as an important cultural property of Japan.
- Kumamoto Castle - erected in 1601, bears the middle name "Crow Castle", and is also included in the list of national treasures of Japan.
Tokyo Disneyland
This is the first Disney park outside the United States. On 465 thousand square meters there are 47 attractions of the famous cartoon brand. You can visit the park by purchasing a ticket, which is called here a passport in connection with the age categories of guests:
- from 18 years old - 6200 ¥;
- from 12 to 17 years old - 5300 ¥;
- from 4 to 11 years old - 4100 ¥.
Ancient temples
There are two main religions in Japan: Shinto and Buddhism. The first is based on the ancient animistic beliefs of the Japanese, and the second was brought by Chinese monks. The most famous Japanese temples are located in Kyoto, including: Ginkaku-ji or Temple of the Silver Pavilion, Buddhist sanctuary Tongasan Kesan-ji and the temple of the resting dragon Rean-ji.
