Destination: Japan
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Money & costs
Japan is generally considered an expensive country in which to travel. Certainly, this is the case if you opt to stay in top-end hotels, take a lot of taxis and eat all your meals in fancy restaurants. But Japan does not have to be expensive, indeed it can be cheaper than travelling in places such as Europe and the USA if you are careful with your spending and, in terms of what you get for your money, Japan is good value indeed.
Food costs can be kept down by ordering set meals (setto). A fixed 'morning service' breakfast (moningu sabisu or setto) is available in most coffee shops (kisaten) for around ¥400. At lunch time there are set meals (teishoku) for about ¥700. Cheap noodle places (often found at stations or in department stores) charge around ¥400 for a filling bowl of noodles. For an evening meal, there's the option of a set course again or a single order - ¥700 to ¥900 should cover this. Average prices at youth hostels are ¥500 for breakfast and ¥900 for dinner.
Transport is a major expense, although there are ways to limit the damage. The Japan Rail Pass and other regional rail passes are well worth the money if you intend to travel widely in a short space of time. Overnight buses are cheaper than the train, and enable you to save on accommodation. Hitching is another option.
HOW MUCH?
Business hotel accommodation (per person) ¥8000
Midrange meal ¥2500
Local bus ¥220
Temple admission ¥500
Newspaper ¥130
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance
