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Originally Posted by GhostBlade
This has nothing to do with the bus topic but I don't see the need to make another topic so I'll ask here. I want to budget my money on this trip as much as possible since the trip may last close to 2 months but I haven't decided yet on how long exactly. Anyone have any insights on working at a youth hostel for a couple of hours for a free room? Any tips on what type of food places to look for to get some good Japanese food? Is going during late-May until sometime in July a good plan? So many questions! I'm still thinking how I should approach buying a ticket to Japan.
I'll probably do a bunch of research on the going rates for tickets and try to get the best possible price. Priceline has a feature where you can bid on your own price on how much you're willing to pay for a ticket. It says you can save up to 40% from the cheapest posted flights. I also don't mind stopping over at 2 stops or flying during less desireable times in the morning like 5 a.m. or so. I'm also looking at IACE and JTBUSA for plane tickets but I may have to call them to get the best rate since they dont' list the total price of their tickets. Anyone have any stories about getting some good deals that saved a bunch of money on plane tickets? I may even call a travel agent since they may offer a better price than what's stated online.
I need to plan this trip carefully because I decided to go on this trip alone since I've always wanted to go to Japan and I won't let anyone try to taint my experience! I can always meet other people along my travels. Any tips about anything Japan would be greatly appreciated.
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I never worked at a Hostel, but I stayed at some, and they are usually $25-40 per night, which isn't bad. I also stayed at some business hotels, which (outside of Tokyo) are usually $35-50 per night. In addition, try different types of accommodations during your stay... stay in a ryokan or minshuku at least 1 night, try the buddhist temple stay for a night, etc. Some variety is nice, and these places give you a glimpse into Japan's past and culture, and are worth trying for at least 1 night.
For food, never order drinks in a restaurant. It will be at least 3x more expensive than the vending machines right outside. And even better than the vending machines, find a super-market or 7-11 and get drinks and snacks there. I usually ate breakfast by going to a supermarket, getting a carton of OJ or iced coffee or whatever, some pastry, and a banana, peach, orange or whatever is local and in season (imported fruits and veggies are expensive there). That's a cheap way to eat, usually just $3-4. For lunch and dinner, if you want a restaurant meal, many places have plastic food in the window showing what they serve and what the price is. This lets you "window-shop" for a place to eat, and you can usually find a good meal for not too much money... ramen, zosui, yakisoba, okonomiyaki, donburi, etc