Travelling in Japan By Bus

[GhostBlade]

Originally Posted by samokan

have not used this buses yet.. I usually get the JR Buses ..

What are the prices for JR Buses compared to the one I'm looking at? I'll see if I can find the answer myself but just asking in case I don't.

[samokan]

Originally Posted by GhostBlade

What are the prices for JR Buses compared to the one I'm looking at? I'll see if I can find the answer myself but just asking in case I don't.

Highway Bus Routes from Tokyo

the cheapest one, is the seishun mega dream bus which is 3500yen - 4000yen ( one way ).

or when you buy you can always ask the clerks to give you first the cheapest one ...

[GhostBlade]

Originally Posted by Firebird

Well i havent been there and i haven´t tried it and maybe its not your thing, but if you´d really save money you could try Hitchhiking. There a Site with links and stuff here: Hitchhiking Japan in East Asia - Backpacking and Budget Travel | digihitch World

For overnight stay you could try couchsurfing (i´m not sure how many are there in Japan) CouchSurfing - Site Down Message or Free Accommodation world wide through Hospitality Exchange - Hospitality Club

If you intend to stay more than 2 weeks at a place and want to safe money you could try wwoofing WWOOF Japan (this will probably take more effort and time, but end up giving you 2 extra weeks in a Japanese Home/Farm/Inn for free (you will work some Hours a day for Food and Accomodation, check out some off the offers).

Well thats as far as i got till now for cheap travel / Room. Some stuff may take some more time, but you may consider it interesting, thats why i posted this stuff. I will be going to Japan for 1 year Working Holiday, so im collecting usefull link right now

Firebird

I've done some research I will definitely be using the couchsurfing resourse. Seems like the most reliable resource. It looks awesome and much better than working at the hostel idea that I had which is useless unless I sign a 1 month contract to work in one location. I may even stay longer in Japan and travel more extensively throughout the country thanks to the couchsurfing resource since I don't have to worry about accommodation costs.

[Firebird]

Im happy that i could be off help and would like to read about your experience. You might not get any accomodation in a to short time, because people might work/be busy so try like 2-3weeks in advance. You might also have to try more than 1 Host. Just try to get people with "yes i will give accomodation" and some comments (like 3-??). They are more acitve and will answer you faster.
Have Fun!
Firebird

[Lucyenn]

I'd better take cycle! IT is more healthy...

[GhostBlade]

Thanks Samokan for the site. Firebird, yeah, the best tip is to look at the people who are in the front pages of your desired city on Couchsurfing as they are the most active members. So if I want to stay in Tokyo I should look to contact the people on the first or second page since they frequently log in and host as opposed to the other pages of people you don't log in often. Your search automatically sorts out which people are most active which is helpful. Also, the Couchsurfing site seems to be more active than the Hospitality Club one so I'll probably be using that site most and occasionally looking at the Hospitality Club one if I need to. If I go it will be in late-May so it will be a long time until I can update you on my situation.

[Firebird]

Originally Posted by GhostBlade

....If I go it will be in late-May so it will be a long time until I can update you on my situation.

No worries, will still be before me, i will go around late June!

[GhostBlade]

Originally Posted by Firebird

No worries, will still be before me, i will go around late June!

I'm really flexible on when I can go during the summer. Any idea when tickets are the cheapest during the summer months?

[Firebird]

You mean the Airplane tickets? Well i already booked my Ticket in Dezember, because there was a special offer from close to my hometown to Tokyo and it was a 1 year Ticket. So ive got no idea when it is cheap to fly. Just try to avoid the holiday season and book early. You are a little flexible, so you should be fine.
Where are you flying from?

[GhostBlade]

Originally Posted by Firebird

You mean the Airplane tickets? Well i already booked my Ticket in Dezember, because there was a special offer from close to my hometown to Tokyo and it was a 1 year Ticket. So ive got no idea when it is cheap to fly. Just try to avoid the holiday season and book early. You are a little flexible, so you should be fine.
Where are you flying from?

I'm in Northern California. I'll probably fly from my city then connect to San Francisco airport.