How much money should I bring to japan?

[godwine]

Originally Posted by Toiim

FOOD IN JAPAN IS CHEAPER THAN YOU THINK.

I'm not even joking, I spent, like, ten dollars a day. I got breakfast from 7 Eleven, or a local supermarket. They heat the food up for you and everything.

There's this really good place in Shibuya that was like, 200 yen per dish. It was fantastic. It's under a bridge and then down a alley. If you know your basics it's easy to order. That was my favorite food the whole time I was there.

Food is cheaper than you think in Japan. In Harajuku, just go down alleys. Don't go with to main street restaurants. Shintaka street (I think) had some small restaurants, but they were HEAPS more expensive than the small places. I spent $15 a day tops on food. And I always ate out, except for breakfast.

Lollies are cheap too.

If i am going on a trip where i need to strap myself in, then i might as well just stay home. Yes, I've done convenience store food for all 3 meals, and its cheaper than 10 a day, but its only good for one day....

[xXdeathnotexX]

Originally Posted by Toiim

FOOD IN JAPAN IS CHEAPER THAN YOU THINK.

I'm not even joking, I spent, like, ten dollars a day. I got breakfast from 7 Eleven, or a local supermarket. They heat the food up for you and everything.

There's this really good place in Shibuya that was like, 200 yen per dish. It was fantastic. It's under a bridge and then down a alley. If you know your basics it's easy to order. That was my favorite food the whole time I was there.

Food is cheaper than you think in Japan. In Harajuku, just go down alleys. Don't go with to main street restaurants. Shintaka street (I think) had some small restaurants, but they were HEAPS more expensive than the small places. I spent $15 a day tops on food. And I always ate out, except for breakfast.

Lollies are cheap too.

- Um, well.... I do kinda wanna get the taste of japan. I can't bring TOO much, but I could afford fifty dollars a day, and I don't wanna go anywhere under a bridge, cause this is a school trip and were not gonna be spending too much time under bridges ^^"

[Polar]

Originally Posted by xXdeathnotexX

- Um, well.... I do kinda wanna get the taste of japan. I can't bring TOO much, but I could afford fifty dollars a day, and I don't wanna go anywhere under a bridge, cause this is a school trip and were not gonna be spending too much time under bridges ^^"

You'll be more then fine with $50

Breakfast at Denny's about 700 Yen



Lunch sets 800 - 900 Yen



Indian



Thai



Ramen in Yokosuka, again 800 Yen, rice and gyoza were about 300 Yen extra

[godwine]

Originally Posted by xXdeathnotexX

- Um, well.... I do kinda wanna get the taste of japan. I can't bring TOO much, but I could afford fifty dollars a day, and I don't wanna go anywhere under a bridge, cause this is a school trip and were not gonna be spending too much time under bridges ^^"

I said 50 including souvenirs... that should average out nicely, there will definitely be days where you will spend less than 30 a day, and there will be days when you will spend more than 50...

40 a day then, but just don't expect to have much left for souvenir.. unless you really keep your budget down to not exceeding 30 a day on food.. and that will be difficult, you will see snacks you want to try, drinks you want to try..

[Polar]

Completely agree with godwine.

For souvenirs for your friends and family don't be afraid to check out the dollar stores i.e. 100 Yen stores. Japan loves it's 100 yen stores, heck there's even a TV show devoted to showing you what you can do/make with various purchases.

Green Peas is a big franchise to keep an eye out for.



As for souvenirs for yourself ... well I arrived with one suitcase and a backpack and left with two suitcases and a backpack

[godwine]

Originally Posted by Polar

Completely agree with godwine.

For souvenirs for your friends and family don't be afraid to check out the dollar stores i.e. 100 Yen stores. Japan loves it's 100 yen stores, heck there's even a TV show devoted to showing you what you can do/make with various purchases.

Green Peas is a big franchise to keep an eye out for.



As for souvenirs for yourself ... well I arrived with one suitcase and a backpack and left with two suitcases and a backpack

Similar experience... when I took my wife there in 2009 for our honeymoon, we brought 3 suitcase with us. One of them is actually empty. Not only we filled that up, we had to buy one more large suit case, 2 large size gym bag (large enough to fit football or hockey equipment) and we had boxes that was sent home through EMS...

[tokusatsufan]

Originally Posted by Polar

Indian



Thai

Ah,now I'm interested. I was actually going to go to an Indian in Japan but I went to the pasta place instead. Indian stuff should be vegetarian actually.

[godwine]

Originally Posted by tokusatsufan

Ah,now I'm interested. I was actually going to go to an Indian in Japan but I went to the pasta place instead. Indian stuff should be vegetarian actually.

Not true, there are non vegetarian Indian dish. Not all Indians are vegetarian. I had plenty of different kind of meat when I was in India.

Anyways, I've heard Indian restaurant in Japan are quite good, its very authentic. I've never tried it myself, every time I am there, the people that came with me refuse to have Indian food, so I have yet to try it

[Polar]

Indian place was in Shinjuku, owner speaks seven languages it's name is Jinnah ph# is 03-3349-1619.

Thai place was in Shibuya, had good timing as 10 mins after I sat down the place was full and a lined snaked up the stairs.

[godwine]

Thanks to my wife, who love to keep her things in order, here is a break down of our daily spending when we had our honeymoon there. I am only putting up the spending around food as reference. Sourvenir an anything else are not included, this is spending for the both of us, and we didn't eat high class either, so i think this should be a good starting point for you to think how much you will need:

These are all in YEN

Oct 24 - 2009
Breakfast - 1820
Drinks - 280
Coffee - 880
Lunch - 1910
Dinner - 3800

Total Day 1 - 8960 .

Oct 25 - 2009
Breakfast - 1180
Lunch - 1200
Snack - 1300
Dinner - 2180
Drinks - 1040

Total day 2 - 6900

Oct 26 - 2009
Breakfast - 2400
Lunch - 1350
Ice Cream - 500
Snack - 641
Dinner - 1125

Total Day 3 - 6016

Oct 27 - 2009
breakfast - 980
Lunch - 1520
Dinner - 11010

Total day 4 - 13510

Oct 28 - 2009
Breakfast - 1514
Lunch - 2520
Drinks - 430
Dinner - 1800

Total day 5 - 6264

Oct 29 - 2009

Breakfast - 694
Drinks - 294
Lunch - 350
Drinks - 120
Dinner - 2300

Total day 6 - 3758

Oct 30 - 2009

Breakfast - 731
Ice cream - 670
Lunch - 2150
Drinks - 300
Snacks - 800
Dinner 2058

Total day 7 - 6709

October 31 - 2009

Breakfast 1036
Snack 1760
Drink 950
Ice cream 600
Dinner 1251

Total day 8 5597

Nov 1 - 2009
Breakfast 1080
Snack 690
Drinks 150

Total day 9 - 1920

Nov 2 - 2009
Drinks 290
Coffee 390
Lunch 2450
Dinner 1843

Total Day 10 - 4973

Nov 3 - 2009
Breakfast 1173
Lunch 1400
Snacks - 439
Dinner 1780

Total Day 11 - 4792

Nov 4 - 2009

Breakfast 619
Drinks 270
Lunch 4510
Dinner 1375

Total day 12 - 6774

Nov 5,6, 7- none, paid for by my uncle

Nov 8 - 2009
Breakfast 3570
Lunch 852
Dnner 1750

Total day 16 - 6172

Nov 9 - 2009
Breafast 1072
Lunch 1290
snack 760
dinner 4988
drinks 356

Total day 17 - 8466

Nov 10 - 2009
Breakfast 1010
drinks 298
lunch 1860
dinner 5958

total day 18 - 9126

Nov 11 -2009
Breakfast 587
Coffee 1000
snack 750
dinner 1059

Total day 19 - 3396

Nov 12 - 2009
Breakfast 871
Lunch 3100
Dinner 5080
snack 1070

total day 20 - 10121

Nov 13 - 2009
breakfast 2699
lunch 2100
dinner 1080

total day 21 - 5879

Total on food for 21 days - 114360, average = 5445.7 per day for 2 people, and keep in mind, of the 21 days, 3 were paid for by my uncle, so really, the average should be base on 18 days making it an average 6353 yen per day for 2 people.

So, 30 dollars a day just for food is going to be really close,if you want to thrown in a souvenir or 2, you will at least need another 10-20 a day.... i also have a breakdown on what we spent total, but i don't want to bored everyone with that list