How to Travel Japan on a Budget

Traveling abroad can be expensive in the industrialized countries of Asia and Europe. In a country as clean and modern as Japan, visiting tourist attractions and seeing the sights can eat up your travel budget quickly. To become a regional expert in cheap travel, it takes years of experience visiting one particular place. However, the tricks below will help tour Japan on a low budget.

Plan your vacation in detail before you go to Japan. This includes making a list of places to go, how to get there, the cheapest ways to get there, and how long you want to stay in each place. Internet travel forums are great places to find hints about visiting Japan.

Learn enough Japanese language to get by. Know how to ask for directions, order food, and greet strangers politely. Tour guides and translators are expensive. Many Japanese already know some English, and if you try meet them halfway, you won't have to shell out for costly translation. Vendors may give you lower prices for things if you try to communicate in the local language.

It's also helpful if you can pronounce words written in kana or katakana (two Japanese syllabaries). You don't have to know what the words mean, but if you can pronounce them, it makes communication with locals easier.

Pack your own lunches for trips around Japan. Although eating at restaurants is one of the most enjoyable aspects of traveling, the expense adds up if you do it for single every meal in Japan. At grocery stores you will find very interesting raw ingredients to pack cheap, budget-friendly lunches. Some of the most exotic Japanese foods can be found in the supermarket aisles. They will also have staples that Westerners will enjoy, such as rice, noodles, eggs, fruits, and veggies.

Become familiar with Japan's trains and subways. Study train route maps before you arrive so that you do not have to rely on taxis, which are expensive. You can find rail transit maps online. Also, buy multiple trip passes to save money on fare.

Visit travel forums to discover little-known excursions in Japan. Someone who has traveled there extensively can offer valuable tips and recommendations. The big tourist attractions are usually more expensive because.

Students can save money on lodging if they participate in an exchange program. Exchange students stay with host families, rather than in expensive hotels or spartan hostels. If you haven't yet graduated from university, this is one possible way to travel Japan on a tight budget.

If possible, travel during the off-seasons, fall and winter, to save money on airfare and hotels. Check ticket prices several months in advance to see trends in rising or falling prices.

© Had2Know 2010