I was recently asked by a panel of non-Japanese travelers about the most cost effective travel in Japan.
Since I will be doing this for the first time next week, I can`t be certain from first-hand experience but I would say capsule hotels are the most cost effective way to travel in Japan on a budget. The price per night is around US$40. You`re space is cramped like it would be if you were staying on a ship. The one that I will be staying in is in the basement of a regular hotel. I was informed that my cell phone will not work inside my casule. The bath is a public bath which is common in Japan. Aside from a small bed, I will have a little desk with a PC and Internet access. Upstairs I will be provided breakfast in the morning.
This type of lodging was featured in a recent TV program Quest- CNN Business Traveler when the host traveled to Osaka. He was able to travel on a budget of about US$200 a day in Osaka mainly because his lodging was a capsule hotel. Of course, his mode of travel was by train and subway and he did have a business lunch in a traditional Japanese restaurant. He was even shown eating at a ramen shop for far less than the business lunch. Once other thing that he did was rent out some temporary office space and pay for printing out some documents. However, he would have exceeded his US$200 a day budget by doing the same thing in Tokyo.
Earlier this month, I traveled to Hiroshima and stayed in a business hotel. It was a package deal in the amount of US$250 (total) including round trip air fare from Tokyo`s Haneda airport and two nights in Hiroshima`s downtown area. Sometimes this also includes a breakfast buffet.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you are staying in Tokyo, these kind of low-budget deals are no where to be found. I heard of a guy who traveled from Kyushu to Tokyo to take his family to Disney Sea and he remarked that this trip was nearly as much as taking his family to Hawaii.
Recap:
In case you are in the "Land of the Rising Sun", here are a few things to consider:
Lodging- Capsule Hotels are a stack of three bunks similar to what you would find on a ship. Bunks sleep one person and have a small LCD that can pick-up local TV channels. Cost per night was about US$40. Showers are Japanese style where you wash down with soap then bath in a community area.
Dining- Ramen shops are a dime a dozen near train stations. The fast food chain, Yoshinoya sells beef bowls and I recommend it. The sushi chain, Kappa Sushi sells plates that are brought to you on a conveyor for about US$1. Japan is know as convienence store heaven and a wide variety of food is available at an affordable price.
Transportation- Trains and subways are abundant in the metropolis areas. Check JR East's website. They serve the Greater Tokyo area. Taxis are good too especially if traveling in small groups.
Lastly, one thing to disregard is the scene in the 1980`s movie, Gung Ho starring Michael Keaton. It shows him staying at a capsule hotel in Tokyo and he is climbing over two guys to reach his bunk on the top. They improved the spacing in the past 20 years.
The Divine Wind Vault
http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com
(C)2006-09
Since I will be doing this for the first time next week, I can`t be certain from first-hand experience but I would say capsule hotels are the most cost effective way to travel in Japan on a budget. The price per night is around US$40. You`re space is cramped like it would be if you were staying on a ship. The one that I will be staying in is in the basement of a regular hotel. I was informed that my cell phone will not work inside my casule. The bath is a public bath which is common in Japan. Aside from a small bed, I will have a little desk with a PC and Internet access. Upstairs I will be provided breakfast in the morning.
This type of lodging was featured in a recent TV program Quest- CNN Business Traveler when the host traveled to Osaka. He was able to travel on a budget of about US$200 a day in Osaka mainly because his lodging was a capsule hotel. Of course, his mode of travel was by train and subway and he did have a business lunch in a traditional Japanese restaurant. He was even shown eating at a ramen shop for far less than the business lunch. Once other thing that he did was rent out some temporary office space and pay for printing out some documents. However, he would have exceeded his US$200 a day budget by doing the same thing in Tokyo.
Earlier this month, I traveled to Hiroshima and stayed in a business hotel. It was a package deal in the amount of US$250 (total) including round trip air fare from Tokyo`s Haneda airport and two nights in Hiroshima`s downtown area. Sometimes this also includes a breakfast buffet.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you are staying in Tokyo, these kind of low-budget deals are no where to be found. I heard of a guy who traveled from Kyushu to Tokyo to take his family to Disney Sea and he remarked that this trip was nearly as much as taking his family to Hawaii.
Recap:
In case you are in the "Land of the Rising Sun", here are a few things to consider:
Lodging- Capsule Hotels are a stack of three bunks similar to what you would find on a ship. Bunks sleep one person and have a small LCD that can pick-up local TV channels. Cost per night was about US$40. Showers are Japanese style where you wash down with soap then bath in a community area.
Dining- Ramen shops are a dime a dozen near train stations. The fast food chain, Yoshinoya sells beef bowls and I recommend it. The sushi chain, Kappa Sushi sells plates that are brought to you on a conveyor for about US$1. Japan is know as convienence store heaven and a wide variety of food is available at an affordable price.
Transportation- Trains and subways are abundant in the metropolis areas. Check JR East's website. They serve the Greater Tokyo area. Taxis are good too especially if traveling in small groups.
Lastly, one thing to disregard is the scene in the 1980`s movie, Gung Ho starring Michael Keaton. It shows him staying at a capsule hotel in Tokyo and he is climbing over two guys to reach his bunk on the top. They improved the spacing in the past 20 years.
The Divine Wind Vault
http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com
(C)2006-09
