How much does it cost to travel to Japan. How to organize a trip to Japan. What about accommodation? Are hotels expensive

How much does it cost to go to Japan? Here are the prices for tickets, hotel, food, transport, visa and attractions. We calculate the cost of a trip to Japan in 2019 in rubles.

Exchange rate: 100 yen (JPY) ≈ 55 RUB.

How much does it cost to fly to Japan

Usually it is more profitable to fly abroad from Moscow. However, with Japan it is different: the cheapest tickets are from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Vladivostok (from 11,000 rubles), as well as Khabarovsk and Vladivostok (from 13,000 rubles). You can fly to Japan relatively inexpensively from Irkutsk - from 17,000 rubles, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (from 18,000 rubles) and Novosibirsk (24,000 rubles).

Price direct flight from Moscow to Tokyo - from 36,000 rubles, with a transfer - from 30,000. Ticket prices from St. Petersburg start at 33,000 rubles.

Japan visa cost

You need a visa to travel to Japan from Russia. Good news: the rules have been simplified, and the Russians no longer need a guarantor to get it! But the citizens of the CIS, alas, need to look for a guarantor.

A visa is free if you apply for it yourself at the consulate or embassy. But they are in Moscow, St. Petersburg and cities Far East. Residents of other cities will have to pay visa centers for sending documents.

Japanese visa (Photo © Max Braun / flickr.com)

Hotel prices in Japan in 2019

Search for housing in Japan, starting with the cheapest capsule hotels and ending with elite ryokans, we recommend Roomguru - it compares the prices of different services.

• Capsule hotels in Tokyo cost from $16 per person.
• A double room in a guesthouse in Tokyo costs from US$27 per night.
• In a 2 * hotel - from $ 45 per day (for example, in Hotel Meigetsu).
• In a 3* hotel - from $55 (Hotel Mystays Asakusa-bashi).
• In a 5* hotel - from $100 (Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo).

The cost of traveling to Japan will increase if you choose to live in ryokan(ryokan) - a traditional Japanese-style inn. In ryokans, the floor is paved with tatami, instead of beds there are futons, and guests are given national slippers and bathrobes. Sometimes there is an onsen - hot spring. The cheapest ones in Tokyo cost $70-80 for two, usually with a shared bathroom. From $100 are ryokans with their own bathroom. $150-300 - spacious ryokans with onsen in other cities of Japan.

Advice: IN major cities You don't have to live downtown. The main thing - close to the subway.

(Photo © Toshihiro Gamo / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Food prices in Japan in 2019

Food in Japan is delicious, fresh and relatively inexpensive! Dishes are prepared from natural, minimally processed ingredients. Rice, noodles, seafood and meat are the basis of the diet. As in China, there is no language problem when ordering dishes: the cafe has realistic food models, the menu has a photo.

To correctly calculate the cost of a trip to Japan, you need to know the approximate cost of food. On average, breakfast will cost about 400-500 ¥ per person - about the same price, for example, udon noodles with tofu, ramen, curry rice. Tea or water is provided free of charge. Some establishments serve combo breakfasts for ¥300-400.

For a hearty lunch or dinner in a cafe, it will take 1000-1500 ¥ per person. And if you are used to eating a little, then for two! In general, in inexpensive establishments, a dish costs an average of 500-800 ¥, in a restaurant - from 1000 ¥.

Unusual and tasty food can be in conveyor restaurant(kaitenzushi). You are sitting at a table, and ready meals are passing by on a conveyor belt. A plate with two rolls or sushi costs from ¥105. The price of a dish can be found by the color of the dishes. At the end, they count on empty plates. Tea and ginger - free and unlimited. Restaurant chain examples: Sushizanmai, Kappa-sushi, Hamazushi, Sushiro.

How to save money on food in Japan:

• In supermarkets from 20:00 or 21:00, 20-50% discounts on ready-made food or products whose expiration date is running out. Examples: Seiyu, Ito-Yokado, OK-mart.
• Buy bento - lunch box, lunch in a box. Inexpensive, convenient and very popular in Japan. It costs from 300 to 1000 ¥ depending on the content.
• You can eat inexpensively in restaurants of Indian, Chinese, Korean and other cuisines, which are focused on local residents.
• Delicious and cheap - family restaurants(family restaurant).
• As a last resort, you can buy ready-made inexpensive food in round-the-clock minimarkets (combines) Lawson, 7 Eleven, Family Mart. However, there it is more expensive than in ordinary supermarkets.

A Japanese woman tries Russian sushi. What rolls are not in Japan

If you want to cut down on the cost of a self-guided trip to Japan, cook your own. For example, cook breakfasts and dinners, and have lunch in a cafe. Vegetables and fruits in Japan are expensive, they are usually sold by the piece. Meat is also expensive.

Here are the prices for food in stores in Japan in 2019:

• bread - 70-130¥;
• sandwiches - 180-350¥;
• milk (1 l) - 180¥;
• eggs (10 pcs) - ¥230-250;
• shrimp (1 kg) - 1000 ¥;
• scallops (1 kg) - 1000¥;
• potatoes (1 kg) - 390¥;
• tomatoes (1 kg) - 730¥;
• apples (1 kg) - 200-660¥;
• oranges (1 kg) - 580¥;
• beer - ¥80-200;
• ready-made salads - from ¥400;
• bento - ¥300-1000;
• sushi sets or rolls - ¥300-1500;
• desserts and pastries - ¥100-400.

Prices for attractions in Japan

In Japan, every prefecture, every city has its own wealth! We will focus on the sights of Tokyo. Here are the prices for some interesting places:

• Shinjuku Goen Imperial Park - ¥200;
• Ueno Zoo - ¥600 for adults, free for children;
• Tokyo National Museum- 620¥;
• Nezu Museum - ¥1000;
• Tokyo TV Tower - 1600¥.
• Hot springs (onsen) - 1500-2000 ¥.

In addition, many things in Tokyo can be visited for free. Among them Imperial Palace(book in advance), the Kaminarimon "Gate of Thunder", as well as some parks and temples.

(Photo © Loïc Lagarde / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Transport cost in Japan

Metro and trains. Without a train in Japan is difficult. Main railway company - Japan Rail ways (JR). Especially for tourists, she created a travel card JR Pass. It is valid for visitors only and is issued before traveling to Japan on the JR Pass website. The document will be sent by e-mail. Then, in Japan, at the subway station, find the counter of the company and exchange it for a travel card.

JR Pass is valid for all company transport: shinkansen, some subway lines and many suburban trains. This is a proprietary document and cannot be passed on to others. The most important thing is that it cannot be lost, because the card will not be reissued. It is expensive: for 7 days - $264, for 14 days - $422, for 21 days - $542.

The cost of a trip on the Japanese subway depends on the zones into which the subway lines in major cities of the country are divided. Trains run every 5 minutes, from 5:00 to 23:30, sometimes until midnight. The color of the wagon corresponds to the line it follows. The fare depends on the distance and the city. For example, in Tokyo it fluctuates in the range of ¥120-320 per trip. A 1-day pass costs ¥1000.

Buses inconvenient for the tourist, since the numbers and names of the routes are almost always written in hieroglyphs. On average, buses run from 7:00 to 21:00, but in some areas the departure is earlier (from 5:30), and ends later (until 23:30). The cost of one trip by bus and tram is 220-420¥.

Taxi in Japan - an expensive pleasure:

• landing - 580-720 ¥;
• for every 280 meters - 80¥;
• for every 135 seconds of downtime - 90¥.

Better take the subway! In addition, from 23:00 to 06:00, taxi drivers already carry at a night rate with a 30% extra charge.

If you want to get from the airport to your place of residence by taxi, and the hotel does not provide a transfer, we recommend ordering a car in advance at.

How much does a trip to Japan cost - 2019

Let's calculate how much it costs for an independent trip to Japan from Russia in 2019 for two for 7 days (in rubles and dollars):

• tickets from Moscow to Tokyo - $910;
• budget hotel - $27;
• three meals a day - $44;
• JR Pass for 7 days - $264.

So, the minimum cost of a trip to Japan in 2019 for 7 days is $1671, that is 110 thousand rubles. Add to this the cost of sending documents to the embassy (if you live in the region), attractions and souvenirs.

Intro image source: © halfrain / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Until this day, the blog published only articles that came out from under my crooked pen. But for the sake of an article from my classmate Rimma_in_Israel, which I like to read since the time of school notes, it is really worth making an exception. Moreover, this article will be about the country that I have been dreaming of for a very long time - Japan. After a two week trip to Japanese cities and all, Rimma dispelled some of her and our common stereotypes, and wrote a minimum instruction for use (the maximum will be published in several volumes). I hope that by the end of the article, for all of us, the dream of going to Japan will become much more real.

Preparing for a trip to Japan

What do we think about representing Japan? Sumo, sushi, sake, ... Why does everything start with an "s"? Okay, there's also kimonos, Fujiyama, Hiroshima, chopsticks, ninjas, totoros, and scary and terrible characters.

Japan has been my secret dream for a long time and was as far away as possible, until I heard that my husband was planning a tour of the orchestra. Talking about the trip, I realized how many people actually want to go there and, just like me, put off the idea because it's far, expensive, strange and scary. I hope that the experience of our trip will serve as an impetus, a base or a good adviser for those who want, but are afraid to afford a trip to this exotic country.

Lyrical digression: the author of this opus has never been fond of Japan, he doesn’t speak Japanese, he doesn’t watch Japanese films except for films with Jackie Chan, from Japanese food he loves rolls most of all, he can’t stand rice and, in addition, he’s not a Buddhist or a Shintoist. That is, if I spelled a word incorrectly or misinterpreted some event, this is not out of harm, but because of the short time I got to know the country. If this material is not enough for you, I will gladly share with you links (to English language) bloggers who have visited or lived in Japan. And, of course, there is also the wonderful Vinsky forum, where there are a lot of useful information in Russian.

Visa to Japan

Any travel preparation begins with visa requirements checks. Israelis do not require an entry visa up to 90 days.

In 2017, the conditions for obtaining a visa for Russians were softened. Now you can submit documents to the consulate on your own and get a visa within a week.

However, if you feel sorry for the time, you want to be sure of the result and certainly fulfill your Japanese dream, contact the Visa Application Center.

From this year you don't need an invitation Japanese side and getting a visa is free. List of required documents:

（1）Visa application form 2 copies (printed on two sheets and completed in English on a computer or manually, with pasted photos)

（2）Photos 2 pcs. 4.5 by 4.5 cm colored or black and white without corners on a light background

（3） Passport

（4）Copy of internal passport

（5）Documents confirming the ability to pay for the trip (certificate from the place of work on the amount of salary / certificate from the bank)

（6）Residence program (filled in English)

（7）Ticket Booking Confirmation

（8）Power of Attorney if you are not applying in person

Documents must be submitted personally or with the help of a trusted person.

Flights to Japan

The next item is the search for air tickets. We were looking for tickets five months before departure and the cheapest option from Israel was Aeroflot for $700 (about 10 hours flying from Moscow to Tokyo). They also fly from us via France, Finland and Hong Kong, these flights cost about $1,500 or more.

Tourist season in Japan

Second important point is choice of travel time. There are 2 seasons in Japan that are especially popular with tourists (and locals):

• cherry blossoms in April - May (the so-called "Golden Week" of early May falls there, when the Japanese themselves take days off and also travel around the country)
• October - November with colorful leaves.

We ended up by chance in the "off season", and still all the tourist places were filled. Another detail - it gets dark early in winter (Captain Obviousness, hello), so after five in the evening it will a) be much more difficult to photograph, b) tourist places will be closed.

Choosing a hotel in Japan

I think everyone is looking for hotels according to their preferences, I will tell you about ours. And Tokyo, and Kyoto and other large cities that we visited (Osaka, Hiroshima), it is impossible to embrace, moving only on our own two feet. Therefore, the criteria are as follows:

1. Distance to bus stop (Kyoto) or subway stop (Tokyo). It is quite good if it is the intersection of several metro lines. We were lucky - in Tokyo we were close to a major transport hub: several branches of the city subway, a private line going to the airport, the JR (Japan Railways) intracity line

2. Availability within walking distance or within a few stops of significant attractions for you

3. Price (and what did you think?!)

4. Estimated quality for your money (bathroom and toilet in the room, the presence / absence of breakfast, a kettle, a refrigerator, etc.).
One of interesting options Feel the culture of Japan can be a night in a hotel made in an authentic Japanese style. Such a hotel is called a ryokan (ryokan). Usually these are rooms decorated with natural materials, with a minimum of furniture and decor. We had a small square room, the whole room was wood paneled, the furniture was a small table and bedside table. Mattresses (tatami) and bedding were laid out at night.

What you need to understand about choosing a hotel in Japan: if we are talking about three stars and below, most often the room is very small. And of course, if you like black tea more than green tea, buy it yourself, the hotel will have either green tea or coffee.

From sanitary and hygiene products, hotels provide: face gel, toothbrush, disposable razor, in large bottles (not disposable) - shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. Even in 3-star hotels they give bathrobes or pajamas. But they don't give soap. And I really counted on him. Don't repeat my mistakes!

Japanese transportation system

This topic deserves a separate post, or even a whole guide. Firstly, transport system(once you understand how it works) is very convenient. Second, it's pretty self-explanatory. I use the word "enough" because it takes some skill and time to adapt. We happened to use an airplane, high-speed train (shinkansen), electric trains, highways, subways and buses inside the city in Japan.

So let's start with the positive:

1. You can plan your trip in advance.

There is a website http://www.hyperdia.com/en/ where you can plan your trip according to your needs, see options and prices. Site in English.

You can get the subway map in the subway itself in front of the turnstiles, it is dubbed in English and Japanese, which will help you a lot if you start asking the Japanese how to get to your destination. If you can't find it, ask the subway employee, the booth is opposite the turnstiles.

You can get the bus map from your hotel. For example, Kyoto bus city. An extensive bus network and decent distances between attractions contribute to the popularity of buses in front of the subway, which is underdeveloped in Kyoto.

2. You can buy tickets yourself (metro, trains, shinkansen) at the machine.

In the machine, you can switch to English, select the destination and the number of tickets, pay in cash or by card. The main thing is to make sure that this particular machine serves this particular type of transport, otherwise you will not find your stop there. For example, pink-rimmed machines in Tokyo serve the JR intracity line, not the subway.

3. If you do not understand something, you can ask the metro employee or other people.

Metro employees understand and can explain themselves in at least minimal English. This is where the subway map in Japanese comes in handy.

4. There are digital screens in the transport itself.(usually) where you can see which station is now and which are next. The information is duplicated in English.

At worst, if there is no screen, the usual scheme of the metro line is located above the doors. Stations are announced.

5. There are signs at the stops., where you can track when the train, bus, subway train arrives.

6. About the Tokyo subway: each station has a color, letter and number designation, they are indicated on the diagram. It is very useful to download an application for a smartphone, I downloaded the first one by searching for “Tokyo metro” (a blue train from Mapway on a white background).

How to navigate the Tokyo subway: choose the branch by color, go through the turnstile, there are signs by color and the last subway stations (sometimes all the big stations are indicated in this direction, choose the last station in which direction you need to go. Reach the desired corridor\ escalator \ stairs - the entire branch is written on top in the appropriate color from this station to the final one with the names and designations "letter-number". Finding a station is much faster than checking all the long station names. The above becomes very relevant if you enter subway with the intersection of three branches and ten entrances.If you need to get out of such a metro - look for an indication of your street or landmark above one of the exits.

7. And finally, if you are told that some line goes to a certain station, but this is not visible on the metro map, most likely I mean private branch. In its name, the name of the usual city metro line is duplicated and a prefix is ​​added. Tickets must be bought in a separate machine, this subway has a separate entrance.

Here's a great example. We stayed at Shimbashi Station (Pink Asakusa Line). The station worker said that we could use our branch line to get to the airport. But on all metro maps Ending station in the direction of Oshiyage Airport (not the airport). On the airport website, there was no subway train among the options, but the Narita Express was. In the end, I guessed that this was not about the Asakusa branch, but about a private branch called Toei Asakusa (Toei Asakusa), the entrance to which is located ten meters before the entrance to the "regular" Asakusa. That is, this private line has a separate entrance, a separate machine for buying tickets, higher ticket prices, other trains (albeit copying the path to Oshiyage Station).

Not forget! Keep the ticket punched at the entrance until the end of the trip - there are also turnstiles at the end!

Although this is not a topic of transport, but if you are the same "toilet duck" as I am, at many stations near the turnstiles (but from the side of the station itself, and not the street) there is a toilet and a pretty decent one. By decent, I mean you don't want to roll up your pants to your hips before visiting and wash your hands up to your elbows after using the restroom.

Eating in Japan (Forget Philadelphia)

Food is an even bigger topic than transportation. And she deserves a separate post (I solemnly promise). Food in Japan is more than food (like in Israel, but in a different style).

Things to keep in mind: food in Japan is very fresh - sushi, noodles, meats, street food and pastries - everything. The only time we felt sick after eating was a restaurant in the tourist area of ​​Kyoto with a hint of European style. But perhaps it's not the freshness of the food that's to blame, but the fact that it was a combo lunch.

Specific cafes in Tokyo and Kyoto that I can recommend, ask in the comments - according to the tradition introduced on this site, we will send addresses to appear by mail.

The Japanese and what they eat with

Naturally, it is impossible to understand everything about everyone in 2 weeks, so I will tell you about two striking features that I noticed:

1. The Japanese are very friendly people. They are always trying to help you. Even if they do not know the language or go about their business somewhere.

2. The Japanese have rules. There are no deviations from the rules. It is impossible to beg, convince, demand something that goes beyond the rules (regulations, restrictions). Like robots, they will follow instructions. Any deviation from the required behavior causes them to boil, even if it is a tourist who is not familiar with the rules. Therefore, do not try, unless, of course, you are a fan of trolling others.

From the Good to Know series:

• In Japan, people smoke in designated areas.
• Don't eat outside, or at least don't eat on the go
• Do not speak on the phone public transport
• There are problems with urns on the streets (there are not enough of them)
• Perhaps one of the most important details all sockets are of a different type (American). Buying adapters is not a problem - in any supermarket "7/11", "Family mart", which can be found every hundred meters.
• Also, keep in mind that in Japan prefer cash. Almost everywhere you can only pay in cash.

Japanese vs tourists

The Japanese do not know English from the word "at all", except: people in suits in Tokyo, sellers in major centers, employees of the subway (slightly). Everyone else may not understand such words as: how much, where, how, price, train, bus, hotel (that is, very common words). If you have a map where Japanese words are duplicated, that's a big plus. Or the Internet, then you can use a translator and a map. I highly recommend connect internet, it will solve many problems that we encountered during our trip.

I think this information is enough for the initial acquaintance. But is it enough to make you want to book flights without looking?

It is the cherished dream of many Russians. However, not everyone manages to fulfill it because of the high cost of this trip. The Land of the Rising Sun is considered one of the most expensive in the world, and Tokyo has been in the top five most expensive cities for tourists for several years. But still, nothing can stop someone who wants to see Fujiyama and cherry blossoms in spring with their own eyes. Our article is for such travelers, here we have collected the most important information, which will allow you to spend an inexpensive and interesting vacation in original Japan.

A little about the country

If you are planning a trip to Japan, prepare to be amazed. You will have to do this all the time, because the Land of the Rising Sun cannot be compared with other Asian states. There is nothing from China, Vietnam or Thailand, but, nevertheless, traveling through Japan, you seem to penetrate into the very heart of Asia and hear it beating on every street of noisy megacities.

Tourists are attracted here by an incredible combination modern technologies with ancient traditions that are strictly observed by every generation of the Japanese family. If you are lucky, you can see a colorful festival dedicated to, for example, kokeshi Or sit quietly in the garden, enjoying the beauty of cherry blossoms at sunrise or sunset. And in megacities you will be met by numerous cafes, shops and shopping centers. Here you can buy something, dine, and in some even stay overnight. In general, a trip to Japan will be the biggest and most significant adventure in your life. And, which is doubly pleasant, you will never regret the money spent on it.

Japan: solo or group trip?

First of all, before traveling to the Land of the Rising Sun, you need to decide on the budget and travel options. And there are few of them - a group trip to Japan or an independent one. What to choose? It directly depends on your budget and opportunities.

Traveling to Japan on your own is quite possible, but it will require very careful preparation. You will have to think through absolutely everything:

• flight to Japan;
• hotel booking;
• route of movement around the country;
• food outlets and excursion program;
• money exchange options;
• types of communication with the local population.

All these aspects have a good travel will take you a very long time, and also require some experience in independent trips. In addition, on the road you will meet certain difficulties, which can only be overcome by unspoiled and sociable tourists. For example, it is worth knowing that in Japan, few people from local population knows English. Therefore, you will not be able to simply ask a passer-by for directions. Perhaps, after some time, a young Japanese who knows the basics of the English language will come across, but there is a high probability that this will not happen. In addition, the inscriptions in the country are not duplicated, they are all written in hieroglyphs. This fact significantly complicates the rest in Japan.

If the above difficulties scare you, then it is better to buy a travel package. Of course, it is not cheap, but you will be free from all worries, including visa ones.

Travel cost

If you are planning a flight from Moscow, then two weeks in Japan will cost you one hundred and fifty thousand rubles. This amount includes flights, travel around the country, accommodation and several excursions. Meals are based on the breakfast system, the remaining meals the tourist must pay for on their own. A trip to Japan from Vladivostok is much cheaper. Our compatriots can choose a ferry tour, which costs about sixty thousand rubles on average. From Vladivostok, you can get to the Land of the Rising Sun in different ways and with various travel packages on hand. This is the most popular tourist destination for locals.

Reviews about independent travel in Japan allow you to plan your trip perfectly and save a lot of money. On average, brave tourists can spend thirty to forty thousand less on a trip than when buying a tour. This money will be very useful to you on vacation, because you can bring quite a lot of useful things home from the Land of the Rising Sun. How to plan budget travel to Japan on our own, we will tell you a little later. And now let's try to find out the most important aspects of preparing for the trip.

When to go to Japan?

A big trip to Japan can be planned for any time of the year, but traditionally tourists try to visit the country in spring or autumn. During these seasons, the Land of the Rising Sun appears in a particularly beautiful form. In spring, she is dressed in pink foam of sakura flowers, and in autumn she simply hurts her eyes from red maple leaves. It seems that they are everywhere here, and the Japanese even came up with some special rituals for observing this beauty.

In winter, you can ski in Japan, several main resorts are characterized by high comfort and are equipped with the latest technology. But for those who are not attracted to skiing, it will be quite uncomfortable to see Japanese sights in winter and enjoy the trip. In addition, in the winter season it can be very windy in the country, which is rather unusual for most of our compatriots.

In summer, the country is very hot and stuffy. Air conditioners are everywhere in the cities, and tourists suffer from temperature fluctuations. Many people take sweaters or jackets with them to wear in restaurants or shopping malls. But if you prefer beach holiday then go to Okinawa. Here you will receive an incredible level of service and enjoy swimming under the hot sun.

Where to go in Japan?

If you take the trouble to study reviews of independent travel in Japan, then it's easy to make your own travel itinerary. For the first time, a week will be enough for you to get acquainted with the Land of the Rising Sun. The following cities are suitable for this:

• Tokyo.
• Nara.
• Kyoto.

moving between settlements on high-speed trains, in seven days you will see beautiful parks, bathe in hot springs, visit the most famous temples and, of course, taste the bustling and noisy life of megacities.

If you are already a little familiar with travel, you can choose slightly different ones, and increase your stay in this country to two weeks. During this period, tourists will be able to see Hiroshima, Osaka, Kobe and others extraordinary places. In general, you can plan to visit one city per day. In this case, the trip program will be very rich.

Applying for a visa: nuances and features

Any trip to Japan begins with the most difficult thing - obtaining a visa. This is not possible for every even a very experienced tourist. The thing is that in order to obtain a visa, Russians need a special letter on official letterhead. In addition to it, you will need to confirm the hotel reservation (and this is quite problematic when traveling on your own) and send a package of documents using special mail (the shipping cost will be at least seventy dollars).

Many of our compatriots negotiate with travel companies and pay for their visas. It usually takes two weeks and saves a lot of time.

Accommodation in Japan: where is the best place to stay?

To remember your trip to Japan for a long time, you need to take photos almost everywhere. special attention deserve hotels and small hotels. It is worth noting that in the Land of the Rising Sun there is a fairly large selection of places to stay. But, if you want to save a little, then all of them will be very unusual and entertaining.

Many tourists stay overnight at spas. Don't be surprised, it's pretty common in Japan. For about thirty-five dollars you get a small room with a bathtub and a sunbed. There will also be a TV and all other amenities, and you can go down to the restaurant for dinner. Various treatments and massages are available for guests.

This is exotic for Russians. They are quite inexpensive and have a very high level of comfort. There are even double capsules for traveling couples. This pleasure will cost approximately thirty-five dollars per night.

Love hotels seem very unusual place to spend the night. These facilities are intended for love dates and provide the opportunity to rent from one hour to several days. These hotels are decorated quite exotic, but equipped with the highest class. In addition, they are much cheaper than regular rooms. A night in such a hotel will cost from eighty to one hundred and fifty dollars.

Meals while traveling

Of course, you can eat daily in restaurants, but budget holiday does not include such luxury. Therefore, make your choice in favor of Japanese fast food, it is extremely healthy and tasty here. No hamburgers or fries, just seaweed, sushi and seafood. Such a pleasure will cost approximately 5-6 dollars.

If the choice of dishes in a cafe confuses you a little with a large number of incomprehensible names, then buy a ready-made lunch in a supermarket. Its cost will be the same as in a cafe, and through a transparent film you will always see the contents of the package.

gourmet trip

Experienced tourists choose a special type of vacation - a culinary trip to Japan. It is worth noting that this is something incredible. Of course, there are still few Russians who are ready to spend money on such a tour, but their number is increasing every year. What is it that attracts gourmets in the Land of the Rising Sun? Of course, restaurants with Michelin stars.

The fact is that as soon as Tokyo was included in the Michelin guide, restaurants with stars appeared in it. And tourists who want to experience gastronomic delight rushed to them. Annually, the number of restaurants with haute cuisine is increasing and Tokyo has already significantly surpassed the recognized gastronomic center - Paris in these characteristics.

For example, in the oldest quarter Tokyo, Ginze, are sushi restaurants with three Michelin stars. One of them employs the chef Jiro, about whom feature films have even been made. His work seems to be a real art, and the price of the dishes prepared by him exceeds several thousand dollars.

Every city in Japan has its own culinary traditions, so gourmets in search of a special taste can travel all over the country. One of the most popular Japanese foods is noodles. There are just a lot of options for its preparation - boil, fry, steam, and the like. Each region in the country has its own recipe. It can be said that culinary tour allows tourists to discover new facets of an already familiar country.

money exchange

With the exchange of money at many inexperienced tourists problems often arise. Keep in mind that buying yen is best done at home. Otherwise, you can get into a very unpleasant situation, because in many ATMs and terminals the card of the European payment system may not be accepted. This is due to the fact that Japanese terminals operate on their own system. Only a few ATMs in large shopping centers calmly accept absolutely all bank cards.

It will not always be possible to exchange money in a bank, because tourists can get on holidays, and it is impossible to exist in Japan without money. That's why experienced travelers advised to carry the bulk of the money in cash, and on bank card leave funds to pay for restaurants and purchases.

Going to the Land of the Rising Sun, tourists need to know a few simple rules for staying in Japan, which will make the trip easier. We have compiled the most important recommendations:

• Don't try to tip in Japan, don't do it. There is no tipping system throughout the country.
• In Japanese bars, in honor of a friendly disposition, it is customary to pour alcoholic drinks from your own bottle, so if you are honored with such an honor, be sure to make a return gesture of respect.
• Never point at objects and people with your finger - this is extremely impolite, but you can show yourself.
• In a restaurant, it is enough to wave your hand in front of your nose, as the waiter will remove the dirty plates.
• In the Land of the Rising Sun, it is customary to take off your shoes in many rooms. You may be asked to take off your shoes in some areas of a restaurant, hotel, apartment building, temple, and so on. It is considered especially indecent to step on the mat with a shod foot; this is perceived as an insult.

• When going to the hot springs, keep in mind that those who have tattoos on their bodies are escorted to separate baths. They are not allowed to be in a common room with other vacationers.
• When you receive an invitation, be sure to bring a gift with you. This is considered a sign of courtesy and respect.

Of course, it is difficult to list all the nuances of traveling through the Land of the Rising Sun, because a lot is known only after an independent trip.

Japan, travel: reviews

Not a single tourist had an angry comment about Japan, in any case, we did not meet such. This means only one thing - you can and should go to this country. It will reveal a lot of interesting things even to those who are very poorly aware of the culture and traditions of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Experienced tourists prefer Japan to everyone else Asian countries. Ask them why. We think the explanation will take several hours. After all, to describe this amazing country and her people in a nutshell is simply impossible. Travelers are delighted with the historical monuments of Japan, its cities, cuisine and original traditions. Tourists say that you can come here many times, and each time you find something unusually exciting for yourself.

What do you need to decide on a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun? Yes, quite a bit - desire, the spirit of adventurism and more money. And then you can tell your friends when you return home about what incredible journey in Japan you had.

May 24th, 2016 03:59 am

Before describing the beauty, unusualness and attractiveness of Japan, I would like to give a few practical advice and answer questions that I myself had when planning a trip to Japan.

1. Route through Japan. How to build? What to see? How to choose?

When planning my route, I focused on the historical sights of Japan, deciding that I would like to see Kyoto more than Hiroshima. Here, of course, everything is individual, but for example, here is my route for 10 days plus the day of arrival and the day of departure:

Arrival day and one full day in Tokyo - two days in Nikko - five days in Kyoto with trips to Himeji, Nara and Osaka - passing through Kamakura - a day and a half in Tokyo.

Great website in English detailed information about the sights of Japan, opening hours, recommendations on how to get there, etc. - http://www.japan-guide.com/ . It was this site that helped me plan the route by day, and it was from there that I printed out the name of all the places I needed in Japanese - it helped a lot when traveling in a taxi!

2. When to go to Japan?

Again, it's all very subjective! Traditionally, there are two periods when everyone aspires to Japan. The first, of course, is cherry blossom (as a rule, from the end of March to the beginning of April). The second is the time of "red leaves", in our opinion - golden autumn =)

It is very hot in Japan in summer and quite chilly in winter. The weather in May suited me completely - almost all days it was over 20C, we walked in T-shirts and shorts, and only a couple of days it rained.

3. How to travel by train and metro? Why do I need a Suica card?

Japan has a very developed network of railway transport, which, unlike Russia, is owned not by Russian Railways alone, but by several private companies, which, of course, have their own trains and platforms and their own tickets. IN big cities to this are added the lines of the underground and elevated metro and monorail, which can drive the unprepared traveler crazy.

To prevent this from happening, the Japanese made a website where you can get directions by specifying the destination stations. The smart system will offer you several route options, calculated by minutes, with platforms, lines, travel time and cost. The name of this router is http://www.hyperdia.com . Unfortunately, their iPhone application cannot be downloaded in Russia, so you have to use the site.

The cost of a trip on public transport in Japan depends on the distance traveled. At each station, giant maps hang above the ticket vending machines, listing fares to different stations. Looking at these cards, you feel dizzy, you want to hide in a corner and, clasping your arms around yourself, cry =)) Therefore, to make your site easier, you need to purchase a card on which a certain amount of money is put and debited when passing turnstiles - and you do not need to rack your brains over the cost tickets and waste time buying tickets at a vending machine or ticket office. The most common such card is Suica. It can also be used to pay in supermarkets like a regular credit card, spend the balance at the airport or return it after receiving a deposit of 500 yen (~ 300 rubles).

Suica balance is replenished through machines at any metro station.

For big cities with tons of subway lines like Tokyo or Kyoto, the Suica card is indispensable!

4. What is Japan rail pass? Is he needed?

As I mentioned, the railway network in Japan is owned by different companies, but JR is considered the largest carrier. Their branches cover almost all of Japan, they are the "owners" of high-speed trains, the so-called. shinsansen.
Transport in Japan is very expensive. For example, a Tokyo-Kyoto trip will cost ~ 8,500 rubles one way per person!

To alleviate the plight of travelers, JR offer the so-called. Japan Rail Pass - Peculiar all inclusive 7 or 14 day pass that allows unlimited use of JR lines.

The JR Pass voucher can only be purchased Foreign citizens and only outside of Japan. There are several authorized offices that sell passes, it seems that there are even offices in Moscow. But I ordered online here https://www.japan-rail-pass.com. Vouchers delivered by Fedex 3 days after purchase!

Upon arrival at the airport, vouchers must be exchanged directly for a JR Pass at the JR East counter.

The cost of the pass is rather big - $260 for a week or $420 for 14 days. It is easy to understand whether the cost of a pass in your case can be paid off - make a route of your movements on the website http://www.hyperdia.com and calculate the total cost of tickets that you will have to buy without a pass. In principle, the pass pays off with the Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo route alone. If the cost turns out to be slightly less than or equal (or even more so) than the cost of the JR Pass - feel free to buy it! The pass saves a lot of time - show it to the controller when passing through the turnstile and go! No cashiers, no tickets, no queues..

By the way, JR Pass also covers the cost of an express from Tokyo (Narita) Airport to the city, and it costs about 1,500 rubles!

However, it is worth remembering that some trains (especially high-speed or long distance) require seat reservation - in this case, you just need to go to the ticket office, show a printout of your route (I just took a screenshot from the hyperdia website and showed it to the cashier on the phone) and you will be given free tickets indicating the car and seats.

A few words about the Green JR Pass - such a pass gives you the right to travel in extra-comfort carriages. The seats in such cars are wider and more comfortable, there is more legroom and fewer people. But in general, there is not much difference. Our trip fell on the peak season (public holidays "Golden Week", when the Japanese massively travel around their country), and besides, we had men under two meters tall in our company, so we bought a Green JR Pass, which cost ~ 150 dollars more expensive (~$90 cheaper for a week pass).

JR Pass is also sold for children aged 6-11 and costs 2 times cheaper than an adult ticket.

Conveniently, JR Pass does not have to be activated by the date of the voucher exchange at the airport - you can specify any date! For example, if your trip will last 10 days, but only days 3-9 will be active for movement between cities, feel free to activate the pass from the 3rd day and in this case, a week pass will be enough for you.

5. How is the Internet access? Do our mobile phones work in Japan?

We had MTS and Megafon on iPhone and Samsung phones - cellular communication worked perfectly everywhere!

In my opinion, Mobile Internet essential when traveling in Japan! Plot a route? Check train departure time? Read about the attraction? This almost always requires the Internet! You can get it in two ways - by renting a phone with a Japanese SIM card or a portable wi-fi router. All these services are offered immediately at the airport.

I decided to leave my phone - it's more comfortable and convenient for me. But I ordered a wi-fi router (in order to save time) online in advance here: https://www.econnectjapan.com/. The envelope was waiting for me at the hotel reception, the kit included an additional charger (very necessary thing, since the charging of the router itself is enough for half a day), as well as an envelope with a return address, in which on the last day I just put the router with all the bells and whistles, sealed it and threw it into the first mailbox I came across.

Router with maximum speed(you could at least download a movie!), the ability to connect up to 10 devices cost me ~ 3,600 rubles for 12 days of use. Behind early booking give discounts.

6. Luggage delivery within Japan? Is it true that you can send luggage to the next hotel, and go yourself with a minimum of things?

I don't know other countries, except Switzerland, where there is such a mega convenient and inexpensive (this does not apply to Switzerland =) way to move luggage between cities.

Imagine - in the morning you check-out at a hotel in Tokyo and move to Kyoto, deciding to visit a few more along the way. interesting places. And all this time you are dragging a suitcase with you, rushing around the stations with it in search of the right line, looking for a luggage room of the right size so that waypoints destination at least the city is normal to see ... Represented? Now think about how much your life has become better, because you travel light - with a backpack or handbag, and your Tokyo hotel sent your suitcase to the Kyoto one!

This amazing service costs ~ 900 rubles for a large 25 kg suitcase. You can drop off your suitcase directly at the reception of most hotels or at any collection point (http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/en/), and you can also pick it up at your next hotel or selected collection point.

The only negative is that you need to give your suitcase before 12 noon on the day following the day of your check-in at the next place.

7. Is it possible to pay credit cards in Japan? How to withdraw cash from an ATM in Japan?

Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere except for some taxis, restaurants and souvenir shops. Of course, paying in cash is much faster and more convenient - for example, when buying tickets to temples.

There are currency exchange points, but they still need to be looked for. And if you fall in the period public holidays, then the opening of the bank will have to wait =)

We are proponents of cash withdrawals from ATMs. What a shock we had when the cash began to run out, and the ATMs of different banks into which we tried to put our cards were either only in Japanese (!), Or they rejected the operation under various pretexts like "wrong pin", " authorization failed", "try later"!

An Internet friend helped, who said that Japanese ATMs work on some other platform that is not compatible with the platform of European banks and therefore they do not consider our bank cards as human! =)) There are only a few banks whose ATMs are kind to tourists , - the largest of them is 7 Bank, which is owned by - ta-da-dam! - Seven-Eleven supermarket chain, so almost every supermarket has an ATM suitable for international cards!

8. Tax free in Japan

VAT in Japan is small, about 8% (but still money!) and is provided for purchases over 5,000 yen.
Tax Free can be provided in two ways. 1) In small stores, a discount is made immediately at the checkout and you pay a smaller amount. 2) In large department stores, after paying for the goods at full price, you must go to the counter tax free and get a cash refund.

In both cases, a receipt will be attached to your passport with a stapler (!) and stamped, and the goods will be packed in sealed bags as in duty free(Clothes are placed in a regular bag). Further, according to the rules kindly given in the brochure that you will be given in the store, shopping bags (without unpacking!) must be presented at the airport (before check-in - if you check in your luggage) or after passport control (if you take the purchase in hand luggage) .

In practice, which is confirmed by my experience and the reviews of other travelers that I have studied on this issue, no one looks at purchases, and you can either tear off checks from your passport yourself or go to the Customs window after passing through security and good Japanese customs officers, who, in theory, should check your purchases, take the checks from your passport (even despite the list and the cost of what you bought!), smile and let go in peace.

I took out all my purchases from the bags, took off the packaging and other tinsel that took up space (I bought mostly cosmetics), packed it into a suitcase, which I put in my luggage. I did not have any problems with the return of tax free.

9. Visa to Japan

About getting a visa to Japan, I already wrote a separate post on my blog, who are interested and relevant - come in =)

There is an opinion that Japan dear country and only well-to-do citizens can afford a tour to Japan. Let's try to dispel this myth and turn to the facts from the world of prices.

Food in Japan
A cup of coffee in a Japanese cafeteria will cost you 60 rubles (180 yen), a sandwich for this coffee (a McDonald's hamburger) - 30 rubles (80 yen). If your preference is for strong drinks, then a can of beer will cost your wallet 93 rubles (280 yen), and a bottle of whiskey 350 rubles (1050 yen). Dinner for one person in an inexpensive Japanese restaurant of the "conveyor" type will cost 236 rubles (710 yen). If you prefer more expensive cuisine V national traditions Japan, then dinner at the Izakaya Diner Bar will cost your wallet 700 rubles (2,000 yen).

Japan transport
If your trip to Japan involves transfers and excursions to various cultural centers Japan, then you can make them both on railway transport (ticket JR PASS for 7 days costs 12,000 rubles) or by car (travel by bus Tokyo - Kyoto will cost 1,080 rubles (5,000 yen)), so, and using the flight to domestic airlines Japan (the flight will cost about 3,600 rubles (11,000 yen) for one leg of the journey).
Japan Hotels
If you are not embarrassed by the neighborhood with young people, then accommodation in a hotel for students will cost 1000 rubles / day (3000 yen). A Japanese-style hotel "Ryokan" will cost 1670 rubles / day (5000 yen).

Tipping in Japan
Tipping is not accepted in Japan. Even if you persistently offer money as a tip, no one in Japan will take it - not a hotel servant, not even a taxi driver. They will refuse you as politely as possible, proudly declaring that he (she) receives an appropriate and quite decent salary for his work. So leave all your worries about tips. Pay by invoice. This will be quite enough for your wallet to lose a lot of weight. But on the other hand, any of your any reasonable desire will be satisfied by representatives of the Japanese service without unnecessary altercation. In hotels and restaurants, the so-called Service charge (5-10%) will be automatically added to the bill.
As can be seen from this brief digression to the price area of ​​Japan, the country rising sun not so accessible. At the same time, a tour to Japan will certainly be remembered by you for a lifetime and will be remembered as one of best trips outside of our boundless homeland.

Visa to Japan
Tourist visa for citizens Russian Federation allows you to stay in Japan for up to 15 days. A prerequisite for obtaining a Japanese tourist visa is a hotel booking for the entire stay. The term for issuing a visa at the embassy is from 4 days to a month. A transit Japanese visa allows citizens of the Russian Federation to stay in Tokyo and its environs for up to 72 hours. Obtaining a transit Japanese visa is possible only if the tourist flies through Japan to a 3rd country where there is no direct non-stop flight from Moscow. For example, Australia, New Zealand, numerous countries and islands in pacific ocean(including Malaysia, Indonesia, Tahiti, Northern Mariana Islands, Fiji, etc.). A prerequisite for obtaining a transit visa is the presence of an air ticket with a fixed date of departure from Tokyo and a visa of the 3rd country. Wherein connecting flights should be as close as possible to each other in time. The term for issuing a visa at the embassy is 4 days. Also, a visa can be opened upon arrival at the Narita airport.

Opening hours of institutions, shops and museums in Japan
Huge department stores, 10-15 floors, are open every day from 10.00 to 21.00 or 22:00. Private shops, as well as shops at hotels, work according to their own schedule. There is also a chain of convenience stores that are open 24/7 but offer a limited range of products. Most museums are open to visitors from 9 am to 5 pm daily, except national holidays. Post office is open at weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm. Bank services can be used on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm.

Electricity in Japan
Mains voltage - 100 volts / 60 Hz.

Telephone in Japan
Japan has a different standard. cellular communication 3 G, in order for your phone to work in Japan, you need a device with support for 3 G format, most phones released recently have this function.

Japanese Relationships and Etiquette
The rules of etiquette are especially important in Japan and serve as a "social lubricant" in this overpopulated country. In recent decades, these rules have partially lost their strictness, but even a spirited Japanese will not break some of them. The norms of behavior are often determined by the situation and position of the interlocutors. A foreigner will be forgiven for any mistake, however good manners will earn you respect. It is best to keep a close eye on the situation, avoid loud or categorical statements and follow the example of others.