I am thinking of going to japan for 2 weeks next June? However i am not willing to spend the £4000-£6000 it?

Question:

costs for a guided tour. Is it possible to b able to see Japan by myself with the use of their underground system without any problems?

All advice much appreciated.

Thanks

Answer:

You don't necessary need a guided tour of Japan and it is quite easy to get around on your own. Japan has one of the world`s best transport systems, and getting around is usually a breeze with the train being the most popular method. Japan`s railways are fast, efficient and cover most of the country. If you plan to do a lot of travelling in Japan then it is worth getting the Japan Rail Pass, which allows unlimited travel on almost all JR trains, including the shinkansen (excluding the Nozomi superexpress). This pass can only be purchased outside of Japan.

To figure out if a JR Pass would be worth it or not for you, use Hyperdia’s website http://www.hyperdia.com/ to figure out how much your planned trips might cost, and compare it to the cost of a JR Pass.

A lot of people in major cities and tourist areas can speak and understand basic English. Big cities like Tokyo have lots of signs in English and most tourist can get around without too much difficulty. I would always recommend learning some Japanese as this will make your experience more enjoyable and a little bit easier.

The must see cities in Japan are Tokyo and Kyoto. Attractions in Tokyo include the Asakusa district famous for Sensoji temple and Nakamise shopping street; Meiji Shrine; The Imperial Palace; Ginza and Harajuku.

Read more about Tokyo here
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2010…

Kyoto attractions include Kiyomizudera; Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion); Ginkakuji (Temple of the Silver Pavilion); Nijo Castle; and Heian Shrine.

Read more about Kyoto here
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2011…

Other places I highly recommend include:

Nara - ancient capital and full of history and old temples
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2010…

Takayama - beautiful city known for its traditional architecture and crafts
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2010…

Hiroshima - beautiful city in Japan that reminds me of my home town of Melbourne in Australia with its green parks and trams
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2010…

Japan on a budget can be done. A regular hotel will set you back about USD$100 a night for a single room or USD$150 for a double. Try a Business Hotel for a good compromise with prices around USD$70 for a single room and USD$100 for a double. I recommend the Toyoko Inn hotel chain located all over Japan.

Prices at regular Japanese restaurants are usually USD$8-$15 a meal, but food can cost you about USD$5-8 a meal if you eat at budget Japanese restaurants like Yoshinoya, Sukiya, and CoCo Ichiban Curry House.

I would say about USD$80-100 a day is possible done on a budget.

Travel to Japan
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2010…