Benign said:
Guys/Gals,
I think it would be nice if we can add more info on the duration of stay, $ spent on the trip, value of the trip lor. More productive ley....
Thankss :thumbsup:
If u do ur preparation early and only ask for a bed in the night, expect $100-150 per day for lodging, transport, food in Japan, assuming no inter-city travel. If going for cross-country, there is a JR pass which allows u access to most JR rail lines, including slower shinkansens ($400+ for a week) as well as long distance buses, some ferries and the local loop lines. Most GV2 tickets are in the 600+ range the last i check (there is always MAS). Spent about $1100+ on a 8 day marathon around the western parts of the country including the expo.
Cheaper lodging tends to be in the older, maybe seedier places in town, definitely not for single females. Cheapest hotel i found was 2500 yen in Osaka. A dorm in Kyoto can cost ard 1500 yen. Stayed overnight in a pretty decent ryokan in Miyajima for ard 5800 yen including a pretty delicious and filling breakfast. There are a lot of cheap backpacker's hotels in Tokyo in the 2800-3200 yen range.
Between Narita and Ueno, u can take a skyliner for ard 1500 yen. There is a all transport pass for 1580 yen (all train, subways and bus) and Tokyo metro subway pass for 700 yen (not including private lines).
Meals can range from 500 yen to 1-2K yen depending on whether u are eating fast food, bento, subway restuarants to pretty nice sushi restuarants. U can always elect to eat instant noodles but i consider eating part of trying out other culture.
As for photography, typically, its safe to bring a camera out in most places. Haven been stopped from taking photos anywhere yet.