Hi all,
We are heading to Japan in April 2025, first time going so would love all advice and information and cheapies money saving tips.
We are planning on heading to Kyoto, Toyko, Horoshima and Fuji.
In particular any tips for accomodation and transport?
Theres a group of 12 of us going.
If you are in need of electronics Go-To Bic Camera as they are currently offering Tax Free 10% + 5% off on Visa/Mastercard transactions (Yes a discount to use a Credit/Debit Card) ie total 15% off. Yodobashi appears to have the same signage but was told Tax free does not apply. Was able to use the Bic Camera promo at 3 different stores.
Buy Sim Cards online Airport ones are much more expensive and are throttled (E-Sim is the best option in most cases) Portable WiFi might be more economical if you expect to be in a group for the whole trip or have lots of kids who don't need their own data plan.
Cash is still king in quite a few stores and restaurants so you will need it but many places accept Visa/Master with no fees Check for a card machine before sitting down or a sign that says cash only to avoid embarrassment.
7/11 ATM's have the lowest fee and work with Wise and Most NZ Cards.
There are many discount passes available for Bus and Train networks such as the Tokyo Metro 24hr pass for 600 yen
Bic Camera
Been a while since I've lived in Japan and shopped here but when I purchased stuff there, I would always google for discount coupons. Rakuten is also a great place to find cheap stuff but you need someone with a japanese card to buy stuff and I'm unsure if you can use a wise card or local prepaid card.
12 people? tip = don't be the last person to pay your bill at the restaurant (advice not exclusive of Japan)
The JR pass went through quite the price hike in the past few months. Upwards of 70%. The JR pass is really useful if the majority of your travel is between the cities. I would take a look at how many train trips you plan on taking and compare it to the pass.
Not worth it anymore unless you are a rail nerd using the train every day.
There are regional passes too but it really depends on the travel plans and how many times you will use the Bullet train.
im in my early stages of planning a trip
i had noted this
AVOID GOLDEN WEEK STRING OF HOLIDAYS (29 April to 5 May)
Yep, can definitely agree with this. Accomm will be through the roof and trains will be busier.
Try to explore the alleys, lots of really good restaurants tucked away there. There's a Michelin start restaurant in one of the alleys and you wouldn't even know if you just walk past it.
You could be there for the start of the beer garden season if you are into that type of thing. You can find open air roof top bars (the Kyoto department store Takashimaya for example). 5000 yen for a couple of hours of beer and food.
Check out the basements of the department stores. Most have great food halls with a huge selection and price ranges for all (not just Cheapies :-)) and there's a good chance you'll find people dishing out some samples to try.
If anyone in your group is planning on buying stuff in Akihabara (nerd centre in Tokyo), make sure they check out Nakano Broadway too - most of the same stuff but better prices. It's a few train stops NW of Shinjuku. Alternatively, Denden Town (SE of Namba) in Osaka is recommended too.
TY All for the tips. Will go away and do futher research on them all!
Transportation
Check out the different regional JR passes (e.g Kansai area, Tokyo area) and compare their prices. I find that the nationwide JR pass is often too expensive unless you do lots of inter-city travel within a short time.
Use Google Maps or hyperdia.com to check for train routes. There are also many apps you can use (e.g. Japan Transit Planner (disclaimer: I'm not affiliated, it showed up at the top of Google search). Find one that supports the train/bus passes as this will help immensely when you're trying to figure out whether a particular route is included in your pass.
For a large group sometimes it can be more economical to rent cars and drive around, though do check for toll and parking costs, as well as parking availability in the spots you're planning to visit. For major cities I usually use their excellent public transportation system as I couldn't be bothered with finding parking spaces. Depending on your group sometimes it pays to drive especially if you have mobility issues.
Attractions
If you're planning to visit temples and shrines you may want to check their entrance fee - they quickly add up! Usually the Shinto shrines do not have entrance fee.
Check the opening hours of the attractions you're visiting, some have scheduled closing days.
Take the path less traveled. Wander around and you'll find some of the best spots that are free and less crowded than their well-known counterparts.
Shopping
Have some cash on hand, or use Wise card to get cash at ATMs.
Major stores should accept credit cards, though you should be mindful of any foreign exchange fee. You should almost always select the local currency (i.e. Japanese Yen) when prompted, otherwise you will get double-charged if you select NZD.
Some stores offer tax refund for tourists if you spend above a threshold (usually 5000 yen), otherwise you can do this at the airport before you leave. You'll need your passport to claim the tax refund.
These are just some of the tips I can think of. Feel free to pm if you have specific questions or would like to know more :)