Location Transport

How much money would i need to backpack through japan for two months?

Hi there, Its been a childhood dream of mine to travel Japan from top to bottom for as long as i can remember. Now im finally in the position where i can make it happen but im a bit clueless as to how much it would cost. Basically i want to spend about 2 months travelling slowly from one end of Japan to the other, just making my way via public transport buses, trains, planes etc. I'm not particularly fussy when it comes to accommodation, but im not sure if i could spend 2 months in a "pod" bed! Im currently working in London and have worked out by the end of April 2011 (which in a perfect world, is when i'd like to go) ...with my current job, i can save roughly £2000. If anyone has done this before and has some helpful tips about travelling japan, visas, or just an idea of how much things would cost, I'd greatly appreciate it. At the moment everything is still very vague but i'm starting to plan now so hopefully (if not April) ill be able to go sometime this year or early next! A bit of extra information: I'm planning on taking Japanese language lessons from now until i go, so hopefully at the very least ill be able to get around, say my please and thank you's and have a casual conversation! Thanks! Hey thanks for all your answers, they're really helpful. I cant believe i didnt think to just go and buy a lonely planet or something like that! One more thing im not actually from the UK. Im Australian living and working here so will this make a difference? Thanks guys!

Public Comments

1. This ticket is useful for backpackers first of all. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seishun_18_Ticket If you are UK citizen, you can stay in Japan up to 6 months without visa. I think 2000 pounds is a bit too little for 2 months in Japan.
2. The Seishun 18 is actually NOT at all useful for foreigners since it is valid for 1 day only. With this ticket you will still need to pay for the other 60 days. The best deal is to incorporate a 21-day JR Railpass which allows unlimited travel on the N'ex from Narita to Tokyo proper, all JR subways and buses, all Shinkansen(except Nozomi) bullet trains, as well as the JR ferry to Miyajima. Knowing some Japanese is not necessary to enjoy Japan,; however, do learn the Kanji character for 'Eigo'. That will come in handy when you wish to withdraw money using an ATM at a Japanese Post Office. To save money, I have stayed at several youth hostels. The only problem I found with them is that many of them place a restriction on how long you can stay. Use the following URL for all of your travel planning: http://www.hyperdia.com I prefer the 'Classic' version. If you budget wisely, and don't stay at luxury hotels or ryokan, and only eat at inexpensive restaurants and don't buy any souvenirs, 2000 GBP will can be just sufficient. If I were you, I would save another 1000 GBP, and then go to Japan.
3. Hi. I'm guessing that you know about the book The Roads to Sata: A 2000-Mile Walk Through Japan by Alan Booth. It's about and by a guy who did what you're planning on doing. Alan spoke (past tense because he died a few years ago) Japanese and this gives the reader a lot of extra insight into the culture. First, the pod beds, or Capsule Hotels, are really interesting, and the cheapest "hotel" you can find (though not as cheap as you might think), but the problem is that they're not all that common, and most of them are for men only. (You're a woman, right?) You'll find them in the big cities, but that's it. When I hitched/hiked around Japan, I usually stayed in small towns, and pitched my tent by a public bath or a hotspring (onsen). Nobody ever had a problem with that. The best option for accomodation in Japan is via these websites: couchsurfing.org hospitalityclub.org globalfreeloaders.com The better your profile is, the more great and free places you'll find to stay. I haven't been to Japan for a long time, so I don't want to mislead you about the costs, so I suggest you get a hold of - through your library, bookstore, or online - copies of budget travel books on Japan. The most well-known one is Lonely Planet. Rough Guide and Moon are 2 that I've used and liked in the past. Since you're from the UK you can stay legally in Japan for 6 months. You'll get a 3-month stamp in your passport when you arrive in Japan (you don't need to pre-arrange a visa...just fly to Japan!) Then after 3 months you have to go to an Immigration Office and get another 3 month stamp. You'll have to find out eventually where all the Immigration Offices are. They're scattered around Japan, but there won't necessarily be one near you after 3 months. Hey, good for you for learning some Japanese. Japanese people will really appreciate any attempts you make to speak their language. And if you can master chopsticks, even better! Good luck.
4. PMSL at leonard pitching a tent at hot springs!
5. its very expensive there from what I have read cup of coffee £5