How I Spent 14 Days in Japan with Less Than ₱30k Cash on Hand

Contributed by I Travel Rox

My 14 days Japan trip has been the first and most ambitious trip that I ever had. If you were aware of my previous post about what happened to my father, my travel fund for Japan was already wiped out. There was hesitation on my part if I should pursue this trip or not. Somehow, my former Canadian client understood my situation and sent US$500 on my PayPal account. I challenged myself to travel solo on a low budget with just US$500 (~₱20,000).

Also read: Impossible! Just SGD 1200 for 10 days in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto?!

7 days in Tokyo, 5 days in Osaka with my Japanese family and 2 nights stranded at Narita airport.

The total expenses for my 14 days trip in Japan was less than ₱30,000, including airfare, travel tax, terminal fee and Japan visa. Read on for more detailed information.

The table above shows how I spent the US$500 (~₱20,000) that was given to me by my former client. Everything was spent in Tokyo and Narita airport where I got stranded for 2 nights.

Free activities in Tokyo

You can see that I didn’t spend much during my DIY tour or Do-It-Yourself tour in Japan because there are several things to do in Tokyo that are absolutely FREE.

Also read: 10 Fun Things to Do in Tokyo for First Time Filipino Travellers

Activities in 5 Cities

In Osaka, I stayed there for 5 days with my Japanese family and they showed me around Osaka, Kyoto, Kuwana and Nara. In Yokohama, I met this Japanese guy in the club of Roppongi who was very nice to me and invited me for a day trip to his hometown. Will blog more about this on separate articles.

Travel tips

1. Buy baggage fees in advance.
2. Do not buy baggage if not shopping.
3. Terminal fee is at ₱750
4. With my Philippine Peso, it is best to exchange to Japanese Yen at Narita airport because it has bigger value compared to the one I exchanged money in Shibuya. It was a big loss.
5. Get a Suica card the moment you arrive at the airport and load it with at least JPY 1000 + JPY 500 deposit fee.
6. Book Willer Bus ahead of time because it’s cheaper.
7. Do not ever ride a taxi.
8. Book accommodation in advance for cheaper deals.
9. If stranded in Tokyo, find a 24-hour McDonald’s to stay for a night.
10. Spend lesser with food buying from 7-11 but splurging with Japanese food is not really a problem.
11. Download Tokyo Subway on your smartphone.
12. Get a Tokyo Guidemap — it’s a must and it will save your ass and time.
13. Be friendly with the locals — who knows they can give you a free tour.
14. Rent a bike in Japan if you got the chance. I find it least expensive than using a train. I haven’t tried it yet but I will do it on my next trip especially in Kyoto.

That’s it. I’m just glad I am now finally made this blog post because this has been long overdue.

Also read: 5 Tips Every Budget Traveller in Tokyo Must Know

Special thanks to Kitagawa family who made this Japan trip unexpectedly incredible, to Hide for showing me in Yokohama, to my former Canadian client who was being understanding with the situation, and to all the people I’ve met from different parts of the world for looking after me.