By Dan Forteza
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I don’t know about you guys but for me, Japan is one of the best countries in the world!
When I visited this East Asian country in February, there were no dull moments and everything was spectacular following my 7-day Japan itinerary which I’ll be writing about in this blog. If both Tokyo and Sapporo are on your bucket list amongst Japanese cities to visit, then this blog perfectly made for you!
I have also included my detailed day-to-day expenses which I’m sure budget travelers will find very helpful to estimate their overall travel cost when traveling to Japan. Because let’s face it, this country has one of the highest costs of living in the world.
Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel – a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.
DO YOU NEED A VISA?
First things first–do you need a visa to travel to Japan?
If you’re also a Philippine Passport holder, you need to secure a Japanese tourist visa first.
Read: my blog on how to get your Japanese tourist visa with your Philippine passport.
If you’re from another country, you might want to check first the visa policy of Japan to verify whether you need a visa or not.
JAPAN 🇯🇵
Language: Japanese
Capital City: Tokyo
Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY)
Int’l Airports in this trip: NRT, CTS
Preferred mode of transportation: Subways / Trams
Time Zone: GMT +9
HOW I GOT TO JAPAN
Finding a cheap flight ticket to Japan from the Asia-Pacific region is easy breezy. In my case, I got my economy flight tickets from Cebu Pacific and Jetstar Airlines. Here were my flight itineraries with costs:
- Manila (Philippines) – Tokyo (Japan) [$65.80]
- Tokyo (Japan) – Sapporo (Japan) – Tokyo (Japan) [$89.30]
- Tokyo (Japan) – Manila (Philippines) [$73.80]
- Subtotal: $228.9
If you’re also coming from the Philippines (or wherever in the world actually), I suggest you check Trip as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites. Per my experience, they’re the best! Refer to Trip’s widget below.
HOW TO GET AROUND JAPAN?
- Intercity Flight
- Flying is the quickest way you can travel from one city to another (e.g., Tokyo to Sapporo). As mentioned above, you can book using Trip.com to get yourself the best flight deals available. Most economy flights are even cheaper than traveling by train!
- Subways / Trains in Tokyo and Sapporo
- Subways are the best way to get around big cities in Japan like Tokyo and Sapporo. But as I mentioned in my budget travel tips blog – “walk as much as you can!“
- Trams or Streetcars in Sapporo
- Sapporo’s tram network is one of the city’s more unique transportation methods. With only about seven minutes between each streetcar, it is one of the fastest ways for you to get around some areas of town.
- Other Transport Travel Tips
- Buses are also one of the best transport services in Japan but aren’t really recommended for short-term visitors.
- A prepaid Suica card is the BEST way to pay for transport which both can be used in Tokyo and Sapporo. You can buy a Suica card online at GoVoyagin.com for pickup at Narita or Haneda airport.
- Your navigation would be much easier if you are using Google Maps. In Japan, it is very reliable and accurate. If you’re looking for travel directions, it will give you all different options and even how much it will cost for each option. You can either buy a sim card here or rent a pocket wifi here for pick-up at various airports
NOTE: I have only listed the transport services I used per my experience during my 7-day Japan itinerary travel.
WHERE DID I STAY IN JAPAN
You can book a room at any hotel in Japan through Agoda or Booking.com. I usually book my room accommodations through booking.com. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.
If hotel isn’t to your liking, try AirBnb. Airbnbs are immersed in neighborhoods, condos, and townhomes. There is a feeling you get when you stay in an Airbnb that makes you feel like you belong in that city or town. Since it is someone’s home, there is a certain amount of pride you feel while staying there. I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!
If you’re new to AirBnB, then you can get up to 43 USD free travel credit by signing up via this link
My Room Accommodations:
- Tokyo, Japan
- Name (1): Hotel Owl Tokyo Nippori
- Name (2): Hostel Waqwaq Tokyo
- Room type: Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
- Cost: included the day-to-day expenses below
- Sapporo, Japan
- Name: Capsule Inn Sapporo
- Room type: Capsule Room (for Male only)
- Cost: included the day-to-day expenses below
MY 7-DAY JAPAN ITINERARY with EXPENSES
NOTE: I created a more detailed itinerary and guide of my trips to Tokyo and Sapporo, each has a separate blog but unfortunately has no cost breakdown. Click here for Tokyo and here for Sapporo.
DAY 0: NARITA AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN TOKYO
- JPY 3,300 – Sim Card
- JPY 1,030 – Train: Narita station to Nipporo station (Keisei Main Line)
- JPY 8,500 – Hostel (5-Night Stay)
- Subtotal: JPY 12,830
DAY 1: TOKYO’S TAITO (ASAKUSA), SUMIDA, & ARAKAWA (NIPPORI)
- JPY 210 – Train: Nippori station to Tokyo Skytree station
- JPY 170 – Train: Asakusa station to Minami Senju station
- JPY 121 – Food: 7-11 Noodles (ahaha!)
- JPY 160 – Train: Minami Senju station to Nippori station
- Subtotal: JPY 661
NOTE: In my hostel in Tokyo, there is an available free water + juice drink dispenser. I normally carry a bottle filled with any of those drinks to keep me through the day. I also brought some Oreos from the Philippines so I don’t buy too much food in Tokyo.
Later in the afternoon, I grabbed a strolling map pamphlet (for Nippori area) at my hostel lounge. I really didn’t expect to see much in my hostel area at first but by following the recommended places in the pamphlet–there are a lot to see!
DAY 2: OFF TO YOKOHAMA, MT. FUJI & THEN TOKYO TOWER + SHIBUYA CROSSING
- JPY 550 – Train: Nippori station to Yokohama station
- JPY 210 – Train: Nihon odori station to Yokohama station
- JPY 260 – Train: Yokohama station to Yamato station
- JPY 200 – Bus: Yamato to Tomei Yamato bus stop
- JPY 1,050 – Bus: Tomei Yamato to Gotemba
- JPY 240 – Food: Bread with Coffeemilk
- JPY 84 – Food: Choco Bread
- JPY 500 – Train: Gotemba station to Matsuda station
- JPY 780 – Train: Shin-matsuda station to Shinjuku station
- JPY 210 – Train: Shinjuku station to Shibuya station
- JPY 280 – Train: Shibuya station to Akabanebashi station
- JPY 280 – Train: Onarimon station to Nippori station
- Subtotal: JPY 4,644
NOTE: Yokohama, a city south of Tokyo, is almost an hour train ride from Nippori, Tokyo. I even went further south to Gotemba to hopefully get a closer look of Mt. Fuji that day. But unfortunately, Mt. Fuji is covered by huge thick clouds and thus unseeable even from afar.
Later in the evening, my Japanese friend took me to the famous Shibuya crossing. While chillin’ at Shibuya’s Starbucks, we’ve witnessed tons of people crossing Shibuya in action. It’s unbelievable and surreal!
DAY 3: TOKYO’S CHIYODA, SHIBUYA, & SHINJUKU
- JPY 160 – Train: Nippori station to Tokyo station
- JPY 500 – Food: McDonald’s meal
- JPY 200 – Train: Nijubashimae station to Harajuku station
- JPY 396 – Food: KitKat Chocolate (pasalubong) at Takeshita St.
- JPY 130 – Train: Sangubashi station to Shinjuku station
- JPY 180 – Train: Shinjuku station to Tochomae station
- JPY 180 – Train: Tochomae station to Shinjuku station
- JPY 200 – Train: Shinjuku station to Nippori station
- Subtotal: JPY 1,946
DAY 4: TOKYO’S KOTO (ODAIBA), TAITO (UENO)
- JPY 320 – Food: Bento Box (breakfast)
- JPY 200 – Train: Nippori station to Shinjuku station
- JPY 200 – Train: Shinjuku station to Shinbashi station
- JPY 320 – Train: Shinbashi station to Daiba station
- JPY 160 – Train: Daiba station to Shinbashi (via Tokyo Station)
- JPY 170 – Train: Shinbashi station to Shinjuku station
- JPY 200 – Train: Shinjuku station to Nippori station
- JPY 280 – Train: Nippori station to Ueno station
- JPY 140 – Train: Ueno station to Nippori station
- Subtotal: JPY 1,990
NOTE: In this day, I met my college classmate who works in Tokyo and he took me to Odaiba. He also took me for a lunch treat! =) There are even travel hacks he showed me where one can travel by train the cheapest!
Later in the evening, I met my Japanese friend again and he took me to Ueno Park where cherry blossoms (sakura) have started to show up as early as in February! We also took a stroll to Nezu shrine.
DAY 5: DOWNTOWN SAPPORO (ODORI PARK & TV TOWER)
- JPY 1,240 – Train: Nippori station to Narita (via Sky Access)
- JPY 1,030 – Bus: Airport to Sapporo downtown
- JPY 500 – Food: Mcdonald’s Meal
- JPY 5,000 – Hostel: Capsule type room (2-Night Stay)
- JPY 230 – Food: McFlurry Oreo
- JPY 500 – Food: McDonald’s Meal
- Subtotal: JPY 8,500
DAY 6: SAPPORO’S CLOCK TOWER, FUSHIMI INARI SHRINE, & MT. MOIWA
- JPY 244 – Food: Bread and Coffee Milk
- JPY 200 – Tram: Tanukikuji station to Ropeway Iriguchi station
- JPY 200 – Tram: Ropeway Iriguchi station to Tanukikuji station
- JPY 210 – Food: Bread and Coffee Milk
- JPY 200 – Tram: Susukino station to Denshajigyoshomae station
- JPY 200 – Tram: Denshanjigyosjomae station to Susukino station
- Subtotal: JPY 1,254
DAY 7: REST, BACK TO TOKYO, & AKIHABARA
- JPY 1,030 – Bus: Sapporo downtown to CTS Airport
- JPY 278 – Food: Ramen cup noodles
- JPY 213 – Food: Chocolates (pasalubong)
- JPY 160 – Drink: Bottled Tea
- JPY 1,240 – Train: Narita station to Ueno station (via Sky Access)
- JPY 500 – Food: McDonald’s Meal
- JPY 110 – Drink: Cofee Milk
- JPY 210 – Train: Asakusa station to Akibahara station
- JPY 140 – Train: Akibahara station to Ueno station
- Subtotal: JPY 3,881
DAY 8 (LAST DAY): BACK TO MANILA
- JPY 258 – Food: Bread and Coffeemilk
- JPY 1,240 – Train: Ueno station to Narita station (via Sky Access)
- Subtotal: JPY 1,498
And there you have it!
Including the flight costs, here is the overall total of my expenses in Japan for one week:
TOTAL: $228.9 (flights) + $338.97 (JPY 37,204 , daily costs)
TOTAL: $567.87
RECOMMENDED TOUR PACKAGES
I hope that you find this 7-DAY JAPAN ITINERARY with GUIDE + BUDGET blog useful!
If you have more days to spend in Japan, you might consider these cool package tours:
- TOKYO:
- Small-Group Tokyo Biking Tour
- Tokyo Asakusa Rickshaw Tour
- Experience Old and Nostalgic Tokyo: Yanaka Walking Tour
- Best of Tokyo: Japanese Traditions, Shopping and Food Tour (Small Group)
- Mt Fuji, Arakurayama Sengen Park & Fruit Picking
- Tokyo Robot Entertainment Show Ticket
- Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament Viewing Tour
- SAPPORO:
(you may choose one or more tours that may suit your travel needs.)
BOOKING ESSENTIALS
- Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com. I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com. Thus, I recommend you guys trying it as well for your Japan Itinerary. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.
- Airbnb. Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms for your Japan itinerary! I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!
Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up with my link and you will get up to 43 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay. Click this link to get that discount.
- Flights
- TRIP. All of my flight bookings are all from TRIP.com. Trip is one of the world’s leading travel search engines and searches hundreds of travel sites.
I suggest you check Trip (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.
- Other Package tours in Japan
- Viator. Viator is the world’s leading resource for researching, finding, and booking the best travel experiences worldwide. Perfect for your Japan itinerary!
Click here to find the best Viator deals in Japan.
Dan Travels 