Today I was researching travel costs to Japan for a client and discovered that the Japanese yen is now trading at approximately 80 JPY per US dollar. I remember in April 1995 when the yen reached its all-time high against the dollar at 80.43… OUCH. I began to wonder where the currency might be in the coming weeks and months as more and more travelers visit Japan during peak cherry blossom season. When you do simple math, it hurts. Japan can be very expensive, but like many aspects of this great nation, what is left unsaid is often the most important.

One topic that continues to be on people’s minds today is the cost of travel. Given the current economic situation in the US and around the world, many people have been forced to postpone or even cancel trips due to financial hardship or uncertainty. Travel is one of the first things eliminated when one has to make spending cuts due to new budget realities, but it’s also one of the first areas to pick up when people feel it’s time to take a long-overdue vacation. .

Over the last month I have received hundreds of requests indicating that they want to travel to Japan, but that it is too expensive. This is one of the biggest obstacles when it comes to promoting travel to Japan. There is a mentality that Japan is too expensive and when you add the language and cultural differences, it all seems too much and you feel like when you come back from Japan, you will need to take another trip just to get over it. Well, that is simply not the case, and more often than not, at the end of many trips to Japan, travelers are eager to return in the future.

So with that in mind, I have dedicated this article to debunking the myths and explaining how to find an affordable Japan today. I will identify what I consider to be the most useful tools when planning a trip to Japan. You’ll find valuable websites for the best value for money on flights, accommodation, transportation, and dining, which are the building blocks of any successful trip to Japan.

GET TO JAPAN
Air is the most common way to get to Japan, but each year more cruise lines are offering Japanese cities as ports of call on their regional and/or global itineraries. The biggest news in air travel to Japan is the recent opening (October 2010) of the new International Terminal at Haneda International Airport for flights from all over the world. Four US slots were awarded to American Airlines (JFK), Delta Air Lines (LAX and DTW), and Hawaiian Airlines (HNL). Haneda is located in the center of Tokyo, just 30 minutes from the city center.

I tell all my customers that redeeming miles for international travel, especially for upgrades to business or first class, is one of the best ways to maximize the value of your hard-earned miles. Keep in mind that with fewer flight departures today, it’s even more difficult to secure award space as airlines continue to try to increase revenue. You should plan ahead to fly on your preferred travel dates, but don’t lose faith if you can’t get a free ticket or confirm an upgrade. Recently, United Airlines launched its Premium Seats program that allows you to confirm an upgrade on international travel at the time of ticketing, even when an upgrade award is not available. If there are seats available in the upgraded cabin, the airline will make them available for a premium rate instead of per mileage. For example, I recently found a flight to Japan and when I was informed that an upgrade from San Francisco to Tokyo using miles was not available, I was able to secure a confirmed Premium Seating upgrade for an additional $775 each way.

If two people are traveling together on the same qualifying international itinerary, the American Express international airline program remains one of the best values ​​in travel today. One person pays the full rate and the second pays only the taxes. If your budget allows and you need to travel business class, it’s definitely worth paying the card’s annual fee. If you’re traveling solo or don’t own an American Express card, you can still find amazing values ​​on air travel directly from the airlines or your travel agent if you plan and book well in advance (50+ days) and stick to what you know. as “Z” rates. These confirmed business class seats offer considerable savings compared to the full business fare. Please check with your preferred airline as they are subject to availability and may be identified by a different fare code depending on the airline. Please note that these fares are restricted and not fully refundable like regular business class fares and have hefty change fees in the $400 range.

If you are just looking for the best rate in Japan, I always recommend the online booking site KAYAK.COM. Here you will see the rates of the main airlines in real time.

TRANSPORTATION ON ARRIVAL AND WITHIN JAPAN
Once you arrive in Japan, you will find that all transportation runs like clockwork. If you are arriving in Tokyo Narita or Haneda, the Airport Limousine Bus is the most convenient and affordable door-to-door transfer option. If you’re traveling to Asakusa or Ueno from Narita, you may want to consider the new Airport Super Shuttle at an incredible one-way fare of just JPY 1,000 ($13 USD).

If you are arriving at Kansai International Airport and traveling to Kyoto, you may want to consider the Yasaka Kansai Airport Shuttle, which offers a door-to-door airport transfer service for JPY 3,500 (USD 44). The other service available in the Kansai region is the MK Skygateshuttle with similar rates and services.

The best value for travel in Japan remains the Japan Rail Pass. This pass must be purchased outside of Japan prior to your arrival and you can select between Regular or Green “First” Class and durations of 7, 14 or 21 days.

WHERE TO STAY? A WIDE VARIETY OF VALUE ACCOMMODATIONS AVAILABLE
Japan prides itself on its extraordinary hospitality and you will find excellence in this service at all levels of accommodation, from 5 star luxury hotels and inns to small minshuku or family owned and operated guesthouses. If you are looking for rock-bottom prices on a wide range of hotels, I highly recommend RAKUTEN.COM. The website is available in English and is very simple and easy to use. I recently found and stayed in hotels in Tokyo for only $50 USD per night… yes it is possible! If you can’t find your preferred hotel on RAKUTEN.COM and want something more exclusive, I recommend IKYU.COM. Here you will find most of Japan’s top hotels at discounted prices.

Another wonderful resource for maximizing your hard-earned travel dollars is JAPANiCAN.COM. This online travel site is powered by JTB, which is the largest travel company in Japan. Here you can search, plan and group trip components to meet your specific needs. I was recently able to book the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto along with hotel accommodation and saved 52% off the regular published rate.

Something different… and an incredible value…
If you crave unique and alternative accommodations, like a loft, a house, or a simple guest room, one of my new favorite travel sites is AIRBNB.COM. This wonderful travel site from creative minds in San Francisco is not exclusive to traveling to Japan, but rather offers alternative accommodations all over the world. When you visit the site, you’ll find incredible places of discovery, so be sure to set aside some time to really enjoy its offerings.

When I travel to the ancient capital of Kyoto, I always encourage my clients to try traditional accommodations like a ryokan or Japanese inn that are so unique to Japan. They offer an intimate glimpse into Japan’s great tradition of hospitality, but often at significant cost. Another option is to stay in one of Kyoto’s beautiful machiya, or traditional row houses. IORI KYOTO MACHIYA STAY is an excellent source for a wide variety of traditional residence-style accommodations located around the ancient capital. Kyoto is also home to one of the most extraordinary designer capsule hotels: 9HOURS. I recently spent several nights at this amazingly well designed place where the room rate is based on the total number of hours of stay. The concept is 1 hour to get ready for bed, 7 hours to sleep, and 1 hour to get up and shine = 9 hours. When I arrived at the store’s sliding glass doors in Teramachi, I felt like I was about to enter their home page, check it out!

If you want to experience the most unique loft living in the world, you can consider the DESTINY REVERSIBLE LOFTS in Tokyo designed by the international design team of Arakawa + Gins. Words don’t even begin to adequately describe the residences, so I’ll just encourage you to check them out for yourself. They have dedicated two rental units for visitors to Tokyo.

CUISINE – TOKYO HAS MORE MICHELIN-STARRED RESTAURANTS THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE WORLD

Michelin Guide 2011: Tokyo, Kamakura and Yokohama
Finding a good price on food in Japan can sometimes be a daunting task given the current exchange rate. I have advised my clients over the years that the best deals are the set lunches offered at hotels, restaurants, and cafes throughout Japan. So have your big meal in the middle of the day and eat light for dinner – the healthier alternative that will stretch your yen. A major enhancement to the 2011 MICHELIN guide for Tokyo, Yokohama and Kamakura is the new pictogram. Indicates a starred restaurant that offers a menu for less than 5,000 yen ($60 USD) for lunch or dinner. Diners can enjoy gourmet meals for as little as 5,000 yen maximum per person. “Value for money” is one of the five criteria for selecting star restaurants, and the new pictogram helps readers find local restaurants at affordable prices. There are 95 restaurants (81 in Tokyo, 7 in Yokohama, and 7 in Kamakura) with a pictogram in the guide. This is more than a third of the restaurant selection.

I hope you find this information useful in planning your next trip to Japan. Safe travels!