How I Saved Money During my Trip To Japan

Hello. I am back to continue my series of entries about my recent trip to Japan. Of course, I'll share my tips and tricks to make travelling fun and economical at the same time.  Let's jump right in and continue counting the steps to make your future travel getaway cheaper as well.

How I Saved Money During my Trip to Japan

1. Buy the Unlimited Ticket pass for Subway / Train 

This is my 3-day unli subway ticket that only cost 1500 YEN. :)

**Just go directly to the tourist information counters. They're located in every train and subway station if I'm not mistaken. These tickets really provide cheaper alternatives and you don't mind being lost anywhere. 

2. Avoid tourist traps

This is the Tokyo Tower at the back. 

**Yes to this. Why? These tourist traps unfortunately are always crowded and noisy sometimes. Plus, the prices are somewhat a little more expensive than the other places. In addition, waiting for your turn sometimes takes longer like one hour.  So why not save money and your time as well, right?

3. Walk around and find a good place to eat.

We randomly saw this Kebab restaurant in the street of Akiba. :)

**In my opinion, restaurants that are conveniently located in the center and in the main road always cost a little bit more because of the accessibility. Be adventurous and try walking around. You can always find a hole in the wall and that restaurant / food place may turn out to be a good place to eat without breaking your bank account. A win-win solution absolutely.

**NOTE: Prices of foods in some restaurants for lunch are much cheaper compared to their dinner menu. 

4. Go shopping and buy in bulks.

Inside a local Japanese drugstore

**Get discount like getting tax free in all your items if you buy products that are worth at least 5,000 Yen. Plan carefully where to shop and buy in bulks and you won't regret. You can buy the things that you need and at the same time save some bucks in return. Pretty cool.

5.Walk if you can and be immersed in the culture.

This is the famous statue of Hachiko, the loyal dog.

**Walking can be a good exercise and at the same time your eyes can be filled with so many good things to see. I mean riding a taxi there really costs an arm and a leg. Just take your time, walk regularly and you'll loose those extra pounds along the way.

6. Research and and plan ahead.

Get your map and organize things before heading out.

**This includes booking your flight tickets early and avoiding the peak season. I always believe that knowledge is power. That way, you already have a good framework what to do and where to go so by the time you're travelling already, it only needs some revisions and edit. This way, you can also save your time and organize the schedule every single day. 

7. Find a good accommodation in the center and in the most accessible place.

We stayed in an AIRBNB that is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

**This is really very important. It's because a good accommodation that is located in the center will save the time in your walkathon adventure. In addition, make sure you find a good place that is near the train / subway station too. Again, it's a win-win solution for any travelers out there.

8. Bring your own snacks and water bottle.

Can you spot my water bottle? :)

**Yes, we all know this sounds so lame. Yes but it really saves the time and feeds your biological needs at the same time too. Why? You don't need to look for the nearest restaurant to eat and the nearest vendo machine to buy some beverage. Plus, by doing this, you are also saving some extra pennies for your shopping adventure later too.

9. Go to your nearest grocery stores before closing time and buy foods with discounted prices.

A good bento meal. This is a Chinese version.

**This is really a winner for me. Some foods that are sold before closing time are even 50% off the original price. What we do? We buy some foods in the evening and make this our breakfast for the next day. A pretty decent meal that is already cheaply priced. Yey.

10. Visit places that are free 

Hi Mr. Gundam!

**Sure, there are a lot of places you visit in Japan for free. It only depends on your preferences and locations. In Tokyo, there are good parks to visit if you want to. You can also go to Tokyo Metropolitan Building where you can get a panoramic view of the city and drop by Ueno zoo. Research darling. I'm pretty sure you'll find something that will interest you.

Yay! Those are my tips! Hope you find them helpful. As I always say, don't be afraid to travel and just be lost in a new world. Why? You'll come back wiser and better as an individual. Till my next travel adventure.

---Belle