Before I decided to stick with the title, I already anticipated comments such as “Really, 30k lang dala niya?”, “Di kaya ng 30k yung Japan”, “Ah. Baka 7/11 or FamilyMart lang yan kumain”.

With write-ups such as this, skeptic reactions and remarks are unavoidable. The title will either make you curious, interested, or flabbergasted.

I’m not writing this to force you to believe in me or to sway you to bring the same amount as I did. Different people, different interests, different travel style, and that’s okay.

So go ahead, I can’t stop your thoughts anyway. You’re still reading this, so I guess you’re still interested.

Do you know where this is? Clue: Stay curious.

It’s true. I only brought ₱30,000.00. That’s around ¥63,000. But it might even shock you more that I came home with more than ¥6,000 remaining in my wallet.

If you’re interested to know how my Japan trip went, I’ll be sharing with you a brief summary of our itinerary and expenses. Just keep on reading…

#1

You already know how long I stayed in Japan just by the title. So by now, I think you are wondering what parts of Japan I’ve covered, right?

For 11 days, I was able to visit six (6) counties or prefectures namely, Tokyo, Yamanashi, Kobe, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.

“Paano? Nagbus, train, or plane kayo? How did you manage your travel expenses with your 30k?”

For Tokyo, we purchased the 72-hour Tokyo Subway Pass. It’s an unlimited Metro pass covering almost all of Tokyo. It’s not hard to use at all! Just familiarise Tokyo’s Subway/Metro Map. We bought single tickets for those stations not covered by the Tokyo Subway Pass such as Odaiba and Maihama for the Disney Resort Line.

You can buy the Tokyo Subway Pass here.

For Yamanashi, we used our JR Pass, combined with single tickets to access the Fujikyo Rail. We also purchased the Fujikyuko Bus Pass.

For Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, and Nara, we used our JR Pass most of the time but we also purchased bus passes in Kyoto and Nara.

Timing is the key!

I also used Hyperdia (app for Android, website for iOS) and Japan Travel App to help us with train schedules and platform or track numbers.

Quick links:

#2

What did you do in Japan?

Aswer: Legit food trip and a little bit of shopping. *wink!*

“Talaga, nakaya mo pang magshop sa 30k na yan?”

I did not say anything about shopping in Gucci or Chanel.

“Food trip, saan? Sa 7/11?”

Believe it or not, I was full the entire duration of this trip. There were even times when I did not want to eat anymore because I was still full. Plus, we tried three different steakhouses in three different prefectures. That’s something, don’t you think?

#3

Did you travel solo or with a group?

I traveled with my usual travel group, just like my Beijing and Taiwan trips. We all had ₱30k as pocket money.

“Ah kaya naman pala, madami sila eh.”

Eto lang talaga masasabi ko, if there’s a will, there’s a way! Just like taking this photo in Shibuya. Thanks to my travel buddies who are always game to do crazy stuff with me.

#4

Did you visit any theme parks?

Of course! We went to Tokyo Disney Sea and Universal Studios Japan.

#5

This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. So how did you fit P30K for 11 days in Japan?

Here’s how:

We prepaid our theme park tickets.
We prepaid our museum tickets.
We prepaid our transportation passes (JR Pass and Tokyo Metro Pass).
We prepaid our pocket WiFi rental.
We prepaid our accommodations.
We prepaid our PH travel tax.

There are pros and cons when you pay “stuff” before your trip.

Pros:

You can sleep soundly because you’ve paid the essentials already.
You need not bring a huge amount of money during your travel.
You can opt to not pay in bulk and spread out the expenses before your travel date.

Cons:

You have to prepare the money earlier.
Prepaying does not spare you from mini-heart attacks caused by mailing issues and other kinds of delays.
This is not really a “disadvantage”, but it’s one of the most common questions I get: What if my visa has not been approved yet? Then make the reservations after you get your visa, just like we did. Timing is key!

Since we’ve prepaid the essentials, the money we brought was spent on food, extra transportation costs, and a little bit of shopping. If you’re a picky eater or in a tight budget and would rather save money and not spend on food, P30,000.00 is more than enough for you.

Our itinerary included:

TOKYO

Akihabara
Tokyo SkyTree
Tsukiji Market
Imperial Palace
Hie Shrine
Odaiba Seaside Park and Divercity
TeamLAB Museum
Ginza
Tokyo Disney Sea
Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Yoyogi Park
Harajuku Takeshita Street
Hachiko Statue
Shibuya Crossing

YAMANASHI

Lake Kawaguchiko
Oishi Park
Maple Corregidor
Aokigahara Forest
Lake Saiko
Fuji Tempura Idaten

KYOTO

Arashimaya Bamboo Forest
Kinkaku-ji Temple
Otsuka
Gion District
Fushimi Inari Shrine

KOBE

Noevir Stadium Kobe
Kobe Harborland
Nikusho Ichiya

NARA

Todaiji Temple
Nara Park
Nakatani-duo Rice Cake Shop
Kintetsu Market

OSAKA

Universal Studios Japan
Umeda Sky Building
Kurumon Ichiba Market
Dotonbori
Universal Studios Japan
Matsusakagyu Yakiniku

Restaurants/Food we ate:

Yoshinoya
Ichiran Ramen
Shake Shack
Random Ramen Restaurant in Ginza (the name was in Japanese)
Baskin & Robins
Tsukiji Outer Market Stalls
McDonald’s (just because!)
Oishi Park Ice Cream
Fuji Tempura Idaten
Harajuku Takeishita Stalls
Harajuku Gyoza-Lou
Uobei Genki Sushi
Matsusakagyu Yakiniku
Dotonbori Stalls
Kuromon Ichiba Market Stalls
Creo-Ru Takoyaki
Horai 51
Pablo
Rikuro
Hoehei Gyoza
Otsuka Steak
Arashimaya Food Stalls
Inari Food Stalls
Kendonya Udon
Hougyokudou
Nikusho Ichiya
Calbee
Kaitenzushi Ganko
Nakatani-duo Rice Cake Shop
Elk Cafe
Tokyo Disney Sea Cafe
Universal Studios Japan Cafe
FamilyMart, 7/11, Lawson

Daily Expenses

DAY 1

¥1,000 Airport Bus

¥380 Yoshinoya

Free Dinner (Thank you, Tita Pinky!)

¥528 Family Mart

Total: ¥1,908 = ₱896.76

(Exchange Rate as of Nov 26, 2018 ¥1 = ₱0.47)

DAY 2

¥175 Corn Fritter 350/2

¥350 Strawberry 700/2

¥100 White strawberry 500/5

¥100 Eel 200/2

¥100 Egg Tamago

¥250 Mochi Stick

¥500 Daifuku – Custard Cream

¥320 Shimbashi – Daiba Single Ticket

¥380 Aomi – Shimbashi Single Ticket

¥254 Tomod’s

¥648 300 Shop

¥380 Baskin&Robins

¥850 Tsukemen

¥151 Coke

¥223 Asahi

Total: ¥4,781 = ₱2,247.07

(Exchange Rate as of Nov 26, 2018 ¥1 = ₱0.47)

DAY 3

¥1,296 Shake Shack

¥160 Shin-kiba – Maihama

¥160 Maihama – Shin-kiba

¥280 Disney Line (Maihama to Disney Sea)

¥280 Disney Line (Disney Sea to Maihama)

¥300 Disney Ice Pop

¥780 Disney Food

¥200 Water

¥440 McDonald’s

Total: ¥3,896 = ₱1,831.12

(Exchange Rate as of Nov 26, 2018 ¥1 = ₱0.47)

DAY 4

¥1,140 Fujikyo Rail to Kawaguchiko

¥1,140 Fujikyo Rail to Otsuka

¥1,000 Bus Pass (500 paid by my friend, her treat daw for arranging the trip)

¥350 Strawberry Ice Cream

¥300 Souvenir

¥972 Fuji Tempura Idaten

¥497 7/11

¥890 Ichiran

¥648 Simcard 3240/5

Total: ¥6,937 = ₱3,260.39

(Exchange Rate as of Nov 26, 2018 ¥1 = ₱0.47)

DAY 5

¥600 Coin Locker

¥230 Lawson

¥200 Shinjuku Garden

¥490 Harajuku Gyoza-Lou

¥340 Souvenir

¥98 Water

¥566 7/11

¥862 Uoebei Genki

Total: ¥3,386 = ₱1,591.42

(Exchange Rate as of Nov 26, 2018 ¥1 = ₱0.47)

DAY 6

¥225 Strawberry Mochi 450/2

¥334 Sweet Potato

¥2,200 Otsuki

¥134 Souvenir 400/3

¥770 Hoehei Gyoza

¥480 Sweet Potato and Sakura Mochi

¥108 FamilyMart

Total: ¥4,251 = ₱1,997.97

(Exchange Rate as of Nov 26, 2018 ¥1 = ₱0.47)

DAY 7

¥2,400 Nishuko Ichiya

¥2,000 Iniesta Merchandise

¥385 Calbee 770/2

¥139 Cheesecake 695/5

¥500 Takoyaki

¥220 Sesame Mochi

¥956 Daiso Haul

Total: ¥6,600 = ₱3,102.00

(Exchange Rate as of Nov 26, 2018 ¥1 = ₱0.47)

DAY 8

¥754 Kaitenzushi Ganko

¥183 Pablo 915/5

¥248 Choco Cheese Tart

¥284 Traditional Mochi 568/2

¥250 Mochi 500/2

¥1,400 Shiroi Koibito

¥900 Royce Chocolates

¥850 Royce Chips

¥350 Strawberry 700/2

¥875 Elk Cafe

¥120 Choco Pie

¥1,118 Daiso Haul

¥522 Muji

Total: ¥7,854 = ₱3,691.38

(Exchange Rate as of Nov 26, 2018 ¥1 = ₱0.47)

DAY 9

¥850 Kendonya Udon

¥167 Grape Fruit 500/3

¥30 Inari Senbei 120/4

¥150 Taiyaki Honpo

¥210 Bus to Todaiji

¥150 Food for Deer

¥324 Souvenir

¥210 Bus to Nara Station

¥6,385 Matsusakagyu Yakiniku

¥278 Ippudo Instant Noodles

¥310 D. Kelly Shopping

Total: ¥9,064 = ₱4,260.08

(Exchange Rate as of Nov 26, 2018 ¥1 = ₱0.47)

DAY 10

¥308 7/11

¥500 USJ Potato Chips

¥1,100 USJ Butterbeer

¥250 USJ IceCream 750/3

¥639 KitKat Packs

¥2,827 Don Quijote Haul

¥713 FamilyMart Haul

Total: ¥6,337 = ₱2,978.39

(Exchange Rate as of Nov 26, 2018 ¥1 = ₱0.47)

Day 11

¥1,060 Airport Train

¥130 Fanta Grape

¥328 FamilyMart

Total: ¥1,518 = ₱713.46

(Exchange Rate as of Nov 26, 2018 ¥1 = ₱0.47)

Summary of Expenses

Day 1 ₱896.76

Day 2 ₱2,247.07

Day 3 ₱1,831.12

Day 4 ₱3,260.39

Day 5 ₱1,591.42

Day 6 ₱1,997.97

Day 7 ₱3,102.00

Day 8 ₱3,691.38

Day 9 ₱4,260.08

Day 10 ₱2,978.39

Day 11 ₱713.46

Total: ₱26,570.04 = ¥56,532

The numbers are already there. You just have to choose the things which are more interesting and important to you whenever you travel. That’s where most of your money will go.

As for my travel buddies, I want to say thank you for making our #JaFUN trip live up to its name, and making it the most eventful and memorable one just yet! I still laugh thinking about the things we’ve experienced. So, where to next?

Feel free to leave comments or message via e-mail if you have any questions. If you like this article and want to see or know more about my #JaFUN trip, or other trips and tips, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

xo,