- For many people, Japan is a “dream trip”. But it doesn’t have to be. Flights are inexpensive, if you plan well in advance you can get very affordable hotels (enjoy the small business hotels and just go there to sleep and shower), and food is incredibly cheap compared to Canada, USA and Europe. Forget about tipping. Forget about 20%VAT, instead enjoy $5.00 breakfasts, lunches and less than $15.00 dinners! Of course if you want more, you need to pay more, but you do not need to.
I have ave heard that for Europeans, they feel that Japan is an unaffordable dream location. I’m here to tell you it’s not true. You can afford it. And you do not need to be independently wealthy!
There is is so much in Tokyo (or Tokio, however you spell it), that you can easily spend a week here and still run out of time. If you want to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, think two weeks. My suggestion is to do Tokyo first. Then take a second trip to this archipelago and go into the countryside. Did you know that 80% of the people live in only 20% of the land? And that the remaining 80% of the land is amazing mountains, forests, lakes and rivers? Japan is incredible. Words cannot do it justice. You need to come. And see.