Costs Are Shrinking For Japan Travel

Above, the Asahi Beer Hall in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As I've mentioned before, the U.S. dollar has been stronger against the Japanese yen during the past couple of years, although it has been down slightly to around ¥113-114/dollar lately. Still, that's far better than when it was down into the 80s.

The Orange County Register has an article on money-saving while traveling to Japan. I do have one quibble when it comes to transportation. The article fails to mention the JR Rail Pass that will save visitors a lot of money if they plan to venture out of Tokyo to more distant cities like Sendai to the north or Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka to the south (and points in-between all of them).

But, the article does have other tips on saving money besides transportation. They include accommodations, shopping and food.

The article begins with:

If you’ve always wanted to visit Japan but were scared off by high prices, like me, take note: 

Your yen to visit may be strong, but the yen is weak, making Japan a more affordable destination than in many years. 

Airfares are also down, due to lower fuel prices. Bargain fares lately have ranged from $500-$700 round-trip. 

Last year, 1 million Americans visited Japan. My friend Iris, whose parents are Japanese, has seduced me with tales of hot springs and sacred mountains, so I do intend to go. 

I haven’t had a chance to make my visit yet, but I recently cadged expert advice on how to save from Tina Grindol of the Los Angeles branch of the Japan National Tourism Organization. 

You can call or stop by the downtown L.A. tourist office to get personalized recommendations, too.

One doesn't have to call or visit the L.A. Japan National Tourism Organization for information. Much can be obtained through their website and brochures and maps can be ordered online. Their website can be accessed at http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/. There are other JNTO offices in the U.S. besides Los Angeles.

To read more, go here.