Is it really cheaper to visit Japan now?
Nov 23, 2014, 6:53 am
#61
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Single-room accomodations can be rather cheap for a country generally considered to be expensive. For Tokyo at least, Minami Senju - just a couple of stops away from a tourist trail locale (Akiba) has rooms for as low as ~¥2800-3000. Shared bathroom, sure, but clean and not too far from the same konbini as any other hotel.
Weekly Mansions were a step up from that, but it seems they have all rebranded (prices have gone up).
Capsule hotels might be another option...but this is usually just for males.
However, accomodations aren't what makes Japan expensive for me. Food takes that crown.
Weekly Mansions were a step up from that, but it seems they have all rebranded (prices have gone up).
Capsule hotels might be another option...but this is usually just for males.
However, accomodations aren't what makes Japan expensive for me. Food takes that crown.
Nov 23, 2014, 8:05 am
#62
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
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Nov 23, 2014, 8:25 am
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,404
I'm obviously missing something or misunderstanding.
Food is expensive in Japan when compared to dining out in which countries/areas of the world?
Personally, as someone who has often stayed in hotels for under 2,500yen a night, I have always been struck by how affordable good food can be in Japan.
Food is expensive in Japan when compared to dining out in which countries/areas of the world?
Personally, as someone who has often stayed in hotels for under 2,500yen a night, I have always been struck by how affordable good food can be in Japan.
Nov 23, 2014, 1:42 pm
#64
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
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Nov 23, 2014, 11:06 pm
#65
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
I'm obviously missing something or misunderstanding.
Food is expensive in Japan when compared to dining out in which countries/areas of the world?
Personally, as someone who has often stayed in hotels for under 2,500yen a night, I have always been struck by how affordable good food can be in Japan.
Food is expensive in Japan when compared to dining out in which countries/areas of the world?
Personally, as someone who has often stayed in hotels for under 2,500yen a night, I have always been struck by how affordable good food can be in Japan.
Nov 24, 2014, 5:32 pm
#67
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
I was in Japan as recently as this past summer. My most expensive meal was about ¥5,000, but that was my final event as the board member of a professional organization, so it was a special occasion prix fixe Italian dinner.
For everyday eating, I stuck to neighborhood eateries and department stores, where my most expensive dinner was about ¥2,000, which is not out of line for what one would pay to eat out in neighborhood restaurants in the States. Lunch was cheaper, between ¥800-¥1500 in neighborhood restaurants or coffee shop chains. Most of the hotels I stayed in offered a free breakfast of some sort, except for a minshuku in a small town, where I chose to go without meals, which was probably a mistake, because most places were closed for dinner. However, right across the street was an old-fashioned kissaten that sold "morning service," i.e. coffee, thickly sliced toast with butter and jam, a hard-boiled egg, and a tossed salad for about ¥700.
My point is that eating out in Japan is expensive if you eat in the maor Western-style hotels or in places that cater to the "businessmen's night out" crowd, but the little neighborhood restaurants are a great value. If you stick to places that have plastic models of the food in the windows, a picture menu posted outside, or a vending machine that sells meal tickets, you can easily control your spending.
For everyday eating, I stuck to neighborhood eateries and department stores, where my most expensive dinner was about ¥2,000, which is not out of line for what one would pay to eat out in neighborhood restaurants in the States. Lunch was cheaper, between ¥800-¥1500 in neighborhood restaurants or coffee shop chains. Most of the hotels I stayed in offered a free breakfast of some sort, except for a minshuku in a small town, where I chose to go without meals, which was probably a mistake, because most places were closed for dinner. However, right across the street was an old-fashioned kissaten that sold "morning service," i.e. coffee, thickly sliced toast with butter and jam, a hard-boiled egg, and a tossed salad for about ¥700.
My point is that eating out in Japan is expensive if you eat in the maor Western-style hotels or in places that cater to the "businessmen's night out" crowd, but the little neighborhood restaurants are a great value. If you stick to places that have plastic models of the food in the windows, a picture menu posted outside, or a vending machine that sells meal tickets, you can easily control your spending.
Nov 25, 2014, 10:41 pm
#70
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chicago, IL., U.S.A.
Programs: Global Entry · WN, UA, AS, DL, NH; IHG, Wyndham, Hilton, Best Value Inn, Marriott, Starwood, Ramada
Posts: 510
Exchange rates (US$ - JP¥)
In December 2011, I was chewed up and spit out by a rough exchange rate of $1 = ¥78.4. And I did not bring enough cash with me. 
If you were following me on Twitter, you would have seen me using the hashtag "#reprieve" every time I hit a venue which accepted a credit card.
Compare that to today's exchange rate @ Daikokuya (which is where I recommend everybody exchange their money).
If you were following me on Twitter, you would have seen me using the hashtag "#reprieve" every time I hit a venue which accepted a credit card.Compare that to today's exchange rate @ Daikokuya (which is where I recommend everybody exchange their money).
Nov 25, 2014, 10:46 pm
#71
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Nov 26, 2014, 10:27 am
#73
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 442
In December 2011, I was chewed up and spit out by a rough exchange rate of $1 = ¥78.4. And I did not bring enough cash with me. If you were following me on Twitter, you would have seen me using the hashtag "#reprieve" every time I hit a venue which accepted a credit card.
Compare that to today's exchange rate @ Daikokuya (which is where I recommend everybody exchange their money).
If you were following me on Twitter, you would have seen me using the hashtag "#reprieve" every time I hit a venue which accepted a credit card.Compare that to today's exchange rate @ Daikokuya (which is where I recommend everybody exchange their money).
117 yen = $1USD June 1, 2014 it was around 102 yen/$1
Hopefully it stays this way until my next trip
Dec 1, 2014, 11:41 am
#74
Moderator: Avianca, Travel Photography, Travel Technology & USA
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Keep on topic and friendly
Reminder: visit post #52 again.
Further disruptive postings may cause users to temporarily lose posting privileges. If you don't care for a member personally, probably best to keep it to yourself...
Further disruptive postings may cause users to temporarily lose posting privileges. If you don't care for a member personally, probably best to keep it to yourself...
Dec 3, 2014, 8:58 am
#75
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Boston
Programs: Star Alliance
Posts: 13
Based on the week I just spent there I must disagree. With the exception of one night, my hotels were $50 US or less per night, and my meals were not expensive, including dinner & drinks for 3 at an izakaya for less than $85 US.
Yes, I could have spent a lot more on hotels, meals, and other things, but the current exchange rate makes Japan a relative bargain compared with many other places in my opinion.
Yes, I could have spent a lot more on hotels, meals, and other things, but the current exchange rate makes Japan a relative bargain compared with many other places in my opinion.