Calcifer

Rail passes definitely are a better deal now--we paid around $75 less than we did three years ago (which was pretty much the height of suck for us $-denominated folks).

WindowSeat123

Isn't that remarkable, learning something new on a thread even if you don't reply to the original OP question. Flyertalk is quite useful ain't it?

WindowSeat123

Indeed. <redacted>

As for everyone else, thanks for the useful replies. Most illuminating and helpful for for my upcoming Japan trip.

LapLap

Thanks to stalwarts such as jib71 - yes. Often, the answers we need aren't the ones we look for, or the ones we want.

He's also one of the few who will patiently and diligently keep at it when those unwelcome answers come in, providing meaningful and reliable assistance in working around the bad news.

evergrn

Had a fortune cookie yesterday that said something similar to this.

hailstorm

Heard this on the radio the other day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S94ohyErSw

JDiver

Let's try to bank down some of the snark and comments about other members, trying to argue topics like economics, ad hominem etc. and try to keep our focus on the topic: Is it really cheaper to visit Japan now?

We have the opportunity to share with those contemplating to visit Japan some genuinely useful information, doing what we do best on FlyerTalk: share our experiences and knowledge, and our varied perspectives, respectfully.

Thanks,

JDiver
Senior Moderator

mkjr

happy to be of assistance. now, that said, i found out the hard way that staying at the granvia in kyoto but flying ITM to HND but then staying at the shangri la, is a lot of going out of the way to save...$$$....[and if i was able to get a rail pass, i would have taken the train for sure....but i did not have a pass...] but for 3 people, it was a decent savings. there is also a tip over on the JAL forum where you will even be able to book your seats online with avios bookings.

i am still furious about BAEC screwing us in the US for far east trips in J that resulted in these deals...

what is also good about them is being able to book them at the last minute and/or cancel them at the last minute. [also, domestic flights on QF are deals and booking J on a short segment out of SYD to get access to the J lounge at SYD on the domestic side after you are stuck on a flight that does not have arrival lounge access can be a worthwhile throw away flight for those who are avios rich...]

lcpteck

Japan is still an expensive country even when with the drop in currency.

Q Shoe Guy

Can you post your price comparisons ? Singapore certainly wasn't cheap when I was last there a few months ago !

rts123

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.

RTW1

It's all relative.... but Japan is hardly expensive compared from a US perspective, or if you compare it to most of Europe.

mapleg

Hmmm..just came back from 16 days in Japan...it was cheaper to me than a recent vacation in Virginia. (other than the flight, obviously)

Mauibaby2008

$1US:118 yen;-)

lcpteck

They don't have hawker centers!