Journey To Japan
This may sound like I'm talking out of my ass, but I'm actually very serious about this: Brian and I are thinking about going to Japan. It started out as a reaction to the fact that everyone keeps asking me if I've gone to Japan at every Meet Up I've been to. Like, holy shit people, how easy do you think this is that I, as a previously-college-student-recent-graduate-and-before-that-high-school-student, could afford to go for kicks and giggles? I mean, I KNOW it's a lot of money--my uncle went to Japan for business several times, and my brother Jacob went there for a job and stayed for several years. It's nothing to sneeze at, that's for sure.
But, the more we talked about it, the more we were like, "Well...I mean...if we at least know what kinds of prices there are....you know...maybe we could actually realistically start planning for it, and maybe....you know....maybe start up a fund for it for ourselves and...go?"
So, today, I finally got around to doing just that--researching a little. I've just checked out the tip of iceberg, mind you. I checked out the first dozen or so links to pop up in response to "travel vacation japan" in my trusty search engines. I followed THOSE links places, and checked out things. Then, I went onto several "book flights and hotels" sites like Expedia to see what it would cost for us to just go on and "guide" ourselves around Tokyo. I checked out what it would cost if we went to Ooita and stayed with Ayaka.
And mind you, I also did some research like "what's the most effective way to get from Narita airport to Tokyo?" (Several train options (what? I don't HAVE to take a taxi?!? Holy shit. I love Japan. <3) ranging from MOST EXPENSIVE ~$30/each to ~$8/each....I had been willing to guess that it would cost closer to $100 total each way...) Then I added food expenses, being generous saying that we'd spend around $40/day for food (that's roughly $13 per meal, but I am assuming a little here that breakfast and lunch will be closer to under $10, and we'll spend more on dinner). We're on a budget, so we'll find a way to eat cheap, even if that means street vendors and not awesome sushi restaurants.
We're also looking for at least 8 days in Japan. The problem with booking things is that I have to subtract days because of the time difference. But, the thing that I am discovering is that there isn't a HUGE difference between booking on our own and through a travel package, except that we'd go on tours and wouldn't be in Tokyo the entire time (most common are to go Tokyo-Kyoto-Hiroshima, which would be fine, but...I really would rather have more than three free days out of an eight day trip....still...there is an appeal to having someone handle the scary stuff for you).
The end result of my research today is that we are looking at anywhere from $3700 to $4700 total (food, travel, spending money) for us to go to Japan in Spring 2011. That's a little unreasonable for us at the moment...but it gives us a goal for us to aim for. If we can muster up that much money, well...who knows? I feel like if we aim to have $5000 for a trip to Japan, it may be possible for us to go when we'd like. We'll see, but at least I've finally put a price tag on it.
But, the more we talked about it, the more we were like, "Well...I mean...if we at least know what kinds of prices there are....you know...maybe we could actually realistically start planning for it, and maybe....you know....maybe start up a fund for it for ourselves and...go?"
So, today, I finally got around to doing just that--researching a little. I've just checked out the tip of iceberg, mind you. I checked out the first dozen or so links to pop up in response to "travel vacation japan" in my trusty search engines. I followed THOSE links places, and checked out things. Then, I went onto several "book flights and hotels" sites like Expedia to see what it would cost for us to just go on and "guide" ourselves around Tokyo. I checked out what it would cost if we went to Ooita and stayed with Ayaka.
And mind you, I also did some research like "what's the most effective way to get from Narita airport to Tokyo?" (Several train options (what? I don't HAVE to take a taxi?!? Holy shit. I love Japan. <3) ranging from MOST EXPENSIVE ~$30/each to ~$8/each....I had been willing to guess that it would cost closer to $100 total each way...) Then I added food expenses, being generous saying that we'd spend around $40/day for food (that's roughly $13 per meal, but I am assuming a little here that breakfast and lunch will be closer to under $10, and we'll spend more on dinner). We're on a budget, so we'll find a way to eat cheap, even if that means street vendors and not awesome sushi restaurants.
We're also looking for at least 8 days in Japan. The problem with booking things is that I have to subtract days because of the time difference. But, the thing that I am discovering is that there isn't a HUGE difference between booking on our own and through a travel package, except that we'd go on tours and wouldn't be in Tokyo the entire time (most common are to go Tokyo-Kyoto-Hiroshima, which would be fine, but...I really would rather have more than three free days out of an eight day trip....still...there is an appeal to having someone handle the scary stuff for you).
The end result of my research today is that we are looking at anywhere from $3700 to $4700 total (food, travel, spending money) for us to go to Japan in Spring 2011. That's a little unreasonable for us at the moment...but it gives us a goal for us to aim for. If we can muster up that much money, well...who knows? I feel like if we aim to have $5000 for a trip to Japan, it may be possible for us to go when we'd like. We'll see, but at least I've finally put a price tag on it.