Japan: 4 Days and 4 Nights: Budget and Itinerary

I got a multiple-entry Japan visa two years ago. After two years, I haven't used it. I thought it would be useful when I planned to go to Taiwan but I flushed my promofare Taipei tickets because I got too fed up with China last year.

My amiga Sarah booked her Japan tickets, to make her teenage dream come true. I couldn't join her for her Tokyo adventure (I took a lot of vacations this year - ergo spent my leaves and moolah on those).  I got excited about Kyoto when she started planning her itinerary. I knew left out some sites in the Kansai area in 2012. When Cebu Pacific had their Piso-fare promo, I snatched roundtrip Manila to Kansai tickets for less than Php 3,000 - without baggage. Sweet.

There are some places which will be fun to revisit with a friend!

I was extremely happy how the costs fell below my planned budget. I already spent a huge amount of cash outflow this year because of my international trips. The budget was even below the amount I spent in Korea or Hong Kong. 

Budget and itinerary:

Category	Activity	JPY	PHP
	Actual rate of JPY purchase		0.3847
Day 1: Depart NAIA. Arrive Osaka. Transfer to Kyoto
Transportation	RT MNL-KIX via 5J (Puchased in January 2015)		2,897.95
Others	15 kg baggage allowance		450.00
Transportation	Travel Tax		1,620.00
Transportation	Uber		337.00
Food	Breakfast at McDo		55.00
Food	Mineral water		18.00
Food	CBTL Caesar Salad		255.00
	15:20 Depart NAIA
	19:55 Arrive Osaka Airport
Transportation	Claim reservation for Icoca and Haruka pass	4,060.00
Transportation	Bus to Gojozaka	230.00
Accommodation	Gojo Guestohouse 4 nights - dorm for 6 pax	10,400.00
Others	Locker reservation	500.00
Food	Tuna rice cake	110.00
Food	Dinner	590.00
Day 2:	Daytrip to Nara
Food	Breakfast set at hostel	300.00
Transportation	Keihan line: Kiyomizu to Tambashi	210.00
Transportation	Kintetsu line: Tambashi to Nara	560.00
Food	Lunch: Chicket lunch set + half extra rice	840.00
Transportation	Kintetsu line: Nara to Tambashi	560.00
Transportation	Keihan line: Tambashi to Kiyomizu	210.00
Food	Tuna rice cake + cold Royal Milk tea	271.00
Others	Additional baggage for Cebu pac		620.00
Day 3:	Daytrip to Himeji
Transportation	Bus to Kyoto Station	230.00
Transportation	1-day JR West pass	2,200.00
Food	Rice cake	110.00
Transportation	Bus ride to Himeji Castle	100.00
Others	Himeji combination ticket with Kokoen garden	1,040.00
Food	Lunch: Restaurant in from of Himegi Castle	1,166.00
Transportation	Bus back to Himeji station	100.00
Food	Osaka Dinner	1,080.00
Transportation	Bus from Kyoto to Gojozaka	230.00
Day 4	Kobe
Food	Breakfast set at hostel	300.00
Transportation	Hankyu pass	700.00
Food	Lunch - Kobe beef meal set	5,699.00
Food	7-11 Onigiri and dessert	430.00
Others	Onsen fee	430.00
Others	Onsen towel rental	20.00
Others	Onsen chair massage	20.00
Day 5	Day in Kyoto. Midnight Flight to MNL.
Food	Breakfast set at hostel	300.00
Transportation	Bus to Kyoto station	230.00
Others	Lugagge deposit refund	(500.00)
Food	Lunch: Special egg roll and yakiudon	1,188.00
Food	McDo Dinner	740.00
	20:40 Depart Osaka
	23:50 Arrive Manila
Transportation	Taxi going home		250.00
	Total, In JPY & PHP	34,654.00	6,502.95
	Total, in PHP		19,834.34

Summary

	JPY	PHP
Transportation	9,620.00	5,104.95
Food	13,124.00	328.00
Accommodation	10,400.00	-
Others	1,510.00	1,070.00
TOTAL	34,654.00	6,502.95
TOTAL, PHP		19,834.34

The Itinerary

I missed Osaka, Himeji and Kobe during my first visit so this presented an opportunity to visit those areas. 
Himeji castle reopened in May 2015, after being in renovation for so long. 
Kobe, just for the beef and beef alone. I gave it a shot even though I consciously decreased my meat intake after my detox adventure. 
And Osaka - just because everyone's doing it and I was in the area. We just ate there at night, and that was fine. We deliberately skipped Universal Studios because those are better explored with families or a barkada. 
I suggested that it would be nice to be based on Kyoto. I really really really liked Kyoto when I was there in 2012. I also liked staying in Gojo Guesthouse so we stayed at their dorms. 

Dotunburi, Osaka, at night

Forex rate

The forex rate during my trip in 2012 was 1 JPY = Php 0.53 to 0.54. This time, the forex rate was better (for me, the traveler): 1 JPY = Php 0.3847. That’s a 30% decrease in PHP conversion in 2015 rates vs. 2012 rates. Win!

The real legit Kobe beef is life-changing

Passes

Just like my first trip in 2012, I heavily relied on the Japan-guide website to plan my itinerary for 4 days and 4 nights.
I got a  round trip ICOC and Haruka pass for JPY 4,060. This has roundtrip Kansai airport and a card with a preloaded balance of JPY 2,000. 
We got a 1-Day JR Kansai Area Pass when we travelled going to Himeji. I reserved the ticket online (you have to specify the date that you are using the pass) and then paid JPY 2,200 when I claimed the ticket in Kyoto Station. To make the most out of the pass, we explored Osaka after spending our day in Himeji.
We also got a 1-day Hankyu Tourist Pass when we visited Kobe. This is such a steal for JPY 700! If you plan your itinerary better, I would advice getting this pass then getting a limousine bus as well - cheaper than doing the ICOCA + Haruka pass combo. You just have to stay near the station of the limousine bus so you won't need to haul your luggage around Kyoto. 

Hello Himeji Castle!

Consumption Tax

Agggggh. Japan implemented raised its consumption tax from 5% to 8% effective April 2014. The consumption tax is levied on selected goods and services (I think it was selected). This will increase to 10% in April 2017. Be aware of this sales tax. I got surprised a couple of times at the check-out counter because I forgot that there was still an 8% sales tax. 

Other Japan Posts:

Applying For A Tourist Visa For Japan

Japan Itinerary and Budget Breakdown

Japan Preparation: Baggage, JPY, Japan Rail Pass

Multiple Entry Visas: South Korea and Japan

My Japan Series here: ASIA ACCOUNTS