Backpacking Japan on a Budget

Japan is labelled as one of the most expensive countries in the world, and having lived here for the past eight months I can certainly say it isn't cheap, however this country still can be done cheaply. Not Eastern Europe, South East Asia cheap, but a bit cheaper than you first might think. As a local I now know some of the tricks to travelling this wonderful country on a budget, and I feel it’s only right that I pass on my thoughts.

Accommodation

Firstly, your main cost no doubt, is accommodation. This can be avoided by any traveller who is familiar with couchsurfing. There are a million and one foreigners in Japan, so if you're worried about the Japanese language barrier, then worry no more! Couchsurfing is worth exploring, and although it can limit your travel due to location and timings, it’s still a great way to explore a country. However, if couchsurfing isn’t for you then I’d recommend these cheap but good quality hostels in the main cities of Japan:

Exploring Around Tokyo

When backpacking around Japan it’s very easy to get sucked into the city vibes and stay pretty central to where the main tourism lies. However, the real culture and often the charms of this country lie around the city outskirts. Some places may be more obvious than others to visit, but escaping the neon lights and hustle and bustle, is more what Japan is about. Take Tokyo, for example. This is a fantastic city and I don’t discourage anyone from spending time here, however if you do have some extra days, it is definitely worth exploring what else is around this capital.

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is probably the most popular and most well-known place around Tokyo. Japan’s tallest mountain and a recent World Heritage Site this spectacle is worth a visit. However, the need to climb Mount Fuji may not be for everyone. If anything, this mountain is best explored from a far to see the beautiful views and the sunset behind. But if you do want to go to the mountain then the easiest way is to go by bus or train from Tokyo. There are no trains directly to the mountain point so catch a train to either Fujiyoshida or Gotemba and get a bus from there. However, the best viewing points for this mountain are in Hakone or in Fuji itself.

In a Place Called Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the biggest cities in the world, and also one of the most expensive. You can’t find a city quite like it. Even similar cities such as Shanghai, Singapore City and Beijing, don’t quite match the same mix of hustle, bustle, tradition and quirkiness like this capital. Tokyo has many districts, just like most big cities, which are all linked by an underground and overground train system, not to make things confusing or anything….

Even though you can cover a lot in a few days, you could spend a few weeks here and still not have even touched on the most weirdest and wonderful parts of this great capital. However, I’m here to make it a bit easier and below I've highlighted how you could spend your time in the weird and wonderful city that is Tokyo.

Sakura. The Best Time to Visit Japan?

If you’re going to travel to Japan, I highly recommend going during the Spring season which is the sakura season where you'll see vasts amount of the incredible cherry blossom season.
This probably doesn't help to be honest as the cherry blossom season lasts a maximum of three weeks a year on average, and it can vary each year due to the seasons, weather and unpredictable Mother Nature. You’re generally looking at the end of March-April time to catch the sakura, and if you’re lucky enough then you can see it all over Japan.

The cherry blossoms are some of the most amazing spectacles in Japan. The blossoms can make the dullest of streets look beautiful, and they make the parks and gardens look out of this world. It may seem like I am exaggerating, after all they are just a few flowers on some trees, but they take over Japan when they do and the whole nation get involved. During the sakura season a lot of sakura chasing can be carried out where locals and tourists fleet the streets to find trails of blossom. You’ll see millions of locals and tourists taking tonnes of pictures, which capture Japan in its prettiest form. Here are a few places I would recommend visiting during the sakura season, to catch the best images and the best blossom:

My 2013 Travel Resolutions

Just like any girl, I love making a list. My best friend and I made our Missions Before We’re 25 Bucket List when we were 18, which included a fair few countries I wanted to visit. Furthermore, from looking at other travel blogs I've found that a lot of fellow bloggers have a travel bucket list, which tends to be pretty generic of what people want to achieve on their travels. Well, as it’s the start of a new year, I’m going to do a 2013 bucket list. 

Disneyland

Just like any self-respecting 22 year old adult, I'm a huge fan of Disney... judge away but I love Disney and especially Disneyland. What's not to love when you combine a land of childhood characters, roller-coasters and magic… Okay, so Disney may not sound like everyone's cup of tea but I once had an aim to visit every Disneyland in the world, maybe not so much now as I've discovered life beyond the Magic Kingdom, but here goes the blog anyway.

There are five Disneyland parks in the world (in order of opening):

1. Disneyland Resort - California 
2. Walt Disney World Resort - Florida 
3. Tokyo Disney Resort - Tokyo 
4. Disneyland Paris (Euro Disney Resort) - Paris 
5. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort - Hong Kong