My First Trip to Japan (And How I Enjoyed It With Less Than Fifty Thousand Pesos for Expenses)

I really didn't expect that I would be able to visit the Land of the Rising Sun (Japan!!!) this summer of 2017 because I was just in Seoul, South Korea in February and that my original plan was to visit my friends in Singapore and Indonesia. Maybe it was a blessing that since I couldn't find a promo for the flight to Singapore, I browsed some flights to Osaka thru Cheapflights.com.ph. I was delighted to find out that there are inexpensive flights to Japan other than the ones offered by Cebu Pacific. And so the travel plan to Japan began...

I have heard from people that if one has a visa to Korea, he would probably be able to get a Japan visa, too. I tried my luck so I prepared all the required documents like employment certification, latest ITR, bank certificate, NSO birth certificate, travel itinerary in Japan, and the visa application form. Among the 5 accredited travel agencies in Manila, I chose Reli Tour and Travel Agency in Megamall. I paid P950.00 for the processing of my visa. Two days after submitting my application, I received the good news that I got my first Japan visa. Yehey!

For my accommodation, I booked a room in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture through Airbnb. The place is just 2 train stations away from KIX (Kansai International Airport) and about an hour's travel to Osaka city proper. Well, I believed it was a good deal because I paid P5,720.00 only for a 5-day stay! Mr. Wenxiang, my host was very kind and hospitable, he even fetched me from the Izumisano train station on the day of my arrival. So before leaving the Philippines, my expenses are in this list:

                             P    950.00  -  visa application fee

                             P    250.00  -  NSO birth certificate fee (online/delivery)

                             P12,182.00 -  Jetstar Air (Mla-Osaka-Mla)

                             P  5,720.00 -  Airbnb guest house (5 days)

                             P  1,600.00 -  travel tax at NAIA

That's a total of P20,702.00.                                                                          

                                                    Kansai International Airport in Osaka (KIX)                      

I arrived in Osaka around 11:30 AM on April 30. The impressive architecture of KIX greeted me. Besides its ultra modern design, what makes KIX unique is that it was built on a man-made island because there was no more space in Osaka for a new airport.

                 This is the guest house where I stayed in Asahicho, Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture.

my bed 

My Airbnb host was at the train station in Izumisano 15 minutes after I called him. The house actually is just a 10-minute walk from the station. The weather in Osaka during spring even at noontime is so nice that walking is not a burden at all. One thing I noticed was the quietness of the neighborhood. It was sooo quiet you would think nobody was home. I learned that it was out of respect to their neighbors that Japanese people keep down their voice at home.

                                My first dinner which I bought from the supermarket nearby.

                                  Anytime of the day, the neighborhood was really peaceful.

I had coffee and bread for breakfast on my second day in Japan. (I actually brought several sachets of Kopiko from the Philippines.) I was very excited for my trip to downtown Osaka so before 9:00 AM I was already at the train station. In Japan, you can go around by train, bus, subway, or taxi. The train system can be a little complicated for a first timer like me but no worries, there are officers in all train stations who are more than willing to assist you so that you wont get lost even if they find it difficult to speak English. Taxi is so expensive I didn't try it.

My train ticket in going to downtown Osaka. This is from Izumisano to Shin-Imamiya station. I had to transfer to a connecting train to reach Osaka station. (Y590)

    Train ride from Izumisano to Osaka

                                                                The busy Osaka Station

Arriving at Osaka Station, I almost got anxious because of the people coming and going from all directions. Good I knew where I would exit, thanks to tsunagujapan.com which I read before my flight. The article on transportation in the Kansai region came in very handy. I took the designated bus going to Osaka Castle, my first destination in the city.

Outside, the castle looks like it is a 5-story building but inside, it has 8 levels.

the view of Osaka from the 8th floor view deck of the castle

my first matcha ice cream with Osaka Castle as the background

After spending 2 hours in the magnificent castle and its vast compound, I walked leisurely around. Later, I went back inside a Lawson convenient store to ask the crew how I could reach the famous Dotonbori area. Another thing that Osaka (if not the whole of Japan!) is known for is the kindness and the willingness of the people to help. The crew at Lawson didn't just simply tell me how to get to Dotonbori, he even went out of the store with me and showed me the street that leads to the subway. Wow.

Osaka Museum of Natural History

the famous Dotonbori

okonomiyaki and takoyaki - yummy!

with the famous Kuidaore Taro clown

and of course, I had to take a picture with the Glico man

I didn't let the opportunity pass to try what locals love to do: enjoy Onsen! Japanese people go to hot spring baths every chance they get. I was just fortunate that there is an onsen in Rinkutown which is one station away from Izumisano. The hot spring was so refreshing and so rejuvenating!

                                                     Entrance to the onsen in Rinkutown

On my third night in Japan, I received a message from a dear friend and former co-teacher who has lived there for many years telling me that we could actually meet the next day. Days before, she wasn't sure if we could possibly meet because her husband might not be available to drive for her. Lucky us, the husband finally said yes and drove for us all the way to Nara Prefecture!

                                           Met up my friend, Marsha at Izumisano Station

                                             Lunch before the trip to Nara

                               Travelling through the freeway for 2 hours to Nara Prefecture

Nara is famous for tame deer which roam freely around the park and can be fed by visitors. (Deer are considered messengers of the gods in Shinto religion.) We just enjoyed strolling the whole afternoon in the park catching up with my friend Marsha who I haven't seen for 20 years.

                                                  

                                                  trying to feed the deer

At 50 meters, the five-story Kofukuji pagoda is Japan's second tallest.

Instead of travelling back to Osaka, I requested Marsha and her husband to bring me straight to Kyoto where I planned to stay overnight. Kyoto is the old capital of Japan. It remains an important cultural hub for the whole country. Unlike Osaka, there are not much gigantic glittering billboards along the major streets of downtown Kyoto. Maybe it was a decision to preserve the old rustic feel of the city.

Marsha dropped me off in front of the Kyoto Station. My, this station is something! The architecture is amazingly futuristic. There are shops and restaurants everywhere (there are actually 3 malls in the station!) They can easily use the slogan of SM - "We've got it all for you!" The station itself is a must-see for tourists.

                                                the Kyoto Tower at night

Kyoto Station

This multi-lingual message board occupies a big part on the wall. Notice the message in Filipino.

Since I planned to stay in Kyoto only until late afternoon of the following day before I head back to Osaka, I just decided to stay in a net cafe to rest for a few hours before resuming my sight-seeing early the following morning. Japan is known for having net cafes where one can stay overnight. I paid about Y1,700 for a 7-hour stay in a private cubicle. It came with free re-fills of drinks (coffee, chocolate, soda, juices, frozen beverages, etc!)

 there are restaurants in Japan where you choose and pay for your hot meals 

through vending machines

dinner in Kyoto

At 5:30 AM the next morning I was back at the grand Kyoto station for my train ride to Fushimi Inari Shrine. That's a Shinto shrine located in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermillion torii gates (it's the gate emoji!!!) Pangarap ko lang dati magkapicture sa ilalim ng mga yan, di ko pa nga alam dati ang tawag sa kanila! :)

6 AM at Kyoto Station

                The torii gate that leads to the mountain with thousands more torii gates

The main Shinto shrine

For me, what is nice about not joining an organized tour is that I can visit places at my own pace, I can make sudden changes in my itinerary, I can stop anytime either to appreciate something I saw or just to rest my tired feet.

After touring Fushimi Inari, I went back to Kyoto Station to have coffee while waiting for my schedule of the Kyoto free walking tour. It was a pleasant tour facilitated by Mayu, a full-blooded Japanese who had schooling in the US where she acquired her accent. She showed us around Gion district - Kyoto's most famous geisha district, located around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west. It is filled with shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain. 

Kamo River

Minamiza, the first kabuki theater in Japan

they were gracious to stop for a selfie with me :)

lunch in Kyoto - okonomiyaki

preparing okonomiyaki in front of the customers

Mayu, our guide for the Kyoto free walking tour

the busy Gion district

the monument to honor Myoan Eisai, the man who brought tea to Japan from China

I have spent about Y5,000 (roughly P2,243) for train and bus, Y9,000 (P4,038) for food, Y8,140 (P3,652) for miscellaneous expenses like entrance fees, coin lockers, net cafe, bottled water, groceries, etc. That's a total of Y22,140 or roughly P9,934.00 We add the expenses before I left the Philippines, that would be P30,636!

This just proves that one can enjoy a trip to Japan even on a tight budget. I intentionally did not include the expenses I incurred on my last 2 days shopping for pasalubong and some personal items. True, it is expensive in Japan but if you plan your trip well, you need not worry.

At Kansai International Airport in Osaka for my flight back to Manila

Sayonara, Japan. Arigato gozaimasu! See you in 2018!