Everyone loves to save money, even if it is just a couple of bucks. Some people consider it an achievement or a competition to get a discount and are proud to tell stories of how they managed to get something at a rather cheap price. Saving money on a holiday is not a big deal; anyone who knows certain trends can take advantage.
First of all, I will tell you some common tips which will help you save money on your holiday, be it in Japan or elsewhere. Always plan your trip two or three months ahead of the date. This helps in getting tickets at a lower fare. Airlines always offer discounts on advanced bookings. This eventually saves you a lot more money than you think, as when you buy a ticket in the holiday season it is usually 15-20% more expensive than regular rates. Another ticketing tip is that if you travel in mid-week the fare is relatively low. The next step is to plan which places you want to visit and in which sequence. This will help you plan your stays and you can book your rooms. Again, advance booking here saves you some cash. Other than these, it is better that you are well equipped with all items needed for the trip rather than buying from the location itself, which could lead to a budget imbalance. This will eventually save money as you will know where to get cheaper items in your area.
When planning a trip to Japan, one should study its price trends. For example, come start of September, the holidays end and tourists go back and locals get back to their normal lives. Kids rejoin school, workers go back to their duties and things go back to being cheap as demand falls. From September to November, Japan is a very cheap place to visit. The peaceful atmosphere is more pleasant, hotel rates are low and travel fares are also exceptionally low, as fewer people are travelling. Similarly, at the start of February till the end of March, things are available at very affordable rates.
If you are not looking for festivals or celebrations in Japan, the above mentioned months will offer you great savings. A peaceful tour of Japan at almost 20-35% off is a dream. Anyway, a holiday is no use without fun. Visiting Japan in peak seasons is comparatively expensive, but you can still save some money. If you are exploring a city, instead of hiring a cab, walk on foot. In case of hotels, you should prefer hotels which are outside the city, rather than at the center. The price difference between hotels at the center of the city and others will be substantial. Enjoy the local Japanese cuisine rather than spending hundreds of dollars on foreign dishes.
The most expensive months in Japan are usually June to August, during which there are thousands of tourists and festivals. During Christmas season, prices are again sky high and tourists flock in from all over the world. People visiting Japan in these months should take the above mentioned tips to save their money.
Andrew has regularly visited Japan in the last 3 years. When is not planning his next trip, Andrew trains chef and kitchen staff on how to use sushi robots and especially maki machine
Image by Marc Veraart
