Tips and Tricks for Tokyo/Shinjuku Traveling.

Hello my fellow juniors!

こにちは！
東京に行きたい？　
じゃ、以下をお読みください！

Try translating that^

Since Rebecca has touched on several administrative procedures and cost breakdown and etc., I will share on my journey from Singapore to Tokyo and Shinjuku (Rebecca flew to Osaka) and how I managed to enjoy Japan so much even though I was alone for an entire week! I flew to Tokyo on JAL and it cost me around $650 (includes return trip!). It's relatively cheap because I flew there on a Tuesday and prices are lowest then.

My accommodation came from Homestay! I highly recommend homestaying with the locals there because they know the best food and areas of interest you can go to! Even if you are in a group, some Homestays allow up to 3 to 4 people to stay with them. The prices are much cheaper compared to a hotel and can easily be compared to AirBNBs.
Homestay Link for Japan

** IMPORTANT **
 Airbnbs in Japan are now strictly regulated (June 2018 onwards) and can be very difficult to get the administrative procedures done, and you may end up paying a lot of additional taxes and fees to stay in one. Homestay uses a different policy because you are seemingly staying with a friend or relative. So laws are more lax on those situations. I paid about $35 per night with my host, and she even prepared meals for me, brought me out to museums and shrines all for free!

There are many places of interest that you can easily Google in Tokyo, but I will list some of the less popular but more fulfilling ones that you definitely should go!

1. Shibuya Crosswalk -- The famous crosswalk, 'nuff said. There's also Shibuya 109, a huge women's department here as well as a Disney Cafe/Restaurant. Can be pricey. The Hachiko statue is here too!
2. Ueno Zoo and Museums -- Simple heritage and science museums with a rather nice zoo.
3. Takao Mountain -- The hike is amazing and the peak gives you a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji
4. Shinjuku Gyoen Park -- A huge park with three themes of flowers and plants. Its beautiful
5. Akihabara -- Anime/Manga and electronics world. There is a really powerful culture here if you manage to walk around a bit more and explore the smaller alleys. The Gundam Cafe is definitely worth spending money on. TRY THEIR TOILET. LEGIT.
6. Takeshita Street/Nakano Broadway -- Think miniature Bugis, but much prettier and very insta-worthy. Expect crowds here though.
7. MUST GO -- GHIBLI MUSUEM @ MITAKA STATION. If you are a Studio Ghibli fan, this is a magical experience. Tickets need to be booked a month early because of how overwhelmingly amazing it is. It costs about $10SGD but they heavily limit the amount of people entering because of its intricate designs and atmosphere.

Food. 

Food.

Food.

Food is pretty much available anywhere and everywhere. There are the basic popular ones like Ichiran Ramen, but trust me when I say the best food you eat will very likely be a small tiny hut in the middle of nowhere that looks suspicious and rundown. The best ramen I had cost me ~$8SGD with generous portions of meat and soup. I don't even remember the name of the store. There's no need to recommend any food because I'm sure you'll figure it out on your own.

Tips and Tricks:

• You can get a Suica Card when you arrive because it helped me tremendously in paying. I was traveling solo and went everywhere. The Suica Card works like an ez-link that essentially allows you to store $ to pay for all of your transport and convenience store purchases.
• **IMPORTANT** Japan's transport system is VERY confusing initially. They have multiple companies with multiple train types. There's the JR Lines, the Metro and the Subway. Getting daily passes may not necessarily be the best way around unless you are traveling ONLY on a specific line (See Rebecca's post). Think of it like SG's MRT lines. If you travel on the Red Line and want to transfer to the Green Line, you don't have to pay in SG. In Japan, you pay. You pay quite a bit more. If you want more details, don't hesitate to ask!
• The Suica Card provides you with a bit of discount that can accumulate over time. (214 yen instead of 220 yen) and still does have its convenience. If you have any questions, just drop me a message! It was really confusing for me initially. 
• Here is a map of the entire network in TOKYO ONLY.
• Start learning some Japanese. Go online, there are plenty of free lessons and help available for you to learn. It is not impossible to get around with hand gestures and basic English, but because I had a rather proficient Japanese fluency, I managed to get a much better experience than most non-Japanese speaking foreigners do. Many of the shops and restaurants provide better menus and discounts if you understand the terms and conditions. Most English menus are overly simplified and you may end up wondering why did other customers order something that wasn't on your menu.
• Respect their culture and environment. Japanese people are wonderfully polite and kind. They greet you wherever you go and offer their help constantly. Do remember to keep quiet in trains and buses, don't litter and do not speak too loudly if you are visiting any shrines or spiritual places. Recycling is heavily advocated here so you won't find bins everywhere, and they separate their trash very strictly. Adhere to their rules.
• The transport is amazingly on time to the very second. I took a Shinkansen from Tokyo to Fukui. The system told me I would arrive at 1:00pm from 9.33am. I stepped off the train at exactly 1:00pm. That's how efficient their timing system is.
• I suggest not to take the buses unless absolutely necessary. Buses have a very strict schedule and system with regards to ticketing and payment. You can use the Suica Card in most cases but if you do end up using cash and know exactly where to alight then go ahead. Other than that, missing your stop can be very disastrous and many of the names (even though in English) can be confusing because Japan uses directions to describe stops.
• If you plan to do the same and take the Shinkansen from Tokyo, ask me for more details! It can be pricey @$120~, but I know ways to get a cheaper price. It's complicated though!

That's it for now!

I will share a bit more about Japan and start sharing about Fukui and how to survive here!

-KJ