Planning to return back to Japan begins with:

  • Time frame

    • I aim to go back every year and experience every season while exploring every corner of the map. Considering school, kids, work, and a multitude of other things, planning for more than a week can be difficult. Not to mention the sunken cost involved in missing out on work. I try to plan around my annual week-long vacation and utilize the weekends to the max. Leaving on the 17th at midnight and returning home virtually at midnight on the 29th, I return to work the following morning. The one thing that’s nice about traveling backward is that you can get to where you're going on the same day despite flying virtually worldwide. Originally, I wanted to go for a birthday in late October, but I remembered how hard it was to get out and travel when I went to Istanbul, so I opted to go earlier for safer travel.

  • Budget

    • I usually plan for $5000.00 for upwards of 12 days. The biggest ticket item is the plane ticket, especially now that airlines include a carbon tax.

  • Tickets

    • I try to fly out of a Major hub like Denver International or Las Angeles. Flying out of small regional airports isn’t only costly and conducive because you often have to stay overnight waiting for your next flight. I start shopping a year in advance and usually book sooner rather than later when the dates come up. My preferred method of travel is flying Canada Air. Two reasons: the airports are incredibly nice, and when flying back, you can declare on the U.S. side, saving you time and a headache when you finally get back home.

  • Lodging

    • I like the experience of meeting people and hanging out, which creates greater opportunities for adventure, happenings, and new experiences. In Japan, I tend to stay in casual hotels. I am not there to enjoy the hotel but for the city. Not to mention that some of these types of stays can save money and provide excellent stay locations. I do stay in some hotels from time to time. I have been using booking.com for many years now. No, this is not a paid promotion. I love their ease of booking and the many accommodations they have listed.

  • Food

    • I like to figure $100 a day for everything: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus any novelty. I don’t tend to go overboard when spending when I first get there unless it’s a must-have item. I tend to book Tokyo as my first and last stop, so if I want anything, I can get it on my return through the city. I don’t want to carry it with me as I travel. Shopping in this way allows me to spend money on many nicer things.

  • Sovinors

    • As I said, I only buy must-have items in cities that I don’t tend to return to, and I wait until I am back in Tokyo to pick up anything I might have seen the first time on my way back through the city. I would hate to run out of money, and there are some things I treat myself to, such as special dinners or overpriced items.

  • Misc

    • Some miscellaneous items like subway fairs, metro fairs, transportation in general, Wi-Fi, and other places require payment outside of the traditional amusement parks.

This is the Budget broken down for three people going to Japan two and a half days of travel and eleven days of adventure.