Wow, what an amazing trip. I will read this over and over.
Always wanted to go to Japan, is it an expensive country to visit?
No, it's cheap compared to the UK, the exchange rate currently specially makes it a bargain with the exception of flight. Hotels wise....at least during Sakura it would be expensive if you didn't book early in the big city.
In Tokyo the places I booked for 10 nights was £660, that was my original plan, to use Tokyo as a base and do day trips with the JR Pass. So i booked the room for 10 nights. But as i planned the trip i wanted to do this loop to Matsumoto, Kanazawa and Kyoto before coming back to Tokyo. 3 nights away. When i went to cancel and rebook the same hotel with 7 nights...those 7 nights would cost more than the 10 nights i booked. So I left the booking as is. Meaning the room was empty for 3 nights i was away. Which is good as I stored my big suitcase and my souvenirs there and took a backpack for the 3 days.
Away from Tokyo, Matsumoto and Kanazawa I got nice hotels for about £50 a night. The Kanazawa one actually went down in price with a week to go. I always try to book with "free to cancel", so i did and then rebook and save £5...which I used to upgrade the same room with breakfast for £7.
Kyoto room was "expensive", that room was £110 or something, but Kyoto during Sakura is always expensive.
Food wise, cheap, I gave myself 10,000 yen budget a day and that was plenty. Mostly because I always skip breakfast or eat Konbini breakfast which would be max £5.
Flight however has gone up, it used to be like £700 would get you to Japan even in peak season, I paid £1500...long store. Originally I booked a return with JAL with Premium Economy for £1300 back in October, but 2 months later, 2 days before Christmas i got an email from JAL that they moved both my flights.
Before - land at 7am on arrival
After change - land at 4pm
So I lost 9hrs
Before - Depart at 11am
After change - Depart at 12pm mignight....moved forward by almost 12hours.
Meaning the last night of the hotel I booked was wasted. I would rebook the hotel, but as i mentioned, the prices shot up so it would cost me more to rebook. Not to mention it was a connecting flight with a stop over in Helsinki, they didn't move forward the return leg of the flight from Helsinki to London so it would mean a 11hr layover at Helsinki airport...
I thought, no thanks....so I got a refund from JAL and book direct with ANA, but only the return was Prem Eco, even both legs in Eco would be about £1300 or so due to how late i am now booking a flight. So I got shafted there from JAL. Back in 2019 i went and flew direct with BA, same hotel, same length of stay, £1100 all in. I think this time i spent £1500 on flights and about £800 on hotels, £200 on JR Pass.
