We have a new travel writer on board with us. Her name is Ruth and today, she is going to tell us about her recent trip to Japan. We’ll give credit cards a break today. But since part of getting credit cards is getting sign up bonuses to be able to take trips like that, we thought an occasional post like this will “inspire” you to look for ways to get free airline tickets!
Rice, bikes, Samurai Jack… These were my husband’s thoughts as we boarded the plane which was to take us to one of our dream destinations, Tokyo.
“A great experience for sure. Which will be costing us a bundle…,” I remember grumbling to hubby before we fastened our seat belts.
Japan has always been described by many as both a charming place and an incredibly costly country. So who could blame me for being concerned that our holiday was going to be our financial ruin?!
But, of course I was just being my normal ridiculous self. Because (surprise… happy surprise!) Japan turned out to be a much, much less expensive holiday that I would have anticipated. And even more exotic than I could have ever imagined!
Okay. So booking a flight from my country, the Mediterranean island of Malta, to fly all the way over to Tokyo was not cheap. Not at all.
But having said that, my husband and I managed to find accommodation in some of the main attractions of the Asian city at a decent price. A quick look at the internet will portray a wide variety of hotels which offer small, but clean and decent rooms on a B&B basis at reasonable prices. You don’t believe me? Try browsing!
It is becoming popular for tourists to stay in hostels which pretty much act as very unfussy hotels, whilst still offering a reception area service and free internet connection. Then there is also a particular style of hotel which has been developed in Japan, referred to as the “capsule hotel”. The tiny ‘rooms’ consist of ‘capsules’, which basically look like wide drawers. Individuals can rent out these ‘spaces’ for overnight accommodation at very economical rates. Individuals can sleep in these rectangular ‘areas’ and store away their belongings in lockers. I found that most sites advertise these ‘hotels’ as offering entertainment facilities including a television and wireless internet connection.
The mentioned capsules are stacked on top of one another and side by side. One can still maintain privacy thanks to a special door, or curtain, at the open end of the ‘drawer’. As a result some might say that these capsules resemble a gigantic beehive straight out of a futuristic movie. Personally they remind me of some murder series in which the detective visits the morgue so as to take a look at the corpses (or in this case, the sleeping travelers).
But enough with the macabre and onto a nicer and more appetizing subject; food.
I am a firm believer that any serious voyager has to consume the local typical gastronomy in order to fully ‘savor’ the country visited. The flavors, the aromas, the colors… These all form part of the joys of the daily distinctive life. Much to our amazement, my husband and I found out that the top restaurants in Japan offer good-value meals during the lunch hours. This offer is taken up by millions of office workers who frequent their favorite restaurants with their colleagues during their lunch breaks. It is interesting to add that such meals are served on minimalist, small plates together with chopsticks, which needless to say, act as a replacement of forks. It is also a kind of custom for Japanese restaurants to serve a bowl of rice and glasses of water complimentary with all meals.
The good news is that most foodstuff and beverages are reasonably priced. One can buy the most extraordinary, lip smacking provisions at supermarkets and food stalls, which are scattered all over the country. Furthermore refreshing drinks such as coconut milk, and healthy beverages including fresh orange, lemon, grape, carrot and beetroot juices, are sold in small plastic bottles for affordable prices. I soon learnt that some locals drink these juices with a straw from plastic bags since this is a cheaper option.
It is a fact that Japanese people are among the healthiest individuals in the world, and few of them are overweight. This is thanks to the healthy diet they consume on a day-to-day basis consisting mostly of rice, vegetables and fish. However, to my bewilderment I found that many popular American fast food chains and take-outs are growing popular with the locals. In contrast, fruit is considered as a luxurious food item. Moreover, in supermarkets, fruit such as apples and oranges are packed individually and sold separately at steep prices.
Chocolates also seem to be a rare and luxurious commodity. After an extensive search, I managed to find some ridiculously-priced bars in a store which ultimately turned out to be tasteless. So my advice to all the sweet-tooth travelers planning to visit Japan is to either stuff your luggage with your favorite nibbles, or else try iced cherries, one of the locals’ favorite desserts, which again are pretty cheap.
Temple In Japan
Scaling Mount Fuji
A word of warning to the funds-restricted tourists! Transport is an expensive affair in all of Japan. Metros, trains and internal flights are very, very, very dear. Yet I would still recommend using the Shinkansen (which literary means “fast train”) since it is not only interesting, but also extremely efficient and comfortable.
I could go on and on about the joy of visiting this Asian country. Being constrained by time and space, I would add that it is possible to travel without having to spend a fortune and yet be able to explore one of the most remarkable and special countries I have ever visited. And here I rest my case.
At the time of writing, 1 Japanese Yen, which is the local currency, equals $0.012264.
