Kobe

JR KANSAI-HIROSHIMA AREA PASS Review – Is It Worth It?

Early last year, my friends and I purchased the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass for our trip around Hiroshima and the Kansai Region. We used this pass to travel to Hiroshima, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji from our base in Osaka.

Today, I will give you an in-depth look at this area pass and whether it’s worth purchasing. Read on below to learn more.

JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass

The JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass is an unlimited rail (and bus) pass offered to foreign tourists who wish to travel around the Kansai Region and Hiroshima for five consecutive days. The pass includes unlimited Shinkansen (bullet train) rides between Osaka and Hiroshima.

Price & Inclusions

The JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass costs ¥17,000 for adults (12 years and older) and ¥8,500 for children (6 to 11 years old). The pass is valid for five consecutive days from the date of the first trip/ride.

According to the West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) website, the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass covers the following:

Unlimited use of the Sanyo Shinkansen (including Nozomi and Mizuho) between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima, including the Hello Kitty Shinkansen
Unlimited Shinkansen seat reservations on ordinary cars
Unlimited use of local, rapid, and limited express JR trains in the JR-West coverage area
Unlimited use of the JR Ferry to and from Miyajima Island (Itsukushima)
Unlimited use of Kyoto Tango Railway going to Amanohashidate
Unlimited use of Wakayama Electric Railway
Unlimited use of local JR buses around Hiroshima, Kyoto and other West Japan JR buses within the covered areas
Free bicycle rental at Ekirin Kun outlets in the designated areas

Limitations

This area pass also comes with certain limitations. First, the pass is only available to foreign visitors/tourists (with valid landing permits) in Japan. It is not available for purchase by locals or residents of Japan. Second, the pass can only be used by a single person. It is tied to the person’s passport details, so it is not transferable. Additionally, the pass holder must always carry their passport.

Third, the pass does not cover the Tōkaidō Shinkansen route between Shin-Osaka and Kyoto. It also cannot be used on any other Shinkansen routes outside the Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima route. Fourth, Shinkansen seat reservations via ticket machines can only be made up to six times. Any seat reservations beyond the 6th must be made at the offices.

Where To Buy

The JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass is available for purchase on the West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) website. It is also available through accredited local travel agencies worldwide. You can find the list of accredited travel agencies here. The area pass is also available for purchase on online travel platforms such as Klook and KKDay.

Please note that the pass must be exchanged within 3 months from the date of purchase.

How To Use It

Each purchased pass must be exchanged at designated JR-West ticket offices or selected JR-West stations for physical tickets. These passes can also be exchanged at green ticket machines labeled e5489. The machine will require the customer to present the reservation number, e-ticket QR code, and a foreign passport with an IC chip. Seat reservations can also be made at these green ticket machines.

The JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass works like any other single-journey ticket. The ticket holder must insert the JR Pass along with the seat reservation ticket (if applicable) at every station checkpoint and retrieve them after passing through.

Japan Rail Pass Fare Calculator

Websites in Japan have created JR Pass fare calculators to help determine whether purchasing a particular pass is worth it, depending on your itinerary.

The JR Pass and Japan Travel websites offer fare calculators for the standard 7 to 21-day passes. The Japan Guide website provides a more detailed fare calculator that includes all available regional passes.

Where Did We Use

My friends and I purchased our JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass from Klook. We paid ₱6,346.00 each and exchanged our pass vouchers at a green ticket machine located at Osaka Station.

We used our passes for 5 consecutive days and traveled the following route: Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima via the Nozomi bullet train, Hiroshima to Miyajima Island (Itsukushima) via train and ferry (round trip), Hiroshima Meipuru-pu sightseeing bus to our accommodation, Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka via the Nozomi bullet train, JR line from Shin-Imamiya Station to JR Nara Station and back, Shin-Osaka to Shin-Kobe, Shin-Kobe to Himeji both via the Nozomi bullet train, Himeji to Shin-Osaka via the Hikari bullet train, and Kyoto Station to Arashiyama Station and back.

We used the pass to visit Hiroshima, Nara, Kobe, Himeji, and Kyoto all within 5 days. We didn’t use it for our trip to Kyoto (because we found a faster and more convenient option), but we did use it for the return train service from Kyoto to Arashiyama.

Was It Worth Purchasing?

Was the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass worth the purchase given our route above? The answer is YES. With the help of Google Maps, I manually checked every ride we took. The total fare cost of everything listed above without the pass was around ¥33,000 per person.

The pass only cost us ¥17,000 per person. Including all bus and local train rides, it saved us around ¥16,000 per person. That is almost double the original pass cost! What a steal.

At the end of the day, the pass will only be worth it if you carefully plan your itinerary and make sure to maximize its inclusions within the 5-day usage period. While it may not be the most affordable option for visiting the Kansai Region and Hiroshima, it can become a valuable investment with proper planning and usage. If you plan to stay solely within the Kansai Region, you can consider these cheaper alternatives: the JR Kansai Area Pass and the JR Kansai WIDE Area Pass.

What do you think of the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass? Is it something that suits your travel style? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the pass? In addition to posting below, you can also send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s pass review. In case you missed it, my friends and I flew to Japan for 20 days to experience the cherry blossom season from March to April 2024. You can find all posts related to this trip under the Sakura 2024 category.

Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Sakura 2024: NARA, KOBE & HIMEJI Photoblog [March 2024]

Last year, my friends and I flew to Japan to experience the world-famous Sakura season. We had planned to be in most cities during the forecasted full bloom period, but to our surprise, the bloom was delayed by a little over a week due to colder-than-usual temperatures. We continued with our plans and enjoyed the trip despite the delay.

We started our journey in Takayama and Shirakawa-go, then went down to Osaka for a few relaxing / working days. We traveled further south to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island, then returned to Osaka. During our second visit to Osaka, we decided to explore nearby cities such as Nara, Kobe, and Himeji.

Allow me to share some of the photos I took during these short visits to the cities. I had been to Kobe in 2016 and Nara a few times (2016, 2019 and 2023), so I did not take many photos.

Accommodation & Osaka Base

My friends and I stayed in Osaka again for a few days after Hiroshima. Just like during our previous visit, we stayed at The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi.

It has become my favorite accommodation in Osaka. I have stayed at this property during my last four visits to the city. I wrote about why I love this property in one of the recent “Hostel of the Day” features. I hope you can check out why this is my favorite here.

A few years ago, I wrote about how to apply for a Japan tourist visa. Click here to learn more about getting one for yourself.

JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass

We purchased the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass for our visits to Hiroshima and the three cities. We paid ¥17,000 each for a 5-day pass that allowed us to take unlimited Shinkansen rides between Osaka and Hiroshima, as well as limited express and local JR trains and buses within the area. We used this pass to visit the three cities, take bullet trains to Kobe and Himeji, and use the local JR line for Nara.

I took an in-depth look at the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass and evaluated whether it was worth purchasing. I hope you can check out my review of the area pass here.

Nara

We visited Nara to see the world-famous deer park. It was one of my friend’s first times visiting the city.

Kobe

We went to Kobe mainly for the Kobe beef. We had lunch at a local steak restaurant and walked around the nearby temple area while waiting for our Shinkansen to Himeji.

Himeji

We took the Shinkansen to see one of the most beautiful castles in Japan, Himeji Castle. Our visit coincided with the local cherry blossom viewing festival, despite the Sakura not yet being in full bloom.

Our visits to these three cities were full of amazing sights, great food, and memorable first-hand experiences. Despite the delayed Sakura bloom, we thoroughly enjoyed exploring the cities and their unique attractions.

Have you been to Kobe, Nara and Himeji, or are you planning to visit soon? I would love to hear about your experiences or any questions you might have! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. If you have any further questions or need more details, you can also reach me directly at contact@thewkndtravel.com. I am happy to help with any clarifications or travel tips.

Thanks for joining me in today’s blog post. In case you missed it, my friends and I flew to Japan for 20 days to experience the cherry blossom season from March to April 2024. You can find all posts related to this trip under the Sakura 2024 category. You can also check out our Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Osaka, and Hiroshima visits.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

2024 in a Nutshell: Back to Where It All Started

It is now 2025. Happy New Year!

The last three months of 2024 were so busy that I got sick during the holidays. Our relatives from overseas also came home for the New Year. Apologies, I did not have the time to write and post my 2024 recap during the break. Well, it may be a little bit late, but here it is.

Despite being very busy with work, I continued to travel in 2024. I visited different cities, stayed in various hostels, flew with new airlines, and continued to travel on a budget. I did not post much about my trips last year, but I will give you a preview of where I went. After the “revenge travel” year of 2023, I basically returned to the places I first visited about a decade ago.

Kansai, Japan

I flew to Japan with my relatives in February 2024. I toured them around Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara for five full days.

We visited the usual sights like Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, Umeda Sky Building, Universal Studios Japan, Shinsaibashi, Nara Deer Park (in Nara), Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari Taisha (in Kyoto). We also spent some time shopping around Shinsaibashi and Namba.

Japan Sakura Trip

I, along with two friends, flew back to Japan a month later to experience the Sakura season for the first time. This was also my 10th trip to Japan in 9 years. Our journey began in the cold and snowy Takayama and Shirakawa-go, followed by a few workdays in Osaka, and some relaxing yet educational days in Hiroshima. The full bloom of the Sakura was delayed by one to two weeks due to extreme cold weather.

We caught the start of the full bloom during our few days in Kyoto and finally experienced it in its full glory during our final days in Nagoya. We traveled around Japan for 20 days, chasing the cherry blossoms, and we were thrilled to catch the best views during our last days.

Cebu, Philippines

In April, my sister and I took our house “ate” of 10+ years on a free weekend vacation trip to Cebu. We enjoyed the beautiful views from the Sirao Flower Farm, the Temple of Leah, and the Taoist Temple. We also had the famous Cebu lechon for lunch, strolled around Magellan’s Cross and the Sto. Niño Basilica, and bought goodies from Tabo-an Market.

The following day, my sister took her to Cebu Ocean Park. I joined them afterward for dessert, arcades, and dinner. We flew back to Legazpi on our third day. Cebu was the first-ever domestic destination I visited as a solo traveler back in February 2012.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Last May, I flew to Kuala Lumpur with my colleagues for a weekend getaway. During our trip, I took them to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, such as Bukit Bintang, the Petronas Towers, Chinatown, and Genting Highlands.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was the first city I visited outside the Philippines when I traveled there in April 2013. It holds a special place in my memories as my first international adventure.

Hong Kong SAR

I joined my aunt and her family in Hong Kong last July for her birthday trip. We spent a day at Hong Kong Disneyland, where we enjoyed as many rides as we could due to the shorter-than-usual queues (only 40 minutes max, compared to 125 minutes in December 2023).

We also visited The Peak, Lantau Island, Ngong Ping, and Citygate Outlets. Looking back, Hong Kong was the third destination I visited with my Philippine passport back in October 2013.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam

In August, my friend and I flew to Saigon to rediscover the city. We stayed and explored for five full days. We went on day tours to the Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels. We also walked around the city and checked out the War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Bui Vien Walking Street, Saigon Opera House, the Coffee Apartment, and many more.

The last time I explored the city was back in May 2014, during my fourth international trip out of the Philippines.

Sydney, Australia

I flew to Sydney, Australia, in September for business. After the work portion of the trip, my colleagues and I decided to extend our stay by two days and explore the city. We visited the usual sights, including the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and The University of Sydney. We also made our usual stops at Coles and Chemist Warehouse for some shopping hauls.

Sydney holds a special place for me, as it was my first-ever trip outside of Asia back in August 2018.

Jakarta, Indonesia

I flew to Jakarta for work last November. I visited our local office and attended a trade show. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to go out and explore the city, as I was there for a full 48 hours and focused solely on work.

It was during this trip that I had the opportunity to fly with our flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, internationally for the first time. I will post about this flight in the coming weeks.

Seoul, South Korea

I flew to Seoul, South Korea, the same day I returned from my Jakarta work trip. I stayed and re-explored the city for a little over a week with my high school friends.

We visited the usual spots like Hongdae, Myeongdong, Nami Island, N Seoul Tower, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong, and Hangang Park. We also checked out areas we had not visited during our previous trips—Seonsu-dong, Seoul Forest Park, Starfield Suwon, COEX Starfield, and Dong-myo Flea Market.

South Korea issued my first-ever tourist visa back in 2014. I visited the country twice—once in November 2014 and again in November 2015—but had not been back since. It was great to see Seoul again after 9 years.

Looking back on these trips, it is amazing to see how much travel has shaped my experiences and memories over the years. From rediscovering familiar places like Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur to exploring new districts in Seoul and Saigon, each journey has brought something special.

Whether it was business or leisure, solo adventures or trips with friends and family, I am grateful for the opportunity to see the world and create unforgettable memories. I look forward to more discoveries, new and renewed friendships, and the joy of exploring even more of the world this year.

Wishing everyone a travel-filled 2025! May all your dream trips come true.

Going Solo in Japan Series: NARA & KOBE

A week ago, I posted a blog about my stay in Kyoto & Osaka. I mentioned in my post that I went to Nara & Kobe for 2 separate day trips. These 2 cities, plus Himeji, are usually visited by tourists taking day tours from Osaka.

I was with my friend, Rona when I went to Nara while I was all by myself when I walked around Kobe. Let me discuss below how both day trips went.

With Rona on the way to Nara

NARA

The last time I went to Osaka, I didn’t have enough time to visit Nara. I felt bad I haven’t interacted with the roaming deer in Nara Park. I promised to myself that when I go back to Osaka, Nara will be number 1 in my list. And so it happened…

1, 2, 3, say Nara! 📷

Disclaimer: We did not spend the entire day in Nara. We had to go back to Osaka because Rona needs to get her bags for Tokyo plus we already have tickets for the Umeda Sky Building Floating Observatory.

How we went to Nara

Using our IC cards, Rona & I took the Midōsuji Line from Shinsaibashi Station (nearest station to our hostel) to Tennoji Station. From the red subway line, we transferred to the JR Yamatoji Line to Nara. This line to Nara starts in JR Tennoji Station so you can choose your seats inside the train.

One random walkway somewhere in Nara Park 😍 🍂

Journey takes around an hour & you pay ¥790 per way (¥230 from Shinsaibashi Station to Tennoji Station & ¥560 from Tennoji Station to JR Nara Station). An alternative route to Nara would be through the Kintetsu Nara Line from Osaka Namba Station. IC cards can also be used in this train line.

What to see in Nara

Upon arrival at Nara Station, Rona & I immediately went to the tourist information center to get maps & coffee. The walking adventure begins…

Tip: The best way to explore Nara is by foot. Yes, most sites are walkable from the main train stations.

Sanjo-Dori Street

Sanjo-Dori Street is the long, busy street that you take going to the temples & the deer park (if you are coming from JR Nara Station). It is full of restaurants, cafes, hotels & local souvenir shops. You will find almost everything you need on this street. The street has a very wide sidewalk which makes it very safe for everyone to walk.

Jokyoji Temple

Jokyoji Temple – too bad it was closed when we passed by

Jokyoji Temple – we saw this small Buddhist Temple while on our way to Kōfuku-ji. The temple had beautiful flower displays near its gate. Too bad it was closed when we dropped by.

Kōfuku-ji

Kōfuku-ji is one of the ‘Big 3’ must see temples of Nara. It was once part of the powerful 7 Great Temples in Nara. There are a number of buildings & structures around the temple grounds, but the notable ones are the following: the 5-level pagoda (one of the tallest pagodas in Japan), the National Treasure Museum & the Eastern & Central Golden Halls.

Kōfuku-ji’s Eastern Golden Hall & the 5-level pagoda

Note: The Central Golden Hall is undergoing a major renovation. It is expected to be completed sometime in 2018.

Tōdai-ji

Tōdai-ji is Nara’s iconic & most famous Buddhist temple. The temple is also part of the 7 Great Temples of Nara. Its main hall houses the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue.

Entrance to Tōdai-ji Temple via the Nandaimon Gate

You know you are already inside the Tōdai-ji Temple grounds when you pass by the large wooden gate structure called Nandaimon Gate. Don’t forget to make friends with the tame deer roaming around the temple grounds.

Nara Park

Nara Park is the end point of the Sanjo-Dori Street if you are coming from the JR Nara Station. This park is home of the hundreds of freely roaming deer. This animal is considered sacred in Shinto religion.

The deer sittin’ like a boss 🦌

One funny thing you’ll notice is each deer knows how to bow. That also means they’re asking for food (you can buy deer crackers for ¥150 in the nearby shops). The interaction with the deer was the highlight of that day. I was also impressed that these deer know how to pose for a photo.

The autumn colors of Nara Park 😍 🍂

Aside from the deer, the park also offered beautiful autumn views. I wonder how it looks like during spring; could also be lovely. There were other halls & places to visit around the park like the Kasuga-Taisha & the Nara National Museum, but we had to rush back to Osaka. We also missed visiting Hōryū-ji (the temple to complete Nara’s Big 3 Temples) in Ikaruga. This gives me a reason to go back in the future & explore more.

What a view from Nara Park! 😍 🍂

It was my last day in Osaka. At 9:30 pm on that same day, I will board a night bus to my last destination in Japan, Fukuoka. It was around 7:30 in the morning, I was contemplating on whether I should just stay & walk around Osaka for the last time or I go for another day trip to either Kobe or Himeji.

I didn’t want to waste another day lying in my bed or walking around Shinsaibashi, Dōtonbori & Osaka (this happened the day before – I was really lazy that day!) so I decided to go for a day trip. Himeji was a bit far from Kobe so I went for the latter.

How I went to Kobe

Random beautiful park in Kobe 🍂

Since I only have an IC card (and not the JR Pass), the only station I can arrive in Kobe is Kobe-sannomiya Station. JR Pass holders usually get off at Shin-Kōbe station. The 2 stations are about 2 kilometers away from each other. Later I found out, getting off at Kobe-sannomiya Station was actually a better idea because everything was near the area.

From Shinsaibashi Station, I took the Midōsuji Line to Umeda Station (¥230) then transferred to Hankyu-Kobe Line to Hankyu Kobe-sannomiya Station (¥320). You can also board the Hanshin Line to Hansin Kobe-sannomiya Station for the same price of ¥320. Journey from Umeda to Kobe is roughly 40 minutes.

What to see & do in Kobe

I went to Kobe with no itinerary or anything. I only have my phone & pocket Wi-Fi with me. I also had the mindset that I need to be back in Osaka by 4:00 pm to prepare for my night bus to Fukuoka. What I did was just to walk from one street to another & visit the places along the way. Luckily, I came across the following places:

Ikuta Jinja

Ikuta Jinja’s main shrine

Ikuta Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the middle of the very busy Sannomiya area. This shrine is believed to be one of the oldest shrines in Japan. The shrine has torii gates in all entrance & exit points & even has a small garden at the back of the main temple.

View from the outside of the shrine grounds

I just accidentally saw this shrine in Google Maps while I was looking for a place to go from the train station. Beautiful shrine!

Kobe Motomachi Centre Gai Shopping Street

In my previous posts about Nagoya & Osaka, I said something about Japanese cities having a shopping street / arcade. If Nagoya has Osu Shopping Street & Osaka has Shinsaibashi Shopping Street, Kobe has its own – it’s called Kobe Motomachi Center Gai Shopping Street.

Inside Kobe Motomachi Shopping Street~

You will find all sorts of goods in this place – from clothing, to shoes, bags & even food. I found the cheapest dark chocolate & strawberry Kit Kats in one of the tax free shops here.

Meriken Park

Meriken Park is Kobe’s most famous waterfront park. It is the home of the Kobe Port Tower, Kobe Maritime Museum & the Earthquake Memorial Park. It also features a big public open space where events & special functions are held. On an ordinary day, visitors & locals normally walk or run around the park.

Meriken Park from the other side of the port

Note: There were significant improvement works being done with the Meriken Park when I visited last November. These works are in preparation for Port of Kobe’s 150th Anniversary this year.

Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park

In 1995, Kobe was devastated by the Hanshin Awaji Great Earthquake. It made significant damages to both public & private infrastructure & even to houses of the locals. The pier was also severely damaged.

The government has decided to preserve a part of the pier’s damage to remind the people (both locals & visitors) of the damages caused by the strong earthquake.

Note: This earthquake memorial park is different from the Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum. The museum is near the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art.

Kobe Port Tower

Kobe Port Tower

Located within Meriken Park, the Kobe Port Tower is considered as one of Kobe’s iconic landmarks. This 108-meter uniquely shaped structure is made of red-painted steel structure. Just like any tower, it has an observation deck which I didn’t go into. It also has souvenir shops & restaurants / cafes in some of the levels.

Kobe Beef

Kobe Beef is the most famous regional specialty food in Japan. The branding came from where the cattle are bred & raised – in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. The Wagyu beef is known for its tenderness & unique flavor.

The oh-so-good Kobe Beef for lunch!~ 😋

Kobe beef is expensive. Yes, expensive. I had second thoughts of not trying it because of the price. A few minutes after, I decided to make the most out of my visit & have Kobe beef for late lunch. Who cares about the price, eh? Kidding.

The chef prepared preparing our food~

I went to Steak Land & ordered their Kobegyu Steak Lunch Set. I forgot how many ounces of Kobe beef were in the meal, but the set also included salad, miso soup, a cup of rice, grilled vegetables & a glass of juice (can be changed to coffee or tea). The chef cooked the beef in the hibachi table in front of me. I tell you, the beef was so good it melts in your mouth. It was so tender & the flavor was something I haven’t tasted in my life.

Steak Land’s Kobegyu Lunch Set 😋

I paid around ¥3,000 (₱1,300++) for whole Kobegyu Steak Lunch Set. I believe the price was reasonable. Honestly, I don’t mind spending that amount for such a good meal. This was definitely the highlight of my Kobe day trip. It’s definitely something one should try when visiting the city.

This pretty much sums up my quick day trip to Kobe. There were still a lot of nice places to visit but I had to go back to Osaka to prepare for my night bus to Fukuoka.

To be fair, I actually had really memorable times in Nara & Kobe. The day trips were definitely worth-taking. Going around these 2 cities, even just in the centers, gave me basically the idea of how beautiful these places are. I wish I had more time, but I won’t mind going back to explore more.

Before going to Nara & Kobe, I went to Nagoya, Hiroshima, Kyoto & Osaka. Make sure to check out the individual posts linked above. The final installment of this blog series will be about my last 3 days in Fukuoka. Watch out for it!

This lovely deer knows how to pose for a photo 🦌 😍

Did you know that I only spent less than ₱50,000 for this 13-day trip in 7 Japan cities? Click here to know more. If you are planning to apply for a Japan tourist visa soon, I also posted a blog about the 4 easy steps in applying for it.

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Feel free to comment below or send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also send me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) 🇯🇵 😃

PS. All photos above were shot using my HTC Re & HTC One M8.

Going Solo in Japan: 13 days & 7 cities for less than ₱50,000

Last October 2015, my friends & I went for a 9-day x ₱40,000 (each) journey around 3 key Japan cities. We enjoyed our first 5 days in the very busy Tokyo, literally walked around the ancient capital Kyoto & sort-of relaxed in the hippie city of Osaka. Towards the end of the trip, I kept on telling my friends that I will go back to the country really soon.

It didn’t take long until the next Japan trip happened. 3 months ago, I went on a 13-day solo Japan trip around 7 cities. I met 2 friends along the way, but I was on my own most of the time. It was a life-changing experience! I want to do it again.

Deer selfie at Nara Park

In 2015, I only spent ₱40,000 for the whole 9 days in Japan. For the 2016 trip, I challenged myself to try to fit in ₱50,000 (all in!) for the whole 13 days in. That’s additional 5 days & 4 nights, but only an additional ₱10,000 from the last budget. I may not have someone to share the cost of getting a pocket Wi-Fi, but not buying tickets for theme parks like DisneySea & Universal Studios Japan helped stretch the budget for a few more days.

The Japanese Yen (¥) to Philippine Peso (₱) exchanged rate changed from ₱0.39 in 2015 to ₱0.45 last year. This change in the currency rate affected the budgeting a lot; but it was all good. I was able to fit in ₱50,000 for the whole 13 days (including tickets); I even managed to hoard some chocolates & treats for my family & friends back home.

Hiroshima’s Shukkeien Garden

Let me elaborate below how I conquered the challenge. The discussion will be divided into 6 parts – Plane ticket, Bus pass, Route / itinerary, Accommodation, Pocket Wi-Fi & Everyday expenses.

Plane Ticket

It was late January 2016 when I came across a Cebu Pacific Air seat sale to all their destinations. I randomly checked possible dates of a Japan trip; I found a round-trip ticket for November for less than ₱5,000 (fare only). With no hesitations, I booked the said Manila-Nagoya-Fukuoka-Manila ticket. The trip was 13 days long; it includes 2 weekends & 1 Philippine holiday. What made me more excited is that my trip coincides with the peak of autumn in most places in Japan.

Round-trip Japan ticket for less than ₱6,000 was definitely a bargain!

I added baggage to my ticket a few days before my departure to & from Japan. Overall, I paid ₱5,907.87 for my round-trip ticket. A normal ticket Japan would cost around ₱15,000; so getting a ticket at this price is such a bargain.

Note that a Philippine passport holder is required to pay a travel tax worth ₱1,620 before leaving the country.

Visa

The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines does not accept personal visa applications. All applications should go through their accredited travel agencies. I submitted my requirements to Reli Tours & Travel Agency in Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City. Visa handling fee costs ₱950.

It only took 3 working days before I got my passport back. The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines granted me a 5-year multiple entry visa valid until October 2021. Good stuff.

Willer Express Japan Buss Pass

Given I fly in to Nagoya & fly out from Fukuoka, I had to plan out my route from one city to the other. I was checking the bus routes of Willer Express when I saw their Bus Pass promotion.

The bus pass allows you to book up to 3 rides per day for 3, 5 or 7 days days at a certain amount. I took advantage of this promotion & got myself the ¥10,000 3-day bus pass which can be redeemed Mondays to Thursdays. I took 3 overnight rides & 1 night ride using the bus pass. It saved me around ¥8,000 & 3 nights of hostel accommodation.

Kobe’s iconic tower

Route

If you think about it, 13 days is quite a long trip; so I told myself I must visit as many cities / places as I can.

Note: I will not talk about where I went in these cities; watch out for the 4 separate entries about these 7 cities.

I flew in to Nagoya & stayed there for 3 days & 2 nights. People normally skip this city because they believe there isn’t much to see. To be fair, they actually have scenic temples, parks & gardens. On the 3rd night, I took a 3-hour bus to Osaka, then another 6-hour overnight bus to Hiroshima.

European vibe in the middle of Nagoya – inside Noritake Garden

Genbaku Dōmu / Atomic Bomb Dome – UNESCO World Heritage Site in Hiroshima

The following morning, I met with my friend Michiko at the Hiroshima JR Station. We spent 2 days & 1 night in Hiroshima Prefecture; we visited Miyajima Island, then walked around the historical city & ate the best okonomiyaki in the area. On the 5th night, I took a 7-hour overnight bus to Kyoto.

With my friend Michiko before in Hiroshima

Upon arrival in Kyoto, I went to the hostel & waited for my friend Rona. We went around Kyoto for 1.5 days; we’ve been to the bamboo forest, plus temples & shrines. We also went to Gion to hunt for some geisha. We also met some cool people (Japanese, Dutch & some Filipinos based in Australia) at the hostel bar & enjoyed a night of drinking & sharing stories.

With Rona in a local ramen restaurant before she left for Tokyo

After another morning of temples & gardens, Rona & I boarded the 30-minute local train to Osaka. Rona stayed for a night (before she left for Tokyo) while I stayed for 3 nights. I went to some new places in the city – those I missed when I was there in 2015. I also met some amazing locals in Osaka plus a few tourists from Malaysia, South Korea & Germany. I also took day trips to Nara (with Rona) & Kobe (all by myself) which were both 1-hour local train rides from Osaka.

A beautiful sunny day in Nara Park

Dōtonbori – Osaka’s busiest place at night

On the 10th night, I took a 9-hour overnight bus all the way to the port city of Fukuoka. My final 3 days & 2 nights were spent here. Some parks & temples basically made up my last days in Japan. There were also awesome nights of drinking & walking around with some new friends from Singapore, Argentina, France & the US.

Ōhori Park – a place of scenic beauty in Fukuoka

I made a good choice of staying 2-3 days per city; I was able to visit most of what each city has to offer.

Accommodation

I’ve mentioned in my How I enjoyed a 9-day Japan trip for less than ₱40,000 all in blog post that Japan has one of the most expensive accommodation rates in Asia. To save some money, I decided to stay in hostels. Daily rate per bed in a dormitory room costs around ¥2,700 – ¥3,200. Each bed includes free Wi-Fi, a bed sheet, a pillow, a universal plug & a reading light. Also, these beds have curtains around so you still have your own privacy.

My dormitory bed in Osaka Hana Hostel

Hostels in Japan are generally clean & quiet. Dormitory rooms have common & clean shower areas & toilet. Hostels also provide free shampoo & soap. All properties have common lounge areas & kitchen facilities where you can meet fellow travelers.

Backpacker K’s House Kyoto Communal Lounge & Dining Area

I’ve stayed in 5 different hostels for 9 nights (3 nights were spent in overnight bus rides). The Hana Hostels / J Hoppers Group gives a ¥300 yen discount for every 3rd night stay in their hostels. I was able to get 2 x ¥300 yen discounts. I’ve provided a table for a summary of my accommodation costs:

The average daily rate would cost around ₱1,320 per hostel bed. It is a bit expensive if you compare it to the hostel rates in other Asian cities, but they are pretty affordable & reasonable in Japan. Also, all the hostels I stayed there are near subway stations & have excellent reviews online.

Pocket Wi-Fi

Given I will be on my own most of the time, I got myself a pocket Wi-Fi to help me navigate around each city / place. It also helped me check on the train schedules to different places.

I got my 3G pocket Wi-Fi from Japan Wireless for ₱3,268.15 for 12 full days. The package was delivered directly to my 1st hostel in Nagoya. The package included an extra battery bank, a pouch, charger & an envelope (to be used when sending the package back). I returned on my last day by dropping it in the nearest post box (can be dropped anywhere in Japan). I recommend getting a pocket Wi-Fi every time you go to Japan to prevent from getting lost.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – a must-see place in Kyoto

Daily Expenses

Just like the 2015 Japan trip, I gave myself a daily budget to cover all meals, transportation costs, entrance fees & beers (lol). I raised the daily budget to ¥3,500 per day (higher by ¥500 from the last year’s daily budget) because I was on my own & I don’t have anyone to share my meals & expenses with. There were also times where I splurged on food, like when I ate at Ichiran Ramen twice! Their ramen was soooo good I had to go back. I also had a kobe beef lunch set in Kobe which was also gooood!

Ichiran ramen was sooooo good! Too bad we don’t have one here in Manila

Kobe Beef’s melts-in-your-mouth goodness!

Instead of getting daily breakfast from 7-Eleven or Family Mart, I drop by the supermarket before going home at night to buy my own bento meal. Most supermarkets offer discounted food at night because they need to sell all cooked food before the stores close. I store these packed meals at the hostel fridge & just reheat them the following morning.

One of the many bento breakfasts I had

I also had some spare money from the daily budget which I used to buy some chocolates & treats for family & friends back home.

Summary

All expenses are in. Let’s have a look how much I spent all in for this 13-day trip. Note: Exchange rate during my trip: ¥1 = ₱0.45 (doesn’t include items paid via credit card -> pocket wi-fi & bus pass)

See? I made it! I survived a 13-day Japan trip around 7 cities for less than ₱50,000. It may not be as super affordable as travelling in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City or Kuala Lumpur; but Japan offers a different kind of experience you wouldn’t want to miss.

I know I’ve said it in my previous Japan blog, but I will say it again here. Travelling to Japan isn’t that expensive as many people think. There will always be ways to make it really affordable. I’m telling you, next time you see a cheap round trip ticket to any city in Japan, go ahead & book it. It’s a trip you’ll never regret!

Watch out for the specific blog posts about the experiences I had in the 7 cities mentioned above. It will be posted here in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also send me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Autumn colors in Meijō Park, Nagoya 😍

PS. All photos above were shot using my HTC Re.