TravelREAD_TIME: ~2 MIN

Backpacking in Japan

Tips for a budget trip to Japan.

Japan is often thought of as an expensive destination, but with a Rail Pass and a sense of adventure, it's a backpacker's paradise.

The Route: Tokyo -> Kyoto -> Osaka

  • Tokyo: The neon future. Stay in a capsule hotel in Shinjuku. Eat at Konbini (convenience stores) like 7-Eleven—the food quality is restaurant-grade.
  • Kyoto: The ancient past. Walk through the Fushimi Inari gates at dawn to skip the crowds.
  • Osaka: The kitchen of Japan. Don't leave without trying Takoyaki (octopus balls) from a street vendor.

Pro Tips

  1. JR Pass: Unlimited bullet train travel. Buy it before you arrive.
  2. Cash is King: Many small izakayas don't take cards.
  3. Onsen Etiquette: Wash before you enter the bath. No tattoos allowed in many public places.
/// END_OF_FILE