We touched down at Narita, Tokyo full of excitement and with all-out smiles. We finally stepped our feet on Japan, a country which was once just a dream.
Japan was once just another Asian country in our History class and a popular country on United Nations celebrations in grade school because the country’s flag is very easy to make. 🙂
Narita Airport to Oshiage Station/Tokyo Skytree
Train Options:
1) The most convenient train ride is to take the Keisei Narita Sky Access from Narita International Airport without having to transfer as it stops at Oshiage station. Fare: JPY1170 ~ Php545, Travel time: 53 minutes.
2) The cheapest option is to take the Keisei line to Aoto station then transfer to the Keisei-Oshiage line to Oshiage station. Fare: JPY980 ~ Php455, Travel time: 1 hr 26 minutes.
3) We unintentionally rode the Keisei Skyliner which takes you to Tokyo in 41 minutes. Fare: JPY2470 ~ Php1150. (You can book through Klook at a discounted price.)
Indian cuisine for lunch at a restaurant inside Tokyo Skytree Solamachi with Jade and Kuya Alex. It’s such a relief to have someone I know in a foreign country. 🙂Oshiage station is the nearest train station from the Narita International Airport station where we can use our 72-hour Tokyo Subway Pass which gives us unlimited train rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines. The pass covers all our intended destinations within Tokyo. (Php685 in Klook)
The Tokyo SkytreeTokyo Skytree, Oshiage Station to Asakusabashi Station for Hostel East57
From Oshiage Station (A20), ride the train to Asakusabashi Station (A16) along the Asakusa Line (4 stops). Travel time: 6 minutes Fare: None on Tokyo Pass, otherwise JPY180 ~ Php90
Hostel East57 Asaskusabahi. Our home in Tokyo for 3 nights. They offer free breakfast!We checked in and left our things at Hostel East57 Asaskusabahi which is just around two blocks from Asakusabashi Station before we started to go around Tokyo.
Hostel East57, Asakusabashi Station to Shinjuku Station
We needed to go to Shinjuku station first to claim our Hakone Pass (Php2450 in Klook) at Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center because it can only be claimed between 8 am to 6 pm inside the mall at Shinjuku West. We wanted to start our day very early the next day to maximize our Hakone tour and hopefully see our dearest Mt Fuji.
At Shibuya Crossing. “The world’s busiest crossing.”Ride the train from Asakusabashi Station (A16) to Higashi-Nihombashi station (A15). Transfer to the Shinjuku line / Yellowgreen line / Bakuro Yokoyama Station (S09) for Shinjuku Station (S01). Travel time: 20 minutes, 8 stops, Fare: None on Tokyo Pass, otherwise JPY400 ~ Php200.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden are just 1 train stop away or a few minutes walk from Shinjuku station. We walked our way to the National Garden but it was already closed when we arrived.
Don’t get lost and don’t board the wrong train like us so you will have enough time to visit these sites. We had a good walk around Shinjuku anyway and we made our way to visit Hachiko.
Shinjuku Station to Hachiko and Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Station
From Shinjuku Station along Oedo line / Dark Pink line (E27), ride the train to Aoyama Itchome station (E24), then transfer to Ginza line / Orange Line (G04) for Shibuya Station (G01). Travel time: 12 minutes, 6 stops, Fare: None on Tokyo Pass, otherwise JPY350 ~ Php175.
Follow the signs to Hachiko’s statue.
Hachiko. I could still remember crying over this dear dog’s movie when I was still in high school.Good thing we saw Hachiko on our first day as we goofed around Shibuya crossing, “the busiest crossing in the world”.
Shibuya Station to Tokyo Skytree / Oshiage Station
Ride the train from Shibuya station along Ginza / Orange line (G01) to Shimbashi station (G08). Transfer to the Asakusa line (A10) for Oshiage station / Tokyo Skytree (A20). Travel time: 31 minutes, 17 stops, Fare: None on Tokyo Pass, otherwise JPY390 ~ Php195.
Tokyo Skytree at nightWe made our way back to Oshiage station to see the lighted Tokyo Skytree at night and have ramen for dinner.
Ramen for dinner at a popular ramen restaurant inside Tokyo Skytree SolamachiTokyo Skytree, Oshiage Station to Asakusabashi Station for Hostel East57
From Oshiage Station (A20), ride the train to Asakusabashi Station (A16) along the Asakusa Line (4 stops). Travel time: 6 minutes Fare: None on Tokyo Pass, otherwise JPY180 ~ Php90.
Our first day in Japan was fun and exciting. We got lost, we saw Hachiko, we experienced the “busiest crossing in the world”, and we were thrilled to see Mt. Fuji the next day.
Do you think Mt. Fuji showed up to see us? Find out! 🙂
Itinerary and Expenses for Budget 2019
| Tokyo-Osaka-Nara-Kyoto Itinerary : Day 1 of 6 | |
| On Conversion: JPY1000 ~ Php500 | |
| On Time Zone: GMT + 9 (Japan Time is 1 hour advanced compared to Philippine Time, e.g. 7 am in JP is 6 am in PH) | |
| Day 1 | Narita International Airport Arrival, Tokyo Skytree, Hachiko Statue, Shibuya Crossing, Shinjuku |
| 2:00 AM | Check in at NAIA. Breakfast(P200). |
| 5:00 AM | ETD to Narita Airport (Tokyo) from NAIA |
| 10:30 AM | ETA at Narita Airport. Clear immigration. Get free maps at the airport. Claim Suica Card (P1055 in Klook preloaded with JPY1,500) and Tokyo Subway 72-Hour Pass (Php685 in Klook) at EASY GO / HIS counter at 1/F Narita Intl Airport Arrival Lobby: Southwing for T1, Central Bldg for T2 |
| Claim booked pocket wifi good for 6 days (~PHP1500 in Klook/2 = P750 each) at QL Liner Counter, 1/F International Arrival | |
| 11:30 AM | Take the Keisei Narita Sky Access train from Narita International Airport to Oshiage station. No transfers. Fare: JPY1170 ~ Php545, Travel time: 53 minutes. |
| 12:30 PM | Tokyo Skytree! |
| Lunch (JPY1000 ~ PHP500) at Solamachi. Stroll around. | |
| 1:30 PM | Check in at Hostel East57. |
| From Oshiage Station (A20), ride the train to Asakusabashi Station (A16) along the Asakusa Line (4 stops). Travel time: 6 minutes Fare: None on Tokyo Pass | |
| 2:00 PM | Proceed to Shinjuku and claim Hakone Pass at Shinjuku Station West exit. |
| Ride the train from Asakusabashi Station (A16) to Higashi-Nihombashi station (A15). Transfer to the Shinjuku line / Yellowgreen line / Bakuro Yokoyama Station (S09) for Shinjuku Station (S01). Travel time: 20 minutes, 8 stops, Fare: None on Tokyo Pass | |
| Claim Hakone Pass at Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center, Shinjuku West (8am to 6pm). Inquire schedule and trips. | |
| Where to claim the pass: 1/F (Ground Floor), Odakyu Railway Shinjuku Station West Exit | |
| Visit The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, walking distance from Shinjuku station | |
| 4:00 PM | From Shinjuku Station along Oedo line / Dark Pink line (E27), ride the train to Aoyama Itchome station (E24), then transfer to Ginza line / Orange Line (G04) for Shibuya Station (G01). Travel time: 12 minutes, 6 stops, Fare: None on Tokyo Pass. |
| Shibuya Crossing and Hachiko at Shibuya station | |
| Imperial East Palace Garden at Tokyo station (best time to visit is after sunset) | |
| Tokyo Skytree at Oshiage Station (best time to visit is at night for the building lights) | |
| 7:00 PM | Dinner. (JPY1000~PHP500) |
| From Oshiage Station (A20), ride the train to Asakusabashi Station (A16) along the Asakusa Line (4 stops). Travel time: 6 minutes Fare: None on Tokyo Pass | |
| Utilize Tokyo Subway 72 hour Pass trains only for unlimited rides | |
| Estimated Expenses each: PHP3,700.00 |
- Estimated expenses exclude our actual booking on promotional prices and travel tax:
- Accommodation in Tokyo (P1,165/night per person x 3 nights): Php3,495
- Accommodation in Osaka (P1,020/night per person x 2 nights): Php2,040
- Manila to Tokyo: Php3299 via Cebu Pacific
- Tokyo to Osaka: Php2650 via Jetstar
- Osaka to Manila: Php6800 via Jetstar
- Travel tax: Php1620
- This excludes all other expenses not specified in this itinerary.
- Expenses on food is also just an estimate and will vary depending on what and where you choose to eat.
- Actual prices may also have changed.
- Spend frugally!
Japan Trip Notes
We stayed for 6 days on a very tight budget.
Use Google to know which train to board at a real-time schedule by specifying your specific departure train station and your arrival train station on the search box, e.g. “Narita Airport station to Oshiage station” or “Kansai Airport station to Nankai Namba station”.
Use Google / Google Maps to navigate around by specifying your specific location and your desired destination on the search box, e.g. “Asakusabashi station to Hostel East57”, “Nankai Namba station to Fuku Yado Nagomi”, or “Hankyu Arashiyama station to Arashiyama Bamboo Groves”.
We already paid for our air fare, accommodation, admission tickets, and passes months before this trip with complete list below. Click each highlighted item to book or know the details.
Accommodation
3 nights in Tokyo at Hostel East57 Asaskusabahi
2 nights in Osaka at Fuku Yado – Fuku Hostel
Pocket Wifi
Unlimited 4G Wifi for 6 Days (Narita Airport Pick up, Kansai Airport Drop off)
Passes and Tickets
Tokyo Disneysea Admission Ticket
Universal Studios Japan Admission Ticket
Reloadable Smart Card
Suica Card or Pasmo Card (Can be used across Tokyo, Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto)
Plane Tickets
Manila to Tokyo via Cebu Pacific
Tokyo to Osaka and Osaka to Manila via Jetstar
- We only had to bring cash for our meals and fare around the Osaka-Nara-Kyoto region and very few parts in the East which were not covered by our passes.
- We had to stick to our budget as we only had so much.
- Our passes and loaded smart cards made us ride the trains and buses conveniently.
- A pocket wifi is a necessity, it’s your life-saver as you go around Japan.
- You get to explore more of Japan if you get lost. 🙂
It was also quite fun despite being pretty time consuming trying to find out how to flush when you visit their toilet for the first time.
You can play false flushing sounds to overlap some unwanted sounds that you make. 😉I read and tried to understand all these characters and drawings around 3 times (and experimented how they work) before giving up and looking elsewhere to find out how to flush. First-timer problems!
Flushing is as simple as hovering your hand on the sensor not on your seat but on the wall beside you or behind you. What a good laugh! 🙂
Seat cleaners are even available!
8 Travel Tips from A Frugal Traveler
Keep these travel tips in mind to help you make the most of your travels.
Natasha is a full-time banker who gets to take a breather when she travels. She loves being challenged. Adventures and whatever engages her logic get her excited.