Aussies, how much $$ do I need?

[desi]

Hey guys...this is for the Aussies!

This isn't so much of a question to do with LIVING in Japan. Although I AM seriousely considering teaching English in 2002/2003 when I gradute. but anyways...getting back to the question...

I was thinking of going to Japan sometime 2002 to go for a holiday. I'm visiting a friend in Sendai and my boyfriend in Nagoya. Accomodation's no problem. A flight is around $AUS 960 Tokyo/return. I know that travelling within the country is pretty expensive. But I heard about that train pass for around about $400 that lasts for a week (ride any train in Japan for a week) but exactly HOW MUCH money do I need for entertainment/souveniers, etc?? I heard about those 100 yen shops. Good for souveniers I suppose. But how about entertainment??

I want to hear from your experiences of going on a holiday in Japan. I'm thinking $AUS 2500 will do for the WHOLE trip. Do you agree Aussies??

thanks

[Anonymous]

$Aus 960 return??? where did u get ur ticket? damn cheapest quote i got was 1500 after jan 19 2002...please let me know.
it depends on how long u stay and ur level of living...u didn't mention the length of ur holiday.

[Chris]

I usually spent about 6,000-12,000 yen on a full day out, including train fare, entry fees, snacks, cheap lunches and usually a pretty decent feed at night and some drinks. 100 yen shops have really budget stuff in em, but they're not really souvenirs (well I guess they are in a way).

If you go out drinking/eating at an izakaya, it'll cost you about 2000-5000 yen depending on what you eat and drink and how much :)

Seeing as you have accomodation free, and we worked on an average of 8000 yen per day (if you eat out and going sightseeing everyday) ($130per day), I guess $1100 (after $1000 airfare) would last you less than 10 days.

If you wanted to go budget, you could steal your bf's food and go sightseeing to places nearby (sightseeing everyday becomes a really pain), then you'd probably only be spending 2,-4,000 yen per day, say $50. That's going to last you about 3 weeks.

Chris

[Anonymous]

In answer to the second post, I recently saw plane flights to Tokyo at the Flight Centre were $980 return.

[kate]

I was freaking about the amount Iwould need - I stayed 10 days and went snowboarding and everything - flew to Hokkaido, etc and it was all grand. Spending I had $2000 AUD and came home with change so that might give you some idea.

But always better to have some more and come home with change than not - if you are staying with someone and it sounds like you are you are set as accom can be the expensive thing.