Where I Stayed in Japan.

Before I was totally ready to visit Japan, and before buying that plane ticket, I wanted to research accommodations first to see where I would/could stay, how much it would cost, and how convenient or comfortable it could be. It was important that I didn't spend too much on places to stay, and also be able to have my own private space. So, with that in mind I began looking at my options. Western hotels were right out. I could stay at a western hotel here in the US so why would I want to do that on an adventure to Japan!? This was a celebration! I really wanted to stay in a traditional ryokan, even if just for few nights. However, the prices were especially too high for me (more about what I did spend below). Shared rooms were brought to my attention as a super cheap option, but I wasn't really into the whole dorm room situation.

Luckily, I found out about Airbnb (not sponsored by the way, haha.) right around the time I decided to go ahead book my plane ticket while they were cheap. I was able to search for places that were both really cheap and private all over Japan. I was really excited to experience living in actual Japanese homes, with a room or place all to myself, and kind of pretend like I lived there!

Before I found Airbnb I was planning just on staying in Tokyo for the whole month. Once I saw it was easy to find living options all over Japan I decided to visit Kyoto and Osaka as well. I researched, contacted, lost out, and researched some more until I finally found the four places I present to you! So feel free to join me as I share my experiences using Airbnb to vacation in Japan! Please enjoy video above, and read info about what I spent and the pros and cons I experienced below! If you would like to book your stay at any of the featured places please message me for the links!

Ota, Tokyo

Cost Stay - 1 night $45 per night + fees = $64

Pros

• Easy to get to from Haneda Airport.


• Literally right next to JR Station, which was perfect for trekking back and forth with luggage. I personally like ambient "city sounds", it's oddly comforting. Also Japanese train aren't too loud and the stations play the cutest music!


• Really clean and cozy space with an aircon!


• Private amenities (washer, wifi, bathroom, and kitchen).

Cons

• The only negative I experienced was an occurrence which reasons will forever be shrouded in mystery. While I was brushing my teeth the next morning I heard someone or something knock intensely on the door. It initially startled me, but then thought that maybe it was the owner, who I had yet to meet. So I rushed to the door and looked through the peephole to see nobody there! I'll never know if it was a person or not, if I was making too much noise brushing my teeth or if something just bumped my door. I'll never know! AAAAH!

Nishikyou, Kyoto

Cost Stay - 6 nights $30 per night + fees = $203

Pros

• Host was really kind, helpful and cool. I had a lot of fun practicing my awful Japanese with him. He also played Aslatua!


• One thing that was at the top of my "must do" list was to sleep on a futon in a tatami mat room. Here I got to do exactly that!


• The house and my room was really beautiful.


• Right outside historic and beautiful Arashiyama and close to other popular landmarks in Kyoto.


• Met people from around the world!


• Even though I wasn't able to go, it's really close to Tenshi no Sato!


• Also close to train station.


• Post Office right next door.


• Short walk away from an awesome izakaya.

Cons

• Being shy and sharing a living space with strangers is hard! Haha!


• Stressed about making too much noise.

Neyagama, Osaka

Cost Stay - 4 nights $18 per night + fees = $78

Pros

• Really affordable.


• Short walk from the train station.


• Post Office around the block.


• 24 hour grocery store and 711 right outside my door. Food places all around!


• Very lovely and kind owners who spoke English quite well! They helped me anytime I had questions, especially about the complicated garbage system, and spoke about living in Japan and the US.


• Private kitchen, bathroom, and washer with a balcony to hang my clothes!

Cons

• The house was a bit spooky to be in alone.


• Aircon only in kitchen/living area, so where I slept was a bit stuffy, but not too bad once I figured out how to open the window.


• Hard time figuring out how to open the window. LOL.

Nakano, Tokyo

Cost Stay - 21 nights $25 per night + fees = $592

Pros

• The owner was a grandpa and grandma who were incredibly kind and accommodating. I got to meet the family for dinner, and we even went to the museum together then we later talked about learning kanji. It was great being able to spend a longer time with my host.


• Really cool space saving apartment, literally and figuratively (super aircon for just one room)!


• The apartment was clean and comfortable.


• Restaurants, grocery stores, and cobini all around (Coco Curry was a couple blocks away!).


• Located in the middle of two close train stations on the Seibu Ikebukuro line. Really easy to get anywhere by train.


• Post Office on the way to train station.


• 3 miles from Nakano Broadway!


• I had my own kitchen, bathroom, aircon, and a tv.

Cons

• Met my first Japanese cockroach.


• Shared washer and didn't have a lot of space to hang dry clothes.

1 Month Accommodation Total Cost = $937!
Total Overall Experience = Very Positive!

I think I was successful in keeping the cost down to a reasonable one. It was pretty similar to a months rent here in NJ. I wish I could have gone cheaper; but since I wanted to visit the most popular prefectures, and stay close as possible to my planned destinations, there had to be a give and take with the available options. For example, there were some places I found for only $500-$700 a month, but they were really far away from the heart of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. I'd then have to pay a lot more in transportation. I think I found a good middle ground with these four places (some prices have gone up since I visited). What do you think about the price? How did I do?

I'm definitely most happy about my experiences with all four places. Each one was special and exciting, and there were barely any negatives. You saw my "cons", they weren't even that conny. Conny is not a word... it is a name. Anywayward son, my time in these places, meeting wonderful people and adventuring around Japan makes me excited to go back again. And I hope this helps inform and inspire anyone who has dreams to go to a distant land that they can do it! Thanks for reading!



Photos in this post provided by Google and Airbnb.

Studio Ghibli Museum

If you are an artist, especially an illustrator or animator, you definitely must visit the Studio Ghibli Museum. It was one of my favorite experiences during my trip. I was not prepared for how much I would love the experience, and I'm glad I wasn't. They have a strict no photography/video policy inside the museum for good reason. Inside is an experience that should not be ruined by 2D representations. There is so much to see and feel! Well, for the most part... I am sad I could not climb around in the Catbus, but it was just as fun (and a whole lot less embarrassing) to see it from a distance... being enjoyed by others... (ugly crying). You are allowed to take photos of the museum from the outside, so I am able to share them with you!

My Venture in the Rain

I had to take the train from Fujimidai Station to Mitaka Station and decided early on that I'd walk to the museum from Mitaka St. instead of taking a bus. I love walking and I made sure I did a lot while in Japan in order to absorb all it's surroundings whenever possible. Unfortunately, it started to rain right as I began to walk past the buses and onward towards the museum (about 1 mile away). Seconds later it became rather torrential. All I had was my tiny, fold-away Tangled parasol to protect me; my shoes and legs were getting soaked. So it wasn't the best day to be out and about, but the rain did make the museum a bit more misty, alive, and magical.





[caption id="attachment_2691" align="alignnone" width="1000"] This sign is a "Notice and Request" asking that you refrain from taking photos or videos inside the museum. They wish for you to "play the role of the story's main character instead of pointing a camera"; to "look with your own eyes, and experience it through your own self; going home with cherished memories held in your mind."[/caption]

How I Got My Ticket

I was very lucky in my quest to get my ticket; I could have easily ended up ticket-less and crying! Getting a ticket is a bit tricky for foreigners but no way impossible. With me being a US citizen I would have had to head into NYC and visit the JTB Reservation Center to get mine before I went to Japan. However, I am rather stubborn sometimes, and was going to risk just using my basic reading skills to try and buy a ticket myself through the Loppi (HA!). Really glad it wasn't left up to that stupid decision to get tickets in the end .

I planned my trip so that I would be back in Tokyo on June 1st, and I would buy my ticket then for the 17th. Now this is where the luck comes in. I reserved my Tokyo apartment in February and the owner asked me what I had planned to do while I was there. I mentioned the museum and he offered to get the tickets for me. Initially I didn't want to be a bother and declined. He later messaged me in May insisting that he buy them as they sell out quickly, and so I finally agreed. When I arrived at the apartment in June he gave me the ticket and I gave him ¥1000! I was so happy! (Do refrain from directly asking your host to do this favor for you, let the offer come from them.) I think about how accommodating, kind and awesome my host was and will be forever grateful for that!

[caption id="attachment_2684" align="alignnone" width="1000"] When you enter the museum they take your paper ticket and give you this wonderful film reel ticket that you also used to get into the theatre for a short story animation. Mine features a scene with Ged from Tales from Earthsea. I want to go again and again so I can collect more![/caption]

Souvenirs and Lasting Impressions

I tried to avoid the little Studio Ghibli shop they had inside the museum as best as I could. I made the conscious decision to only bring a small amount of cash with me so I didn't go completely bananas and buy a giant Totoro, thus needing a second plane ticket... or something to that extent. Well, I eventually caved and found a giant cabinet of drawers all filled with lapel pins. (Nooo! My weakness!) So I scrounged up all my yen and narrowed it down to these four adorable pins. It was ok, I didn't really need to eat lunch. Pins! I think my favorite is the little No-Face, he's the perfect mix of spooky and cuteness that I love. I'm glad I did decide to visit the store!

I hope I never forget the extraordinary experience I had at the Studio Ghibli Museum. Being able to create stories, characters, and whole worlds in the mind and bring them out into reality is really a wonderful gift. It's one of my favorite things about being human! I'm glad I was able enter into the Ghibli universe and I am really look forward to visiting again! Maybe next time with family or friends!

My trip to Japan.

 

From May 20th to June 22nd of this year I took my dream trip to Japan. It's still a surreal thought at this very moment that I even was able to go. The days leading up to the trip I could feel myself slowly getting more nervous and bewildered. I kept thinking more and more, "Holy crap! I'm actually doing this!" Not only was it scary that I was going on a 15+ hour flight to a land very far away from home, but that I was doing it alone! Alone! When I went down the airport escalator after saying goodbye to my best friend, it really hit me hard. I was going to go on a huge adventure all by myself and there was no turning back!

One thing I would like to mention is that my first trip was something I wanted to experience emotionally and physically as complete as possible. So I refrained having too much documentation getting in the way this time around (I expected to vlog everyday but it turned out to be too difficult to fit in). I plan to do more when I return (and  hopefully become more fluent in Japanese). What I do have from the first trip is still exciting to share with everyone and I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 1: Overall Experience

Preparing for the Trip

My Accommodations

Transportation

Last Days & Going Home

Funny & Embarrassing Stories

Plans for My Next Trip

The Food

Chapter 1: What I Bought

Blind Boxes

Art & Crafts

Toys & Games

Tokyo Disney

Dolls, Dolls, & More Dolls!

Stationary

For the Home

Chapter 2: Places I Visited

Entertaining Places

Tokyo Disney

Studio Ghibli Museum

Eorzea Cafe

Toy Stores

Animal Cafes

Doll Shops

Movie Theatre

Tokyu Hands

Pokemon Center

Arcades

Joyful Honda

Temples, Shrines, & Historic Japan

Arashiyama

Tokyo National Museum

Asakusa & Tokyo Sky Tree

Todai-ji

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Kinkaku-ji

Meiji Jingu

Yasaka Shrine & Gion