Before boarding a plane to Japan, the first thing you want to do is get a JR Rail Pass. This is a travel voucher that allows you unlimited travel on any JR train anywhere in Japan. You must purchase this voucher from the Japanese Embassy in your home country, not after arriving in Japan. This travel voucher will save you a lot of money if you are planning to travel extensively around the country. City buses are another cheap way to travel. Many routes are affordable allowing you to see more local areas and suburbs, places not easily accessible by train. Night buses, or highway buses are good too for overnight travel to far away destinations. Willer Express is one such company that offers affordable tickets to major destinations all over the country. Service is available in English.

Accommodations can get really expensive, but thankfully there are many youth hostels and pensions available. Youth hostels are not just for young people anymore, nowadays older people are choosing this type of accommodation over B&Bs and business hotels. If you are traveling by yourself, then I also recommend internet cafes. For as little as $15.00 a night, you can get your own cubicle with a PC and access to an unlimited selection of magazines and books. Most internet cafes offer unlimited drink service, too.

When it comes to food, Japan offers quite a few options. Convenience stores sell very good food at reasonable prices 24 hours a day. A lot of travelers take convenience store food for granted because they think the food is cheaply produced and low quality. In Japan, the quality standards for convenience store food is quite high. Low price, high quality. Another reasonable option for food would be family restaurants. Some famous names to remember would be Gusto, Denny’s, and, Jonathan’s. There are also a plethora of chain eateries near and around train stations like Yoshinoya and Sukiya.

If you need to pick up items like toothpaste and other toiletries then I recommend 100 yen Lawsons. This is like the 99 cent shops in the U.S., where everything from soap to toilet paper is around a buck. You can even pick up vegetables, milk, and bread all around 100 yen or one dollar.

Another way to save money in Japan is to rent bicycles. There are some rental shops around Tokyo and Yokohama. You and the family can enjoy cycling around the city while getting much needed exercise. This can also help you deal with jet lag or to help you refresh.