karin0punx's page: Visit Japan Experience (Part I)

As I promise before, I wanna tell you about my precious experience! My sisters and I went to Japan several months ago. It was our very first time visiting Japan, our dream country. Japan is a wonderful country. Literally. I love everything about it, wholeheartedly. And able to go there was like a dream comes true. I was so excited!

Japan Ikuze!

Actually at first, it was a chit-chat between me and Nissa-chan, my twins! (she's my bestfriend yet sister already) She said that she really wants to go to Japan very badly before her internship start. She's a doctor though (back then she's still doctor-to-be). Without any doubts, I agreed to her idea. "HOW ABOUT WE GO TO JAPAN NEXT YEAR -this year-?" Then we started to plan everything.

There're some important things to notice:

1. First, search and buy for round-trip tickets. You'll get cheaper price if you know the right time to buy.

2. Second, if you haven't have a passport yet, then get it. If you do have it already, make sure it hasn't expired then you can go on.

3. Third, visa. You shall apply for visa to Japan Embassy before you enter their country. It's little bit complicated but don't worry.

4. Forth, plan the itenary in details like where you're going to stay and the destinations you're going to visit. Don't forget about the transportations too, it's crucial! You'll waste your time in vain if you don't know the right map there.

5. Fifth, plan the budgeting. How much you're going to bring cash money or cards. And how you spend it in Japan.

6. Sixth, change the currency before departing (few days before is better).

7. Seventh, plan your belongings properly. It depends on your type of journey. You can bring any suitcases or just a backpack, it's up to you. But I recommends bring lighter bags so it will makes you easier to move from one city to another city (you're in a trip, right?) Moreover if you ride a promo-plane, you'll think twice about your luggage's weight.

8. Eighth, keep your body stay healthy! You don't want feel sick there, do you?

Okay, let's check it out one by one.

Passport, it's the main things you should have before leaving your country. Why? Because it contains your identity. I made my passport few months before going to Japan. It's pretty easy in Indonesia to make a passport. I mean it doesn't have any difficult requirements. But, if you make passport in Indonesia, get up as early as you can. I went to imigration office in Jakarta at about 5.30 a.m and it was already filled up with people even the gate was open at 7.00 a.m and the regulations started at 8.00 a.m. After you finish all of the processes, your passport will be ready in about 5 days after the making.

Passport Requirements

Next is visa. Without visa you won't be accepted to enter any country, even though there's some countries that allow free-visa for the tourists. I used travel agent's service to make our visas. At first I tried to search informations as many as possible, about how and what's required to get it. Then I found about "minimum account balance" in their requirements. But funnily, I'd never found it in embassy's web. As far as I know, it just required you to have enough money to stay in Japan. Finally I found a travel agent in my hometown that didn't have that requirement, and of course I applied through it. Successfully. About a week after my submission, my visa had arrived safely at home :)

Visa Requirements

Round-trip tickets. These items required to apply for visa. It will make sure you're going back to your own country. How did I buy my tickets? Like I told you before, it was kind of spontaneous about our trip. I bought my round-trip ticket about February 2017, and it was all because promo! There was Air Asia apps' promo. Air Asia is one of budget flights and it offers you direct or transit route from Indonesia to Japan. I guess it was 20% off, then we decided to buy the tickets. But the worst part was it didn't had free baggage or meals included. If you want to, you'll have to pay more. So sad :(

The most crucial part of your trip is itenary. Try to make your itenary as good as possible. Or you'll get dissapoint! We made our own itenary. All of it. About where will I go in Japan, about how to get there, about where should I stay, and about time durations. It's so important! First, where you'll arrive and depart. We arrived at Kansai (Osaka) and left through Haneda (Tokyo), so we tried to adjust our destinations and time durations. Like on the first day after we safely arrived, we went straight to Nara and Kobe. Next Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya. And finally Tokyo. Complete with the time schedules! We bought days pass tickets (like Kintetsu Rail Pass, JR One Day Pass, Keihan One Day Pass, etc.) to reduce cost and a IC card, ICOCA (similiar to e-money in Indonesia). You can use and top up your IC card in any train stations there. For travelling from Nagoya to Tokyo, we rode night bus Willer Express. Don't forget to bring a map or you can use google maps' feature on your phone. But the second option require a wifi connection. In Japan there're many free wifi but I tried not to depend on it so I bought a pocket wifi that I rent from Wi2FLY.

Budget is also important (everything is important, ha!). Plan your budgeting carefully. I made a budget estimation before going to Japan. Like how much is the homestay, or transportations, or food, or even the souvenirs. My sis, Nissa-chan, is very careful about the budget. So I hand over all about budget to her. And it turned out great. We brought about 70000 yen and we could saved about 5000-10000 yen! Make sure before you depart from your origin country, change the currency first. I changed my money at VIP Money Changer, a trustful one in Jakarta. I had got 7 sheets of 10000 yen. But if you can get the smaller currency like 5000 yen or 1000 yen, go change it too. Even though in Japan you can buy a 100 yen (about 10000 rupiah) drink with 10000 yen (about 1 million rupiah) and still got your change right, it will be better if you have a smaller currency. Don't forget about the exchange rate too! When I went there, the exchange rate was 120. Quite high. Try to wait for the exchange rate down (get a chance!).

Japan Yen

About belongings, I'd say better you bring lighter bag. For the cabin you can bring up to 7 kgs (watch out!), but if you have free baggage then you can bring more. I brought just a backpack and a sling bag. All of them no more than 7 kgs! How come?! Because I only bring what I need. Like just 3-4 piece of clothes, a jeans, 2 sweatpants, and some underwears. For underwears, I bought two packs of dispossable pants (I guess two packs is enough for a week). Actually if you brave enough to bring fewer clothes, it's okay as long as your homestay has a washer (don't care about the iron tho). Some homestays provide toiletries like tooth brushes, soaps, shampoo, and towels. And they provide kitchen too so you can cook by yourself to save money. I used to cook noodles that I brought from Indonesia (Indomie, yeah!). Don't forget to bring a camera! It's a must! Lols.

Shared belongings

Personal belongings

Those are some preparations I made before depart to Japan. I won't say it went smoothly in fact because we're quite flexible (not too tight, but not too loose). But I'd say it was quite success. We satisfied with our plans. Proud of us!

And the story? Not yet written. I will write it next time (stay tune!). Don't worry I'll share about the budgeting plan, itenary, and our spending there. So check it out below!