Warning. The following is TL;DR.

1. Start with the OBJECTIVE. Trips have themes too. You can have a historical/scenery, cultural experience, industrial experience, otaku experience etc.
2. Usually, one would match the objective with a particular event that will be the 'highlight' of the trip.
3. As mentioned to some, I've been there in 1993 (cultural/life experience), 1996(space/technology) and 2007(historical/scenery - hanami (sakura bloom))

4. Once you ahve the objective in mind, then you can start using the tools to build the trip
a) MATTA FAIR - cheap tickets sold during this event. This year it's held at Putra World Trade Centre, 12 March 2010 - 14 March 2010
b) Japan Guide - simple to use event search and travel advice
c) Japan Rail Pass - uber blessing of unlimited transport while you are there
d) Hyperdia - plan every train/bus/ferry ride to the minute!

5. The 2007 trip was done in April, at a budget of RM6500 (but I lavished on yukatas at the end). Without the yukatas, easily RM5.5k. The trip had the following itinerary
7-Apr-07 Sat Msia – Tokyo,
8-Apr-07 Sun Tokyo - basic, Akihabara
9-Apr-07 Mon Tokyo - Odaiba
* 10-Apr-07 Tue Tokyo – Osaka
* 11-Apr-07 Wed Osaka – Kyoto – Osaka (Spot ON! Kinkakuji Temple at full sakura bloom!)
* 12-Apr-07 Thu Osaka – Kyoto – Osaka
* 13-Apr-07 Fri Osaka – Hiroshima – Osaka
* 14-Apr-07 Sat Osaka - Nagoya - Osaka (but my 2 friends just stayed at the hotel, enjoying 10MBps internets)
* 15-Apr-07 Sun Osaka – Kamakura – Tokyo (Kamakura Festival) - horse riders with bows!
* 16-Apr-07 Mon Tokyo – Hakone – Tokyo (to see Mount Fuji - epic fail!)
17-Apr-07 Tue Tokyo – Nikko – Tokyo (Shunki Reitaisai (Grand Festival of Spring)) - festival at a world heritage site temple
18-Apr-07 Wed Tokyo – Asakusa/more Akihabara
19-Apr-07 Thu Tokyo – Shinjuku/Harajuku/more Akihabara + final dinner
20-Apr-07 Fri Tokyo – Msia

(* denotes days in which the rail pass was activated)

6. Major cost break down (2007) - 100 yen = RM3.412 (now is 100 yen = RM3.67815)
a) Flight - RM 1674
b) Japan Rail Pass (for 7 days only) - RM890
c) Hotels - 2500 yen in Osaka, 3780 yen in Tokyo - about RM1290 for accomodation
d) Travel cost outside of the rail pass - about RM500
e) Food - BRAHIM, Maggi and Milo packets!!!! The cheapest meals ever! Buy some lettuce at the groceries, and you have a wholesome meal. 1 day = RM20 only!
--- you can still buy meals there, but it's about 500-1000yen each. About RM 18-40 per meal
f) Entry fees into various places - about RM350

TOTAL above = about RM5k... and I bought like RM1k worth of souvenirs

That's why we added brahim. It's not expensive... got meat... has many flavours. Next in consideration is glucolin

In 2007, that's the ticket price... I should even have the proof of it

Last year, due to the economic downturn, heard that it went all the way down to RM1300 (all taxes included)!!!

Check ticket prices from our travel agent. Cheapest at this point for an August return trip is RM2k. Hope matta fair will be cheaper.

Sorry on the cryptic post... RM2k is for return flight only...

As for winter... prices are high already!

With the short trip duration, the proposal thus far include
1. Summer Wonfes (either July 25 or Aug 1, 2010) + Tokyo fireworks (31 Jul)
2. Tokyo Game Show (17-19 Sep in 2010) + Reitaisai at Kamakura (shooting arrows on horseback) (14-16 Sep)

Definitely #1 is enticing cause it will fit the bill of doing something anime related and wearing yukata for the fireworks.


FRI 23 JUL 2010 - KL->Tokyo
SAT 24 JUL 2010 - Tokyo basic
SUN 25 JUL 2010 - Wonfest (1st estimate base on previous year)
MON 26 Jul 2010 - Akihabara - survey
TUE 27 JUL 2010 - Tokyo ->Mt Fuji (via Kawaguchi-ko) -> Tokyo
WED 28 JUL 2010 - Odaiba
THU 29 JUL 2010 - Rest day
FRI 30 JUL 2010 - Go to any other parts of Tokyo - Meiji Shrine, Amakusa
SAT 31 JUL 2010 - Akihabara buying stuff festival - Tokyo river fireworks
SUN 01 AUG 2010 - Wonfest (2nd estimate base on previous year)
MON 02 AUG 2010 - Tokyo->KL


That's 9 nights stay... hmmm..... if only wonfest is on 01 Aug 2010...

Ok guys, the first of the flight discount offer this year is happening 22-Feb till 7-Mar.

http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en/dest...ial-offers.aspx

KL-Tokyo-KL is about RM2k... not as cheap as before but still ok